A.B.A./5530/2026 of PUJA KUMARI @ PUJA JHA Vs STATE OF JHARKHAND on 1 October 2026

[2026:JHHC:29571] IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI

A.B.A. No.5530 of 2026

------ Puja Kumari @ Puja Jha, aged about 30 years, Wife of Ravi Chauhan, R/o- Flat No. 4/1, Sri Krishna Udyan Complex, Road No. 15, Jawahar Naar, Mango, P.O.- Tisri P.S.- Mango, District- East Singhbhoom currently posted as Branch Sales Manager, Ujjiwan Small Finance Bank, Adityapur Branch, Seraikella (Jharkhand), P.O. & P.S. Adityapur, District- Seraikella Kharsawan (Jharkhand). .... .... …. Petitioner

Versus The State of Jharkhand

.... .... .... Opposite Party

------ CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL KUMAR CHOUDHARY

------

For the Petitioner : Mr. J.S. Singh, Sr. Advocate. Mr. Narmdeshwar Mishra, Advocate For the State

: Md. Shahabuddin, Addl.P.P.

Mr. Anuj Kumar Trivedi, A.C. to Adll.P.P.

------ Order No:-02 Dated:-01-10-2026

Heard the parties. Apprehending her arrest, the petitioner has moved this Court for grant of privilege of anticipatory bail in connection with Adityapur P.S. Case No. 148 of 2026 registered for the offences punishable under Sections 316(2), 318(4), 338, 336(3), 3(5) of the B.N.S., 2023. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the allegation against the petitioner is that the petitioner being the Branch Sales Manager in Ujjiwan Small Finance Bank, Adityapur Branch is alleged to have allowed the Society in the name of Adarsh Sahkari Grih Nirman Swablambi Samiti Ltd., to continue to operate Society’s accounts by its officer bearers, despite dissolution order passed by the Jharkhand Self-Supporting Cooperative Society Tribunal, Ranchi dated 13.05.2022 in Appeal No. 04 of 2022. It is next submitted that allegation against the petitioner is false and there is no direct allegation against the petitioner. The allegation against the petitioner is general and omnibus in nature. It is lastly submitted that the petitioner has no criminal antecedent as has been mentioned in paragraph no.14 of the anticipatory bail application. It is further submitted that the main dispute is regarding two groups in the Society and the co-accused persons mentioned at Sr. 5 to 10 of the complaint are the main accused persons of the case. It is next submitted that in para 11 of the complaint which upon being referred to police under Section 156(3) of the Cr.P.C. for which F.I.R. has been registered, goes to show that the bank has been deceived by a forged document, but there is no allegation of commission of forgery against any of the bank official. It is then submitted that the petitioner undertakes to furnish sufficient security and also undertakes to cooperate with the investigation of the case and further undertakes that she will not annoy or disturb the informant or any of his family members in any manner during the pendency of the case.

Learned counsel appearing for the State opposes the prayer for grant of anticipatory bail. Considering the facts of this case, I am of the opinion that it is a fit case where the above-named petitioners be given the privilege of anticipatory bail. Hence, in the event of her arrest or surrender within a period of two weeks from the date of this order, the petitioner will be released on furnishing bail bond of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand) with two sureties of the like amount to the satisfaction of the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Seraikella in connection with Adityapur P.S. Case No. 148 of 2026 with the condition that the petitioner will cooperate with the investigation of the case and appear before the Investigating Officer as and when noticed by him and will furnish her mobile number and a copy of her Aadhar Card in the Court below during the pendency of the case, with further condition that she will not annoy or disturb the informant in any manner during the pendency of the case subject to the conditions laid down under Section 482(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

(Anil Kumar Choudhary, J.) Dated:- 01.10.2026 Amar/