IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI Criminal Appeal (DB) No.1330 of 2025 -----

Jugeshwar Mahto @ Yogeshwar Mahto aged about 36 years son of Bigan Mahto resident of Salga (Baherwatari), PO & PS-Keredari, District-Hazaribagh. .… … Appellant Versus The State of Jharkhand .… … Respondent -------

CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SUJIT NARAYAN PRASAD HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE DEEPAK RAUSHAN -------

For the Appellant : Mr. Hemant Kumar Shikarwar, Advocate For the Respondent : Mr. Vineet Kumar Vashistha, Spl.PP ------

C.A.V on 24.03.2026 Pronounced on 06/04/2026 Per Sujit Narayan Prasad, J.

1. The instant appeal preferred under Section 21(4) of the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008 is directed against the order dated 19.09.2025 passed in Misc. Cr. Application No.1771 of 2025 by the learned AJC-XVIII-cum-Special Judge-ATS, Ranchi whereby and whereunder the prayer for bail of the appellant in connection with ATS Court Case No.02 of 2024 arising out of ATS P.S Case No.07 of 2023 registered for the offence under Sections 353, 332, 333, 307, 120(B) of the Indian Penal Code, Section 27 of the Arms Act and Section 16, 17, 20 of U.A.P Act has been rejected.

Factual Matrix

2. The prosecution case is based upon the self-statement dated 17.07.2023 of one Law Kumar Singh, Inspector alleging therein that for the last few months accused Aman Sao @ Aman Sahu gang in a planned manner is operating gang from jail and through his gang members is indulged in extortion money from different individuals. On 17.07.2023 at about 21:30 hrs. the S.P, ATS received confidential information that Aman Sao from the Jail conspired with his other associates Akash Rai @ Monu, Hari Tiwari @ Dhirendra Tiwari, Boby Sao @ Sidharth Sao, Mayank Singh and other active members of the gang are collecting ransom from contractors, businessman, coal transporters, coal extracting companies, truck owner association on the threat of life.

3. It has further been alleged that the extortion money received by them is used for purchasing AK-47 and other sophisticated fire arms, large number of pistols, Carbine, revolver, cartridges explosives and those weapons and explosives are used to damage the Central Government and State Government institution, N.T.P.C, L&T, CCL which are working for the development of the country. Accused Aman Sao is associated with TPC and PLFI, banned organization of Jharkhand, and has nexus of interstate and international contacts, the high-profile criminals of Bihar, Rajasthan, Punjab, UP, Haryana, Nepal etc. The extortion/levy recovered is being used in country as well as outside country by his associate-Narayan Thapa of Nepal through Hawala and by using the said extortion money, sophisticated international standard weapons and explosive substance are purchased.

4. It has come on record that Aman Sao through his associates is able to stop the development work of the State Government and Central Government, the railway and road construction work and coal extraction work. Aman Sao is involved in about 90 cases of serious nature in Jharkhand and other States who is operating the gang from jail and due to his fear the businessmen, coal transport officials all under fear of life and many of them after giving the extortion money does not report to the police. Many shooters of Aman Sao gang, namely, Chandan Sahu who is accused of Barkagaon P.S. Case No.156 of 2023 in which the official of Ritwik Company was murdered. He is also accused of Argora P.S. Case No.261 of 2023.

5. An information was received that he along with his associates has stayed in the house of Champa Devi w/o Jodhan Munda in Vill- Dardag, Ormanjhi P.S. The said information was registered in station diary and for ascertaining the same and taking the action one team was constituted by A.T.S. under Sri Niraj Kumar, Dy. S.P. and several other police personnel which the members of the team including the informant at about 11.45 left for the abovementioned place and apprehended Chandan Sao and one Sonu Kumar with f