The Supreme Court strongly criticized 2 men accused in a land fraud case in Patna, rejecting their anticipatory bail pleas and questioning the seriousness of the alleged crime.
A bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan was hearing the bail applications of Lalit Mohan Rai and Lalit Rai, who are accused of forcibly obtaining a fraudulent land deed for nearly 60 khata of land by allegedly threatening the victim with a firearm.
“Your clients seem to be goons. It is not even a case for grant of regular bail,” remarked Justice Pardiwala, making the Court’s stance on the severity of the allegations clear.
Court Unmoved By Comparison To Co-Accused
During the hearing, the defense sought to draw a comparison to a co-accused who had earlier been granted bail by the Patna High Court. However, this did not sway the bench.
“Please don’t spoil the environment of the court in the morning hours,” Justice Pardiwala said firmly, brushing aside the argument as irrelevant in light of the specific allegations against the petitioners.
Allegations Of Armed Coercion
The case stems from an incident on October 30, 2023, when the accused allegedly took the victim at gunpoint to the registry office in Patna. There, they are said to have forced him to sign over a large plot of land measuring around 60 khata, which was later registered in their names under suspicious circumstances.
A formal complaint was filed with the Gandhi Maidan police station on November 26, 2023, detailing the use of threats and the fraudulent nature of the transaction.
Bail Rejection Upheld
The petitioners approached the Supreme Court after the Patna High Court denied them anticipatory bail on May 2, 2025. Upholding that decision, the Supreme Court emphasized the gravity of the allegations and refused to intervene.
The prosecution has claimed that the accused, residents of Kanhauli village in Patna, were directly involved in orchestrating the illegal land transfer using intimidation tactics. With the investigation still ongoing, the Court found no merit in granting them protection from arrest.
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