( 2026:JHHC:11683 ) --1-- IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND, RANCHI A.B.A. No. 1807 of 2026 ---- 1. Sunil Kumar Mahto, aged about 38 years. 2. Shambhu Kumar@ Shambhu Mahto aged about 33 years, both sons of Bajo Mahto, resident of Village-Hathuwadharan, P.O- Gujhandhi, P.S.-Jhumri Telaiya, District-Koderma. .... Petitioners -- Versus -- The State of Jharkhand .... Opposite Party ---- CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR DWIVEDI --- For the Petitioner :- Mr. Randhir Kumar, Advocate For the State :- Mr. B. Shastri, APP ---- 02/21.04.2026 Heard learned counsel appearing for the petitioner as well as the learned counsel appearing for the State. 2. The petitioners are apprehending their arrest in connection with Telaiya P.S. Case No. 234 of 2025, for the alleged offences registered under Sections 272, 274, 275, 292, 3(5) of B.N.S 2023 and section 47 (a) (f) of Jharkhand Excise Act, pending in the Court of learned Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Koderma. 3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioners submit that in the F.I.R it has been alleged that 60 litres illegal mahua liquor was recovered from the forest area. He submits that the name of the petitioners has come only on suspicion. He next submit that petitioner no. 1 has no criminal antecedent and petitioner no. 2 has two criminal antecedents, and hence the anticipatory bail application of the ( 2026:JHHC:11683 ) --2-- petitioners may kindly be allowed. 4. Learned counsel appearing for the State opposes the prayer and submits that the petitioners are named in the F.I.R., and in view of that the anticipatory bail application of the petitioners may kindlys be rejected. 5. Considering that the fact that the recovery has been made from the forest area, there is no concrete evidence to prove that the petitioners have kept the mahua liquor in the forest area. Further, the criminal antecedents cannot be sole ground for either rejecting or allowing the anticipatory or regular bail application. In that view of the matter, the petitioners are directed to surrender before the learned Court within two weeks from today and the learned Court shall release the petitioners on such terms, conditions and sureties, as the learned Court may deem fit and proper. 6. Accordingly, the anticipatory bail application stands disposed of. 21.04.26 (Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi, J.) Abha/