SC rejects anticipatory bail for two men accused of forcing land sale at gunpoint in Patna. Bench says, “It is not even a case for grant of regular bail.”
New Delhi: Today, on July 17, the Supreme Court strongly criticized two men accused in a land fraud case from Patna, Bihar, and rejected their anticipatory bail pleas, saying their actions resembled those of criminals.
A bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan was hearing the pre-arrest bail applications of Lalit Mohan Rai and Lalit Rai, who are accused of forcibly obtaining a fraudulent land sale deed from a victim at gunpoint.
The top court did not mince words while expressing its disapproval of the alleged crime.
“Your clients seem to be goons,”
Justice Pardiwala remarked, making it clear that the gravity of the case did not justify any form of bail relief.
He further added,
“It is not even a case for grant of regular bail.”
According to the details shared in court, the incident took place on October 30, 2023, when the accused allegedly forced the victim to go to the Patna registry office at gunpoint and sign off on a fake land sale deed. The land involved in the case measures around 60 khata, located in Patna district.
An FIR was later registered against the accused at Gandhi Maidan police station on November 26, 2023, following the alleged incident.
The prosecution stated that both men, who are residents of Kanhauli village, used intimidation and illegal means to wrongfully acquire the land.
During the hearing, the lawyer representing the accused argued that another co-accused in the same case had already been granted bail by the Patna High Court and sought similar relief for his clients. However, the bench was visibly displeased with this line of argument.
Justice Pardiwala interrupted the counsel and said firmly,
“Please don’t spoil the environment of the court in the morning hours.”
This showed the court’s irritation with what it viewed as an unconvincing and inappropriate argument.
The petitioners were appealing against a May 2 order of the Patna High Court, which had already rejected their requests for anticipatory bail in the land fraud case.
Despite their attempt to secure protection from arrest through the Supreme Court, the bench categorically dismissed their pleas, reaffirming the seriousness of the allegations.
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