The Patna High Court has recently granted anticipatory bail to a man who was accused of posting filthy jokes about Goddess Janki and God Lakshman on a Facebook group.

A Single Bench of Justice Anjani Kumar Sharan said, “… let petitioner, above named, in the event of his arrest or surrender before the learned court below within a period of six weeks from today, be enlarged on bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs.25,000/- (rupees twenty five thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bettiah, West Champaran in connection with Shikarpur P.S. Case No.363 of 2021, subject to the conditions laid down under Section 438(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure.”

Advocate Bimlesh Kumar Pandey represented the petitioner/accused while APP Anbzarul Haque Sahara represented the State.

In this case, the petitioner apprehended his arrest in connection with a case registered for the offences punishable under Sections 153(A) and 295(A) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 66 of the Information Technology Act. It was alleged in the FIR that the petitioner had posted filthy post on Facebook over Goddess Janki and God Lakshman in a group, namely, Nonveg Chutkule and Full Masti due to which religious sentiments and communal harmony was disturbed.

The High Court noted, “… during investigation, no material has come against the petitioner and the said Mobile No. … does not belong to the petitioner.”

The Court directed the petitioner to furnish a bond of Rs. 25,000/- with two sureties in the event of arrest or surrender before the Court below.

Accordingly, the Court granted anticipatory bail to the accused.

Cause Title- Md. Sarfaraj v. The State of Bihar

Click here to read/download the Order

Patna High CourtJustice Anjani Kumar SharanReligious Sentiments

Swasti Chaturvedi