Jharkhand High Court
Sikandar Pandit Aged About -39 Years vs The State Of Jharkhand on 6 August, 2025
Author: Rajesh Kumar
Bench: Rajesh Kumar
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI
Cr. Appeal (DB) No. 38 of 2019
Sikandar Pandit aged about -39 years, son of Kisto Pandit, Resident of
village- Dakaita, P.O. &P.S. Lalmatia, District- Godda (Jharkhand)
-- --- Appellant
Versus
The State of Jharkhand --- --- Respondent
.......
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH KUMAR
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ARUN KUMAR RAI
For the Appellant : Mr. Purnendu Kumar Jha, Advocate
For the State : Mr. Suraj Deo Munda, A.P.P.
Order No.07/ Dated 6th August 2025
I.A. No. 1854 of 2025
1. Heard Mr. Purnendu Kumar Jha, learned counsel for the
appellant and Mr. Suraj Deo Munda, learned A.P.P. representing the
State.
2. The instant interlocutory application has been filed for
suspension of sentence and grant of ad interim bail to the appellant in
connection with the judgment of conviction dated 22.11.2018 and
order of sentence dated 27.11.2018 passed in S.T. No. 181 of 2009
arising out of Mahagama P.S. Case No. 21 of 2009, corresponding to
G.R. Case No. 227 of 2009 by the learned Additional Sessions Judge-
III, Godda whereby and where under, the appellant along with other
co-convicts has been convicted for the offence punishable under
Sections 364A/34 & 120B of the IPC and has been sentenced to
undergo imprisonment for life and also to pay a fine of Rs. 5000/- and
in default of payment of fine, he has been further directed to undergo
sentence of S.I. for 3 months under Section 364A/34 IPC. The
appellant has further been sentenced to undergo R.I. for 2 years with a
fine of Rs. 2000/- and in default of payment of fine, he has been
further directed to undergo S.I. for 2 months under section 120B of
the IPC. Both the sentences have been directed to run concurrently.
3. Earlier the prayer for suspension for sentence of the appellant
made through I.A. No. 393 of 2019 has been rejected vide order dated
07.11.2019.
4. Learned counsel for the appellant has submitted that thereafter
similarly situated co-convicts namely Pawan Kumar Pandit and
Nagendra Ramani have been granted bail by suspending their
sentence in Cr. Appeal (DB) No. 1403 of 2018 vide order dated
21.12.2023 and in Cr. Appeal (DB) No. 1364 of 2018 vide order dated
21.11.2024 respectively by Co-ordinate Bench of this Court.
5. It has been further submitted that appellant has remained in
custody for about 8 years and, therefore, prayer for bail has been
made.
6. Leaned A.P.P. appearing on behalf of the State has opposed the
prayer for bail of the appellant, but has not disputed the aforesaid fact.
7. Considering the parity and period of custody, we are inclined to
enlarge the appellant on bail by suspending his sentence.
8. Accordingly, during pendency of this appeal, the appellant
above named is directed to be released on bail on furnishing bail bond
of Rs. 10,000/- (Ten Thousand) with two sureties of the like amount
each, to the satisfaction of learned Additional Sessions Judge III,
Godda in connection with S. T. No. 181 of 2009 arising out of
Mahagama P. S. Case No. 21 of 2009 corresponding to G. R. No. 227
of 2009.
9. I. A. No. 1854 of 2025 stands allowed.
(Rajesh Kumar, J.)
(Arun Kumar Rai, J.)
A.Mohanty
