IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA Cr.Misc. No.31038 of 2009 MURARI PRASAD @ MURARI MAHTO, SON OF LATE KAPILDEO MAHTO, RESIDENT OF VILLAGE-BARI TOLA, P.S. MUFASSIL BETTIAH, DISTRICT-WEST CHAMPARAN……………………………….PETITIONER. Versus THE STATE OF BIHAR………………..OPPOSITE PARTY. ----------- For the Petitioner : Mr. Sanjeev Kumar No.1, Advocate. For the State : Mr. Uma Shankar Prasad Singh, A.P.P. ----------- 4. 25.3.2010. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned A.P.P. for the State and also perused the report of the 4th Additional Sessions Judge, West Champaran, Bettiah. The petitioner seeks bail in a case registered under Section 364-A of the Indian Penal Code. This case has been registered on the basis of the complaint lodged by the victim himself, who was allegedly kidnapped by the petitioner alongwith other co-accused persons. The complaint was forwarded to the concerned police station for investigation under Section 156(3) of the Indian Penal Code. - 2 - Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that there has been inordinate delay in lodging of the complaint. It has also been submitted that there is no independent witness, who has seen the occurrence. All the witnesses, examined during the course of investigation, are the hearsay witnesses, who have got information obtained either from the informant or his father. The petitioner is also stated to have no criminal antecedent. Learned A.P.P. for the State submitted that the complainant/informant, who himself was kidnapped, is the best person to narrate the occurrence and he has given a graphic account thereof. In view of the facts and the circumstances of the case and the fact that the victim himself has lodged the complaint against the petitioner regarding his kidnapping and has given a graphic account of the occurrence, I am not inclined to grant bail to the petitioner for the present. As a result, this application is dismissed. However, since charges have been framed on 5.6.2009 itself and it is apparent from the report that altogether eight witnesses are to be examined, I deem it - 3 - desirable to direct the court concerned to conclude the trial as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of six months. P.S. (Dr. Ravi Ranjan,J)