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Madhya Pradesh High Court
Ankush Kumar Sahu vs The State Of Madhya Pradesh on 23 February, 2026
NEUTRAL CITATION NO. 2026:MPHC-JBP:15221
1 CRA-1765-2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH
AT JABALPUR
BEFORE
HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE RAJENDRA KUMAR VANI
ON THE 23rd OF FEBRUARY, 2026
CRIMINAL APPEAL No. 1765 of 2026
ANKUSH KUMAR SAHU
Versus
THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH AND OTHERS
Appearance:
Mr. B.P. Patel - Advocate for appellant.
Mr. Mukesh Shukl - Government Advocate for State.
ORDER
The appellant has filed this first criminal appeal under Section 14-A(1)
of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act,
1989 being aggrieved by order dated 02.02.2026 passed in Bail Application
No.312 of 2026 passed by the Special Judge (Prevention of Atrocities),
District-Jabalpur, MP whereby his regular bail application filed under
Section 483 of BNSS, 2023, has been rejected.
2 . The appellant has been arrested on 20.12.2025 relating to FIR/Crime
No.679 of 2025 registered at police station - Ghamapur, District-Jabalpur for
offence punishable under Sections 69, 318(4), 64(1), 64(2)(m), 127(2) of the
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Sections 3(1)(W)(ii) and 3(2)(v) of the
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
3 . Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant has pointed out
that the appellant is innocent and has not committed any offence. He is in
custody since 20.12.2025. It is submitted that, as per the prosecution story,
NEUTRAL CITATION NO. 2026:MPHC-JBP:15221
2 CRA-1765-2026
the alleged incident is stated to have taken place on 20.07.2025; however,
the First Information Report came to be lodged only on 19.12.2025, i.e., after
an inordinate delay of approximately five months. No plausible or
satisfactory explanation for such delay has been furnished by the
prosecution. It is further submitted that the FSL report does not implicate the
present appellant and is negative insofar as the appellant is concerned. The
medical report also does not support the case of the prosecution and does not
contain any material adverse to the present appellant. He has a good case on
merits and he is ready to comply with the conditions as may be imposed by
this Court. Keeping in view the aforesaid, the appellant may be granted
benefit of bail.
4 . Per contra, learned counsel for the State has vehemently opposed the
appeal for bail.
5. Heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case diary.
6. Considering the submissions made by learned counsel for the parties and
the entire facts and circumstances of the case, this Court is inclined to release
the present appellant on bail. Thus, without commenting on the merits of the
case, the appeal is allowed and it is directed that appellant be released on
bail upon his furnishing a personal bond in the sum of Rs.70,000/- (Rupees
Seventy Thousand Only) with one solvent surety in the like amount to the
satisfaction of the concerned trial Court/Committal Court.
7 . This order will remain operative subject to compliance of the following
conditions by the appellant :-
"i) The appellant will comply with all the terms and conditions of the
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bond executed by him;
ii) The appellant will cooperate in the investigation/trial, as the case
may be;
iii) The appellant will not indulge himself in extending inducement,
threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to
dissuade him/her from disclosing such facts to the Court or to the Police
Officer, as the case may be;
iv) The appellant shall not commit an offence similar to the offence of
which he is accused;
v) The appellant will not seek unnecessary adjournments during the
trial; and
vii) The appellant will not leave India without previous permission of
the trial Court/Investigating Officer, as the case may be; and
viii) If any of the aforesaid conditions is violated, then this order shall
loose its effect automatically."
8. Copy of this order be sent to the trial Court concerned for compliance by
the office of this Court.
Certified copy as per rules.
(RAJENDRA KUMAR VANI)
JUDGE
julie
