Navneet Kumar @ Navneet Kumar Bhatt vs State Of Bihar

The matter has been heard through video conferencing.

Heard Mr. Bimlesh Kumar Pandey, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr. Umanath Mishra, learned Additional Public Prosecutor (hereinafter referred to as the ‘APP’) for the State.

The petitioner who is in custody, seeks bail in connection with Bettiah Town PS Case No. 457 of 2022 dated 17.06.2022 instituted under Sections 143, 147, 148, 149, 341, 323, 353, 332, 333, 338, 435, 436, 307, 427, 504, 120(B), 395, 412 of the Indian Penal Code; 27 of the Arms Act, 1959 and 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Damage of Public Property Act, 1984.

The petitioner is accused of being part of the mob which had tried to commit arson and riot.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that 72 persons, including the petitioner have been named and 500-700 unknown persons have been made accused in connection with an agitation which took place. It was submitted that various FIRs were lodged for the same incident and the petitioner has also been made accused in three other such cases. It was submitted that the allegation is general and omnibus and non specific and besides the connected cases, he has no other criminal antecedent and is a student. It was submitted that the petitioner is in custody since 18.06.2022.

Learned APP submitted that the petitioner was also part of the mob which committed arson.

Having considered the submissions of learned counsel for the parties and taking into account the fact that the petitioner is a student having no other criminal antecedent except for the connected cases and the period of custody, the Court is inclined to allow the prayer for bail.

Accordingly, let the petitioner be released on bail upon furnishing bail bonds of Rs. 25,000 (twenty five thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of the learned CJM, West Champaran at Bettiah in Bettiah Town PS Case No. 457 of 2022, subject to the conditions that one of the bailors shall be a close relative of the petitioner. The petitioner and the bailors shall execute bond with regard to good behaviour of the petitioner and the petitioner shall also give an undertaking to the Court that he shall not indulge in any illegal/criminal activity, act in violation of any law/statutory provisions, tamper with the evidence or influence the witnesses. Any violation of the terms and conditions of the bond or the undertaking shall lead to cancellation of his bail bonds.

The application stands disposed of in the aforementioned terms.