The Supreme Court recently(September 3) refused to interfere with the Patna High Court's order rejecting the bail plea of Ritlal Yadav, former member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly from Rashtriya Janata Dal, in connection with allegations of organised crime and extortion. However, the Court said if there is no substantial progress in his trial in the course of 1 year, he can renew his prayer for bail before the Patna High Court provided he cooperates with the trial.

A bench comprising Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Sheel Nagu heard Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal for Yadav. However, the bench expressed its not inclined to grant him bail right now. It directed that the Trial Court should frame charges as early as possible.

"We are not inclined to interfere with the impugned judgment and order of the High Court, at this stage; hence, the special leave petition is dismissed. We encourage the trial court to frame the charges early; however, if there is no substantial progress in the trial over the course of one year next from date of framing charges despite sincere cooperation extended by the petitioner to expedite the trial, he shall be at liberty to renew his prayer for bail before the High Court."

It may be recalled that on February 26, the Patna High Court refused to grant him bail for the offence of organised crime registered under Sections 111(4), 111(6), and 111(7) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

The case against Yadav was that he, along with others, is a part of an organised gang and demanded ransom from real estate builders and businessmen by threatening them with dire consequences and have amassed wealth disproportionate to their known source of income. Considering arguments on both sides, the Patna High Court rejected his bail plea.

Case Details: RITLAL YADAV @ RITLAL RAI vs. THE STATE OF BIHAR|Diary No. - 22331/2026

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