Minister Accused of Addressing Protest Gathering Cleared of Wrongdoing Due to Lack of Evidence
In a significant legal development, the Patna High Court has quashed the cognizance order against Santosh Kumar Suman, a minister in the Bihar Government, who was implicated in a protest-related case from 2017. The court found that the allegations against the minister were baseless, primarily as they involved merely addressing a gathering without any evidence of active participation in criminal activities.
The case, dating back to an incident at Domuhane Chowk, involved a protest where some individuals were accused of blocking roads, burning tyres, and assaulting a police officer. The minister, along with several others, was alleged to have addressed the crowd via loudspeaker during the protest. Despite these claims, the High Court concluded that there was no evidence of the minister's involvement in any assault or other alleged criminal activities.
The judgment delivered by Justice Sandeep Kumar on February 3, 2026, emphasized that the cognizance order, dated February 12, 2021, was passed without proper application of mind, as it was not supported by evidence. The court noted that the FIR and the submissions presented did not substantiate the claims against the minister, leading to the decision to quash the order against him.
The minister's counsel argued that the charges were politically motivated, given his position in the government, and stressed that he was merely addressing the gathering without participating in any criminal conduct. The court's decision marks a relief for the minister, underscoring the importance of evidence-based legal proceedings.
Bottom Line:
Quashing of cognizance order against petitioner - Petitioner, serving as Minister in Bihar Government, alleged to have addressed gathering during protest - No evidence of assault or active involvement in the alleged criminal activities - Cognizance order passed without proper application of mind.
Statutory provision(s): Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 Section 482, Indian Penal Code Sections 109, 147, 148, 149, 188, 341, 323, 325, 338, 354(B), 333, 363, 427, 504, Bihar Police Act, 2007 Section 72, Prevention of Damage of Public Property Act, 1984 Section 4.
Santosh Kumar Suman @ Santosh Manjhi v. State of Bihar, (Patna) : Law Finder Doc id # 2849956
