Patna High Court Grants Anticipatory Bail To Man Accused Of Making 'Filthy' FB Posts Against Goddess Janaki, Lakshmana Ji

The Patna High Court last week granted anticipatory bail to one Md. Sarfaraj @ Sharfaraj Ansari who has been accused of making 'filthy' Facebook post over Goddess Janaki and Laxman Ji.

The bench of Justice Anjani Kumar Sharan ordered that in the event of arrest or surrender of the accused before the court below within a period of six weeks from today, he be enlarged on bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs. 25K with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Bettiah, West Champaran.

Essentially, the accused allegedly made a post in the Facebook group, namely, Nonveg Chutkule and Full Masti against Goddess Janaki and Laxman Ji due to which religious sentiments and communal harmony was disturbed. 

He moved the court apprehending his arrest in the 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.

His counsel argued that he is innocent and has falsely been implicated in the present case and that during the investigation, no material had come against him. It was also submitted that the mobile number allegedly used for making the FB posts does not belong to him.

The APP for the State opposed the prayer for the grant of anticipatory bail by submitting that the petitioner is the Admin of the said group. However, the Court went ahead to grant him bail subject to the conditions laid down under Section 438(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Case title - Md. Sarfaraj vs. State of Bihar

Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Pat) 8

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