Sudhir Kumar Singh vs The State Of Jharkhand on 25 March, 2026

Supreme Court – Daily Orders

Sudhir Kumar Singh vs The State Of Jharkhand on 25 March, 2026

                                      IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
                                     CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION


                                  CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.          OF 2026
                          (@ SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (CRL.) NO(S).2797 OF 2026)


                         SUDHIR KUMAR SINGH                                           APPELLANT

                                                      VERSUS

                         THE STATE OF JHARKHAND                                       RESPONDENT


                                                     O R D E R

Leave granted.

This appeal challenges the order dated

SPONSORED

20.01.2026 passed by the High Court of

Jharkhand at Ranchi in A.B.A No. 5781 of 2025.

This criminal appeal arises out of crime

registered pursuant to FIR No.09/2025 dated

06.08.2025 registered with P.S. Anti-

Corruption Bureau Hazaribagh, Dist. Ranchi in

respect of offences punishable under Sections

409, 420, 467, 468, 471, and 120B of the

Indian Penal Code and Sections 13(1)(c) and

Signature Not Verified
13(a)(d) read with Section 13(2) of the
Digitally signed by
BORRA LM VALLI
Date: 2026.03.25
17:46:50 IST
Reason:
Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

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Anticipating arrest in connection with

this crime, the appellant preferred A.B.A No.

5781 of 2025 for anticipatory bail before the

High Court. Said application having been

rejected by the High Court vide impugned order

dated 20.01.2026, the appellant has preferred

the instant appeal.

By order dated 18.02.2026, this Court

issued notice in the instant matter and also

directed that no coercive steps shall be taken

as against the appellant provided he

cooperates in the investigation.

We have heard learned counsel for the

appellant in support of the appeal and learned

counsel for the respondent-State.

Learned senior counsel for the appellant

submitted that the appellant has been

cooperating with the investigation and he also

appeared before the investigating officer on

24.02.2026 and thereafter he has not been

summoned; that by interim order dated

18.02.2026 this Court had granted interim

protection. In the circumstances, the interim

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protection may be made absolute subject to the

terms to be imposed on the appellant.

Learned counsel for the respondent-State

also acknowledged the fact that the appellant

has been cooperating with the investigation

and in the circumstances she submitted that

appropriate orders may be made in the appeal.

Considering the circumstances on record,

in our view, the appellant is entitled to the

relief of anticipatory bail.

We, therefore, allow this appeal and set

aside the order passed by the High Court of

Jharkhand at Ranchi in A.B.A No.5781 of 2025

dated 20.01.2026.

We direct that in the event of arrest of

the appellant, the Arresting Officer shall

release the appellant on bail, subject to

furnishing cash security in the sum of

Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty-Five Thousand only)

with two like sureties.

It is directed that the appellant shall

extend complete cooperation in the ensuing

investigation.

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The appellant shall not misuse his

liberty and shall not in any way influence the

witnesses or tamper with the material on

record.

With the aforesaid directions, the

Criminal Appeal is allowed.

……………………………………………………, J.

(B.V. NAGARATHNA)

……………………………………………………, J.

(UJJAL BHUYAN)
NEW DELHI;

MARCH 25, 2026.

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IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. OF 2026
(@ SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (CRL.) NO(S).1859 OF 2026)

VIJAY PRATAP SINGH APPELLANT

VERSUS

THE STATE OF JHARKHAND RESPONDENT

O R D E R

Leave granted.

This appeal challenges the order dated

07.01.2026 passed by the High Court of Jharkhand

at Ranchi in Bail Application No.10414 of 2025.

This criminal appeal arises out of crime

registered pursuant to FIR No.09/2025 dated

06.08.2025 lodged with PS AC, Div: Sadar, District

Hazaribagh, registered under Sections 409, 420,

467, 468, 471 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code,

1860 (“IPC”) and Sections 13(1)(c), 13(l)(d) read

with Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption

Act, 1988.

The appellant preferred an application for

regular bail through Bail Application No.

10414/2025 before the High Court of Jharkhand at

Ranchi.

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By impugned order dated 07.01.2026, the High

Court rejected the plea for regular bail.

Therefore, the instant appeal has been preferred.

By order dated 06.02.2026, this Court issued

notice in the instant matter.

We have heard learned counsel for the

appellant in support of the appeal and learned

counsel for the respondent-State.

Learned senior counsel for the appellant

submitted that the appellant in this case is

similarly placed to the appellant in the appeal

arising out of SLP (Crl.) No.2797 of 2026 in which

case this Court had granted the relief of

anticipatory bail. However, the appellant in this

case has been in jail since 05.10.2025; that the

investigation is completed and final report has

been filed. In the circumstances, continuation of

the appellant in jail may not be in the interest

of justice. He, therefore, submitted that the

impugned order may be set aside and the relief of

bail may be granted to the appellant herein

subject to the terms and conditions that may be

imposed.

