RANCHI, India, Jan. 13 -- Jharkhand High Court issued the following order on Dec. 13:

I.A. No. 16294 of 2025

1. Heard Mr. Rakesh Kumar, learned counsel for the appellant and learned A.P.P.

2. This application has been preferred by the appellant for condonation of delay of 07 days in preferring the appeal.

3. Having been satisfied with the reasons assigned in the instant application, the same is allowed and the delay of 07 days in preferring the appeal is hereby condoned.

4. I.A. No. 16294 of 2025 stands disposed of.

Cr. Appeal (DB) No. 1525 of 2025

5. This appeal is directed against the order dated 07.10.2025 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge-III, Latehar in Misc. Criminal Application No. 679 of 2025, arising out of Latehar P.S. Case No. 218/2020, whereby and whereunder, the prayer for bail of the appellant has been rejected.

6. There was an encounter between the extremists and the police personnel and after the extremists fled away, on search of the place, huge quantity of arms and ammunitions and other incriminating articles were recovered.

7. Submission has been advanced by the learned counsel for the appellant that the appellant is in custody since 31.01.2025. It has been submitted that several of the co-accused persons have been granted bail by the Co-ordinate Bench of this Court.

8. Learned A.P.P. has opposed the prayer for bail of the appellant and has submitted that the appellant has got criminal antecedent.

9. Regard being had to the fact that the case of appellant seems to be similarly situated to that of co-accused person, who have been granted bail, as stated above, we, while setting aside the order dated 07.10.2025 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge-III, Latehar in Misc. Criminal Application No. 679 of 2025, arising out of Latehar P.S. Case No. 218/2020, direct that the appellant be released on bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs.10,000/- (Ten thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of learned Additional Sessions Judge-III, Latehar in connection with Latehar P.S. Case No. 218/2020 (S.T. No. 85 of 2025).

10. This appeal is allowed.

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