[ 2026:JHHC:22341] IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI A.B.A. No. 4162 of 2026 Latu Mahto @ Latalu Mahto, aged 51 years, Son of Late Gahnu Mahto, Resident of Fulvariya, P.O. & P.S Kunda, District Chatra. ..... … Petitioner Versus The State of Jharkhand ..... … Opposite Party -------- CORAM : HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR DWIVEDI ------ For the Petitioner : Mr. Anupam Anand, Advocate. For the State : Mr. V.K. Vashishta, A.P.P. ------ 04/ 28.07.2026 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned A.P.P for the State. 2. The petitioner is apprehending his arrest in connection with Complaint Case No. 56 of 2025, for offence registered under section 33(i)(c) of the Indian Forest Act, pending in court of learned Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Chatra. 3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that false allegations are made against the petitioner of cultivation of poppy plants in the forest land and he next submits that even the land is not belonging to the petitioner and the petitioner is a poor villager and the petitioner has got no criminal antecedent as disclosed in paragraph no.-19 of the petition. On these grounds, he submits that anticipatory bail may kindly be provided to the petitioner. 4. Learned A.P.P. appearing for the State has opposed the prayer and submits that the allegations are there of cultivation of poppy plants in the forest land. On this ground, he submits that anticipatory bail may kindly be rejected.

5. Considering that the land is of the forest department and -1- [ 2026:JHHC:22341] the land is not belonging to the petitioner and the petitioner is a poor villager and the petitioner has got no criminal antecedent as disclosed in paragraph No.19 of the petition, I am inclined to extend the privilege of anticipatory bail to the petitioner. 6. Accordingly, the above-named petitioner is directed to surrender before the learned Court within three weeks from today and in the event of his arrest or surrender, he shall be enlarged on bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs.25,000/- (Twenty Five Thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of learned Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Chatra, in connection with Complaint Case No. 56 of 2025, subject to the conditions as laid down under Section 482(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. (Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi, J.) Dated:-28.07.2026 Amitesh/- -2-