SUMAN K SHRIVASTAVA
Ranchi, March 18: The Jharkhand High Court today granted bail to two alleged Maoist operatives—Rajesh Kumar Ganjhu and Baijnath Ganjhu—in separate but related cases investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), citing prolonged incarceration of over six years and slow progress in trial.
A Division Bench of Justice Rongon Mukhopadhyay and Justice Pradeep Kumar Srivastava set aside earlier orders of the NIA Special Court that had rejected their bail pleas in December 2025.
Arrests Linked to Levy Collection for Maoist Leader
Both cases arise from a January 2020 incident in Latehar district, where police apprehended three individuals allegedly collecting levy for CPI (Maoist) leader Ravindra Ganjhu.
According to the prosecution, the accused were involved in extortion and logistical support for the banned organisation. Cash amounting to ₹5 lakh, documents, and other materials were recovered during the operation. The case was later taken over by the NIA.
ALSO READ: CM Hemant Soren flags welfare, growth as Jharkhand session concludes
Similar Grounds for Bail: Delay and Long Custody
In both cases, the High Court emphasised two key factors:
- The accused had been in custody since January 5, 2020
- Only five out of nearly 160 witnesses had been examined so far
The court observed that the trial was unlikely to conclude anytime soon, and continued incarceration would be unjustified.
Relying on the Supreme Court ruling in Union of India vs K.A. Najeeb (2021), the Bench reiterated that prolonged detention and delay in trial can override the rigours of UAPA provisions in appropriate cases.
Differences in Roles Noted by Court
While granting bail, the court examined the roles attributed to both accused:
- Rajesh Kumar Ganjhu: Alleged to be a logistics provider and courier, assisting Maoist activities and movement
- Baijnath Ganjhu: Alleged to have collected funds and supplied materials, also acting as a courier and overground worker
Despite the allegations, the court found their roles to be limited in nature compared to a co-accused, whose bail had earlier been rejected due to a more direct involvement in extortion activities.
Previous Bail in Related Case Considered
The court also noted that both accused had already been granted bail in another NIA case linked to the Lukuiya More incident, involving the killing of four police personnel. This further weighed in favour of granting relief.
Bail Conditions Imposed
In both cases, the High Court directed release on bail upon furnishing bonds of ₹10,000 with two sureties each.
The accused have been ordered to remain physically present before the trial court on every hearing, unless exempted for valid reasons.
