2026:JHHC:6175 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI B.A. No.11223 of 2025 …. Samu Munda, aged about 25 yrs. Son of Gangadhar Munda, resident of Village – Rumchu, P.O – Arki, P.S.-Arki, District – Khunti ……Petitioner Versus The State of Jharkhand ……Opp. Party ----- CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY PRASAD ----- For the Petitioner : Mr. Nilesh Kumar, Advocate For the State : Mr. Saket Kumar, A.P.P …… Order No.03/18th February 2026 1. The present Bail Application has been filed on behalf of the petitioner for grant of regular bail, who is in custody since 24.07.2025 in connection with Saiko P.S. Case No.17/2025 instituted for the offences under Sections 308(3)/308(4)/3(5) of BNS 2023 and 17 of CLA Act. 2. As per the F.I.R. the informant was asked to pay Rs.4,00,000/- (Rs.Four Lakhs) as rangdari (levy/ransom) in the name of P.L.F.I. 3. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned APP. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is innocent and has not committed any offence. It is submitted that the petitioner has made accused in this case merely on the basis of suspicion and confessional statement of the co- accused. It is submitted that the petitioner is not named in the FIR and nothing has been seized or recovered from his possession. It is submitted that the mobile phone used for demanding ransom belongs to co-accused Somlal Mahli. It is submitted that the petitioner is in custody since 24.07.2025 and hence he may be enlarged on bail. 2026:JHHC:6175 2 5. On the other hand, learned APP has opposed the prayer of bail of the petitioner. It is submitted that the Somlal Mahli and Saad Munda have confessed in their confessional statements recorded at para-44 of the case diary that Samu Munda (i.e. the petitioner) was also used to threaten the Informant for levy in the name of PLFI. It is submitted that there are three criminal antecedents against the petitioner. 6. Having heard learned counsel for both the sides and from perusal of the records of this case, it appears that the petitioner is alleged to have given threatening calls and demanding levy to the Informant through his mobile no.6201389454. 7. It also appears that the petitioner has got three criminal antecedents bearing Murhu P.S. Case No.39/2023, Arki P.S. Case No.24/2024 and Saiko P.S. Case No.19/2025. 8. Accordingly, this Court is not inclined to grant the bail to the petitioner. Hence, the prayer for bail of the petitioner is hereby rejected at this stage. 9. Accordingly, the Bail Application No.11223 of 2025 is dismissed with the liberty to petitioner may pray for the bail application after some time. 10. However, the learned Trial Court is directed to conclude the Trial expeditiously as early as possible. 11. Let a copy of this order be sent to the learned Trial Court. (Sanjay Prasad, J.) Dated :- 18.02.2026 Nishant/-