Authority: High Court of Judicature at Patna, Hon'ble Mr. Justice Satyavrat Verma

Order Date: 28-08-2026

Case Overview

  • Petitioner's full name: Arun Kumar, son of Late Baleshwar Prasad, resident of Talabpar village, Sohsarai Police Station, Nalanda district; Chairman of Barara Panchayat PACS.
  • Opposite parties: The State of Bihar and the Bihar State Food Corporation (BSFC), Biharsharif, Nalanda.
  • The matter arises from PS Case No. 279 of 2017 registered at Laheri Police Station, Nalanda.
  • FIR (Letter No. 4076 dated 28.06.2017) alleged that during inspection of the BSFC godown in Nalanda, only 59,279.50 quintals of C.M.R. rice were found instead of the recorded 76,203.71 quintals, indicating a shortfall of 16,768.50 quintals, and the rice present was of compromised quality.
  • The FIR directed action against Ranjit Kumar (Godown Superintendent‑cum‑A.G.M.) and Abhay Kumar (Contractual Executive Assistant).
  • Arun Kumar is not named in the FIR; his name surfaced during the investigation in 2019.
  • The petitioner seeks anticipatory bail under Sections 409/34 of the Indian Penal Code, fearing arrest.
  • The petitioner cites similar anticipatory bail orders granted to Shashikant Singh, Uday Kumar Singh, and Raj Ballabh Prasad in Cr. Misc. Nos. 17011, 18031, and 16767 of 2026, respectively, on 08.04.2026 and 28.08.2026.
  • The State and BSFC oppose the bail but could not rebut the similarity argument.

Final Outcome

  • The Court grants anticipatory bail to Arun Kumar, subject to the following conditions:

1. If arrested or surrendered within six weeks from the order date, he shall be released on bail by furnishing bail bonds of Rs.25,000 each, with two sureties of the same amount, to the satisfaction of the trial court handling the Laheri P.S. Case No.279/2017.

2. One of the bailors shall be his nephew, Valavir Yadav.

3. The bail is granted under Section 438(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

4. If the Investigating Officer informs the trial court that the petitioner is not cooperating with the investigation, the trial court may cancel the bail bonds after recording reasons.

Topics: Anticipatory Bail, Food Corporation Investigation, Criminal Procedure