High Court granted bail to applicant Sheetla Prasad in a trial involving murder and affray charges, considering his age, infirmity, lack of criminal history, and parity with a co-accused already released.
Grants bail with personal bond and two sureties; strict conditions on court attendance, prohibition on adjournments, and risk of proclamation for absence.
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Court No. - 76
Case :- CRIMINAL MISC. BAIL APPLICATION No. - 43070 of 2022
Applicant :- Sheetla Prasad Opposite Party :- State of U.P. Counsel for Applicant :- Braj Lal Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A.,Hari Om Sharan Tiwari,Sanjay Shukla,Virendra Kumar Pandey
Hon'ble Shekhar Kumar Yadav,J.
Heard learned counsel for the applicant, learned AGA for the State and perused the record.
Supplementary affidavit filed by learned counsel for the applicant today is taken on record.
This bail application under Section 439 of Code of Criminal Procedure has been filed by the applicant seeking enlargement on bail during the trial in Case Crime/FRI No. 153 of 2022, under Sections 302, 147,148, 149,452,323,308 IPC, P.S.Handia, District Allahabad (Prayagraj)
It is contended that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in this case. It is contended that FIR has been lodged against nine persons including the applicant and no specific role has been assigned either to the applicant or any other co-accused persons. The applicant is in jail since 03.05.2022 and has no criminal history. It is further submitted that applicant is very old aged more than 62 years and infirm.
It is next submitted that similarly placed co-accused Meera Devi, has been granted bail by this Court vide order dated 16.08.2022 passed in Criminal Misc. Bail Application No. 29063 of 2022, therefore, applicant is also entitled to be released on bail on the ground of parity.
I have perused the bail order of co accused and find that the role assigned to the present applicant is almost similar to that of co accused person who has already been enlarged on bail by this court.
On the other hand, learned A.G.A. opposes the application for bail.
Upon hearing learned counsel for the parties, perusal of record and considering the complicity of accused, severity of punishment as well as totality of facts and circumstances, at this stage without commenting on the merits of the case, I find it a fit case for bail.
Let the applicant- Sheetla Prasad, who is involved in aforementioned case crime be released on bail on his furnishing a personal bond and two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the court concerned subject to following conditions. Further, before issuing the release order, the sureties be verified.
(i) The applicant shall file an undertaking to the effect that he shall not seek any adjournment on the date fixed for evidence when the witnesses are present in Court. In case of default of this condition, it shall be open for the Trial Court to treat it as abuse of liberty of bail and pass orders in
accordance with law.
(ii) The applicant shall remain present before the Trial Court on each date fixed, either personally or through his counsel. In case of his absence, without sufficient cause, the Trial Court may proceed against him under Section 229-A IPC.
(iii) In case, the applicant misuses the liberty of bail during trial and in order to secure his presence proclamation under Section 82 Cr.P.C., may be issued and if applicant fails to appear before the Court on the date fixed in such proclamation, then, the Trial Court shall initiate proceedings against him, in accordance with law, under Section 174-A IPC.
(iv) The applicant shall remain present, in person, before the Trial Court on dates fixed for (1) opening of the case, (2) framing of charge and (3) recording of statement under Section 313 Cr.P.C. If in the opinion of the Trial Court absence of the applicant is deliberate or without sufficient cause, then it shall be open for the Trial Court to treat such default as abuse of liberty of bail and proceed against him in accordance with law.
(v) The Trial Court may make all possible efforts/endeavour and try to conclude the trial within a period of one year after the release of the applicant.
In case of breach of of any of the above conditions, it shall be a ground for cancellation of bail.
It is made clear that observations made in granting bail to the applicant shall not in any way affect the learned trial Judge in forming his independent opinion based on the testimony of the witnesses.
Order Date :- 29.11.2022/RavindraKSingh
Digitally signed by RAVINDRA KUMAR SINGH Date: 2022.11.29 16:33:45 IST Reason: Location: High Court of Judicature at Allahabad
1 issue framed by the court
Whether the applicant is entitled to bail during trial given his age, infirmity, and parity with a similarly placed co-accused.
5 provisions across 2 enactments
Sheetla Prasad
State of U.P.
Shekhar Kumar Yadav
As recorded by the court registry
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