Per contra, learned counsel for the

respondent-State with reference to the counter

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affidavit contended that the allegations as

against the appellant herein are serious in

nature. In the circumstances, the relief of bail

may not be granted to him or otherwise, the

criminal proceeding would be frustrated. He

therefore, submitted that there is no merit in

this appeal and the same may be dismissed.

Considering the facts on record, in our

view, the case for regular bail is made out.

We, therefore, allow this appeal and direct

as under:

“The appellant shall be produced before the

concerned Trial Court as early as possible and the

Trial Court shall release him on bail, subject to

such conditions as it may deem appropriate to

impose to ensure his presence in the proceedings

arising out of FIR No. 09/2025 mentioned above.”

It is directed that the appellant shall

extend complete cooperation in the ensuing trial.

The appellant shall not misuse his liberty

and shall not in any way influence the witnesses

or tamper with the material on record.

The appellant shall deposit the passport, if

any, before the concerned Sessions Court.

In the event of there being any breach of

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the conditions, liberty is reserved to the

respondent-State to seek cancellation of the bail

that has been granted to the appellant.

With the aforesaid directions, the appeal is

allowed.

……………………………………………………, J.
(B.V. NAGARATHNA)

……………………………………………………, J.
(UJJAL BHUYAN)
NEW DELHI;

MARCH 25, 2026.

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ITEM NO.5 COURT NO.4 SECTION II-A

S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

PETITION(S) FOR SPECIAL LEAVE TO APPEAL (CRL.) NO(S).
2797/2026

[ARISING OUT OF IMPUGNED FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER
DATED 20-01-2026 IN ABA NO. 5781/2025 PASSED BY THE
HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI]

SUDHIR KUMAR SINGH PETITIONER(S)

VERSUS

THE STATE OF JHARKHAND RESPONDENT(S)

IA NO. 50209/2026 – EXEMPTION FROM FILING C/C OF THE
IMPUGNED JUDGMENT
IA NO. 50210/2026 – EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T.

WITH

SLP(CRL) NO. 1859/2026 (II-A)
IA NO. 33046/2026 – EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T.

SLP(CRL) NO. 3317/2026 (II-A)
FOR ADMISSION

Date : 25-03-2026 These matters were called on for
hearing today.

CORAM : HON’BLE MRS. JUSTICE B.V. NAGARATHNA
HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE UJJAL BHUYAN

For Petitioner(s) : Mr. Rohit Kumar Singh, AOR
Mr. Ajit Singh, Adv.

Ms. Anukriti Tiwary, Adv.
Mr. Shrish Kohli, Adv.

Mr. Shubham Sahota, Adv.

Ms. Rewant Singh, Adv.

Mr. Devesh Ajmani, Adv.

Mr. Paras Sharma, Adv.

Ms. Shubhanginee Singh, Adv.

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Mr. Shadan Farasat, Sr. Adv.

Mr. Sanjay Kumar Dubey, Adv.
Ms. Shuchi Singh, Adv.

Mr. Shuchi Singh, AOR
Mr. Md. Shahid Anwar, Adv.
Mr. Ujjwal Kumar Dubey, Adv.
Ms. Shivani Mishra, Adv.

Mr. Aman Kumar, Adv.

Mr. Aayush Kesarwani, Adv.
Mr. Jainendra Kumar, Adv.

Mr. R. Basant, Sr. Adv.

Mr. Aditya Dewan, Adv.

Ms. Himangi Kapoor, Adv.

Mr. Swetank Kumar, Adv.

Mr. Akash Rajeev, Adv.

Ms. Udita Singh, AOR

For Respondent(s) : Ms. Tulika Mukherjee, AOR

Ms. Pallavi Langar, AOR
Ms. Pragya Baghel, Adv.

Mr. Sujeet Kumar Chaubey, Adv.

Mr. Jayant Mohan, AOR
Ms. Meenakshi Chatterjee, Adv.
Ms. Adya Shree Dutta, Adv.
Ms. Dorjee Ongmu Lachungpa, Adv.
Mr. Priyanshu Teotia, Adv.

UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following
O R D E R

SLP (CRL.) NO(S).2797/2026:

Leave granted.

Appeal is allowed in terms of the signed
order, which is placed on file.

Pending application(s), if any, shall
stand disposed of.

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SLP(CRL) NO. 1859/2026:

Leave granted.

Appeal is allowed in terms of the signed
order, which is placed on file.

Pending application(s), if any, shall
stand disposed of.

SLP(CRL) NO. 3317/2026:

Learned counsel for the petitioner sought
a week’s time to file rejoinder-affidavit to
the counter-affidavit filed by the
respondent(s)-State.

Hence, list on 10.04.2026.

(B. LAKSHMI MANIKYA VALLI) (DIVYA BABBAR)
COURT MASTER (SH) COURT MASTER (NSH)
(TWO SIGNED ORDERS ARE PLACED ON FILE)

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