PATNA: Patna high court on Wednesday acquitted former legislator Anant Singh of the criminal charges of illegally storing AK-47 rifle along with other prohibited arms and directed for his immediate release from the prison. The arms were allegedly recovered from his two separate residences.
A single bench of Justice Chandra Shekhar Jha, while allowing two criminal appeals of Anant Singh, quashed the two verdicts of a trial court of Patna, whereby Singh was awarded two separate sentences, each of 10 years rigorous imprisonment (RI) with fines, for alleged recovery of prohibited arms.
Out of the two cases in which Singh was booked under Arms Act, the first one is connected with the alleged recovery of AK-47 rifle, magazine and two grenades from his ancestral house at Nadawan in Barh police station area on August 17, 2019. Following this, a case (No. 389/2019) was lodged with Barh police station. On June 14, 2022, the former legislator was convicted and awarded rigorous imprisonment of 10 years with a fine of Rs 50,000.
High court points out ‘over activism’ of IO
The second case is related to the alleged recovery of magazines of an Insas rifle and a bulletproof jacket, from govt quarter of Singh at Mall road, Patna in February 2015. Following this, a case (no. 54/2015) was lodged with Patna Sachiva- Jay PS. On July 21, 2022, he was sentenced to 10-year RI and a fine of Rs 20,000 was imposed on him by the trial court.
Both the verdicts were appealed in the Patna high court and were finally quashed on Wednesday The high court in both the appeals found that prosecution failed to prove both the cases be yond “reasonable doubts”. The high court expressed Its “reasonable doubt on the authenticity of sealing and seizure of the prohibited arms as allegedly recovered from appellant’s house. Especially in Barh case, the date of alleged seizure of AK-47 was mentioned as Au gust 16, 2019, a day prior to the date of actual search in the presence of magistrate.
Likewise, several discrepancies were found in the evidences produced by the police in both the cases. Justice Jha also pointed out the “over activism” of the investigating officer (10) In the Barh case, who is also daughter of a politician. The high court also acquitted co accused Sunil Ram in the-ca- se. In both the appeals, senior advocate Pushkar Na- rain Shahi argued for the appellant while prosecutor Ajay Mishra opposed the appeal.
HC seeks reply from govt on ‘jamabandi
Patna high court has asked the state govt to file its reply on a writ petition that has challenged the specific provision of Bihar Land Mutation law whereby the power to cancel Jamabandi of any land has been vested to the revenue. authorities. This matter will be heard again on Sept 30.

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