IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. OF 2026 (Arising out of SLP(Crl.) No. 14988 of 2025)

RAJIV KUMAR Appellant(s)

VERSUS THE STATE OF BIHAR Respondent(s)

O R D E R

1. Leave granted.

2. The appellant is aggrieved by the denial of anticipatory bail by the High Court of Judicature at Patna, vide judgment and order dated 03-09-2025 passed in Criminal Miscellaneous No. 48509 of 2024, in connection with FIR No. 9 of 2024 dated 05.01.2024 for offence(s) punishable under Sections 304B and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

3. By order dated 22.09.2025, this Court granted protection from arrest to the appellant subject to the condition that he joins and cooperates with the investigation in connection the aforestated FIR.

4. Counter affidavit having been filed by the State of D D E at E e P : 2 A 0 K 2 S 6. I 0 N 3 G .1 H 2 Bihar, we are informed that the appellant joined and is co-

Reason:

operating with the investigation.

5. That being so and given the facts of the case on hand, we are of the opinion that no grounds are made out warranting custodial interrogation of the appellant at this stage.

6. The appellant is, accordingly, granted relief by making the interim order dated 22.09.2025 absolute.

7. The appeal is accordingly allowed, setting aside the impugned judgment/order.

8. In the event the appellant is arrested in relation to the subject FIR, he shall be released on bail forthwith on such appropriate terms and conditions as may be fixed by the trial Court in addition to what has been stated in the interim order dated 22.09.2025.

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

…...........................J.

(SANJAY KUMAR …...........................J.

(K. VINOD CHANDRAN New Delhi;

March 11, 2026.

ITEM NO.2 COURT NO.12 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). 14988/2025 [Arising out of impugned final judgment and order dated 03-09-2025 in CRLM No. 48509/2024 passed by the High Court of Judicature at Patna]

RAJIV KUMAR Petitioner(s)

VERSUS THE STATE OF BIHAR Respondent(s)

IA No. 240021/2025 - EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T.

Date : 11-03-2026 This matter was called on for hearing today.

CORAM :

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K. VINOD CHANDRAN For Petitioner(s) :

Mrs. Anjana Prakash, Sr. Adv.

Mr. Anuj Prakaash, Adv.

Mr. Niraj Dubey, Adv.

Mr. Pradum Kumar, Adv.

Mr. Kumar Mihir, AOR For Respondent(s) :

Mr. Azmat Hayat Amanullah, AOR Mr. Suraj Kundu, Adv.

UPON hearing the counsel, the Court made the following

O R D E R

Leave granted.

The appeal is allowed in terms of the signed order.

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

(DEEPAK SINGH) (PREETI SAXENA)

ASTT. REGISTRAR-cum-PS COURT MASTER (NSH)

[Signed order is placed on the file]