Sonu Kumar Giri Alias Sonu Giri vs. The State Of Jharkhand

Facts

The petitioner, Shiva Kumar Deora, filed a Criminal Miscellaneous Petition (Cr.M.P.) No. 809 of 2025 before the Jharkhand High Court. The opposite party is the Union of India through the Intelligence Officer, Directorate General of GST Intelligence, Jharkhand. The case involves an interlocutory application (I.A. No. 4421 of 2025) which was rejected as not pressed. The primary matter concerns the petitioner's repeated requests for time to proceed with the Cr.M.P. The Court had previously granted time as a last chance on December 6, 2025. On the current date, March 30, 2026, the petitioner's counsel again sought an adjournment.

Held

The Court allowed the petitioner's prayer for time, but made it conditional. The petitioner is required to deposit a sum of Rs. 1,000/- with the Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority (JHALSA) within three weeks from the date of the order. Failure to comply with this condition will result in the Cr.M.P. standing dismissed without further reference to the Bench. The case is to be listed again after three weeks, provided the petitioner files proof of the deposit. The Court did not delve into the substantive merits of the GST dispute, as the proceedings were focused on procedural compliance and the grant of adjournment.

Key Issues

1. Whether the petitioner's repeated requests for adjournment in Cr.M.P. No. 809 of 2025 should be granted, considering the previous grant of time as a last chance. The petitioner's counsel argued for an adjournment, seeking further time to proceed with the case. The revenue, represented by the Union of India, did not present any specific arguments against the adjournment in the provided text. The Court's decision hinges on whether to grant the petitioner's request for more time, given the procedural history of the case and the previous indulgence shown.