Patna High Court Quashes 8-Year-Old Criminal Case Against Minister Santosh Kumar Suman

Patna: The Patna High Court has granted major relief to Bihar Minor Water Resources Minister Santosh Kumar Suman by quashing an eight-year-old criminal case registered against him. The order was passed on Tuesday by a single bench of Justice Sandeep Kumar.

Suman, son of Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, had been facing criminal proceedings stemming from an FIR lodged in April 2017 at Bodh Gaya police station. The case accused him of unlawful assembly, road blockade, public disturbance, assault, and obstructing government officials from performing their duties.

While allowing the petition, the court ordered the entire criminal proceeding arising out of the FIR to be set aside.

Appearing for Suman, advocates Dinu Kumar and Vardaan Mangalam argued that a plain reading of the FIR did not disclose any criminal offence. They submitted that their client was delivering a political speech to the public and alleged that the case was filed with mala fide intent to harass an innocent citizen. The defence described the FIR, which invoked multiple penal sections, as a classic example of misuse of legal provisions.

After hearing the arguments, the court found merit in the petitioner’s submissions and ordered the quashing of the FIR. Government counsel Jharkhandi Upadhyay opposed the plea on behalf of the state.