( 2026:JHHC:5605 ) IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI B.A. No.427 of 2026 ------ Nazma Khatoon, aged about 46 years, wife of Md. Lukman, resident of village Fuljori, P.O.-Gadisirsiya, P.S.-Gandey, District-Giridih (Jharkhand). … Petitioner Versus The State of Jharkhand … Opposite Parties ------ CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL KUMAR CHOUDHARY ------ For the Petitioner : Mr. Anjani Kr. Singh, Advocate For the State : Ms. Amrita Kumari, Addl.P.P. For the Informant : Mr. S.K. Murthy, Advocate ------ Order No:-02 Dated:-25-02-2026 Heard the parties. The petitioner has been made accused in connection with Gandey P.S. Case No.59 of 2023 registered for the offences punishable under Sections 304B/34 of the Indian Penal Code. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the allegation against the petitioner is that the petitioner in furtherance of common intention with the co-accused persons has committed dowry death of her daughter in law namely Rahima Khatoon. It is submitted that the allegation against the petitioner is false. It is next submitted that the daughter of the petitioner has been granted anticipatory bail and the husband of the petitioner and another co-accused has been granted regular bail. It is next submitted that the petitioner has been implicated in this case only on the basis of the surmises and presumptions. It is next submitted that the son of the petitioner tried to save the daughter in law by taking her to hospital and the post-mortem report, the doctor did not find any poison or external injury. It is next submitted that the petitioner undertakes that he will co-operate with the trial of the case. Hence it is submitted that the petitioner be released on bail. Learned Addl. P.P. appearing for the State and the learned counsel for the informant on the other hand vehemently opposes the prayer for bail and submits that the husband of the petitioner was granted bail on 28.02.2024 and by that date, the cause of death was not known, but in the meanwhile, the FSL Report has been received and it is crystal clear from the same that Quinalphos along with Cypermethrin detected in the portion of viscera; which goes to show that the deceased died an unnatural death within the seven years of her marriage and there is direct and specific allegation against the petitioner of demanding dowry of Rs.2 lakhs soon before the death of the deceased. It is next submitted that the two sons of the deceased have categorically stated in their statement recorded by the investigating officer of the case, that they were prohibited inter alia by the petitioner from approaching their mother, when their mother was crying inside their house and leaving the deceased and her two sons; other members of the family including the petitioner fled away from the place of occurrence. It is next submitted that in view of the overwhelming evidence in the record, there is every chance of the petitioner absconding or tampering with evidence, if released on bail. It is therefore submitted that the petitioner ought not be released on bail. Considering the serious nature of allegation against the petitioner as well as the chance of the petitioner absconding or tampering with evidence, if released on bail, this Court is not inclined to admit the petitioner on bail at this stage. Accordingly, the prayer for bail of the above-named petitioner is rejected. (Anil Kumar Choudhary, J.) 25/02/2026 Abhiraj/