Allegations of Unlawful Assembly and Obstruction of Public Servants Lead to Bail Rejection
The Chhattisgarh High Court, presided over by Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha, denied anticipatory bail to Sanjeet Kumar Burman and Amrit Das Dahariya, accused of orchestrating an unlawful assembly within court premises in Bilaspur. The applicants faced allegations of disrupting judicial proceedings and obstructing law enforcement officers, undermining the sanctity of judicial institutions and public order.
The incident, which occurred on November 15, 2025, involved a mob allegedly led by the applicants who gathered within the court premises, raised slogans, and threatened Ashutosh Chaitanya, a storyteller accused of derogatory remarks against the Satnami community. As police intervened, the mob purportedly manhandled officers, obstructing them from performing their duties.
The defense, represented by Mr. Anchal Kumar Matre, argued the applicants' innocence, suggesting their presence near the court was coincidental and that the FIR was a counteraction to dilute misconduct by opposing parties. Despite claims of the applicants' non-involvement, the court noted previous criminal records, with Burman having six antecedents and Dahariya one, thus disqualifying them from anticipatory bail.
Chief Justice Sinha emphasized the importance of maintaining discipline within court precincts, ruling that such unlawful conduct cannot be condoned. The court stressed that judicial premises are not venues for protests and any disruption threatens public confidence in the justice system. The judgment serves as a stern warning against undermining judicial authority and obstructing law enforcement.
Bottom Line:
Anticipatory bail - Disruption of judicial proceedings and obstruction of public servants performing statutory duties within court premises constitutes a serious offence - Criminal antecedents of accused disqualify them from discretionary relief of anticipatory bail.
Statutory provision(s): Sections 191(2), 221, 132, 296, 351(2), 299 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
Sanjeet Kumar Burman v. State of Chhattisgarh, (Chhattisgarh) : Law Finder Doc Id # 2836526
