IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI

A.B.A. No. 181 of 2021

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Arabinda Mandal.

…..Petitioner

Versus

The State of Jharkhand.

….Opposite Party

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Coram: THE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE RONGON MUKHOPADHYAY

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For the Petitioner

: Mr. Soumitra Baroi, Advocate

For the State

: Mr. Suraj Verma, A.P.P.

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02/23-2-2021

Heard the parties.

The petitioner apprehends his arrest in connection with Baharagora

P.S. Case No. 36 of 2020.

It has been alleged that some financial irregularities were committed

with respect to procurement of paddy in the various lamps situated within the

Ghatshila Sub-division for the year 2018-19. So far as Baharagora Lamps is

concerned, it is alleged that the accused persons had embezzled an amount of

Rs.3,50,000/-.

The petitioner is the Incharge cum Office clerk of Baharagora Lamps

Limited working since 1982. Learned counsel for the petitioner while referring to

the enquiry report has stated that the master mind of withdrawing the amount

illegally is Umesh Yadav, who is a retired Co-operative Extension Officer,

Chakulia Block and the enquiry report has clearly revealed about realization of

the amount of Rs.5,00,000/- taken by Umesh Yadav along with interest @

Rs.12%. Learned counsel has submitted that the petitioner has been made an

scapegoat only on account of his signatures being found in some of the

documents which was also at the instance of the main accused Umesh Yadav.

Learned A.P.P. has opposed the prayer for anticipatory bail of the

petitioner.

The enquiry report clearly reveals that it was Umesh Yadav who had

conspired and withdrawn the amount in question from Baharagora Lamps as

well as from Chakulia Lamps. So far as the petitioner is concerned, he has been

made an accused only on account of he having signed on some documents and

the enquiry report does admit that it was Umesh Yadav who had received the

money and it was therefore decided to realize the entire amount from Umesh

Yadav along with interest @ 12% per annum.

Regard being had to the above, I am inclined to extend the privilege

of anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

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The petitioner, named above, is accordingly directed to surrender in the

court below within a period of four weeks from today and on his surrender/arrest,

he will be enlarged on bail, on furnishing bail bond of Rs.10,000/- ( Ten thousand

only) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of learned

S.D.J.M, Ghatshila in connection with Baharagora P.S. Case No. 36 of 2020,

subject to the conditions as laid down under Section 438(2) of the Code of

Criminal Procedure.

This application stands allowed.

(Rongon Mukhopadhyay, J)

Rakesh/-