The High Court granted bail to the under-trial applicant in a criminal case involving IPC offences, noting significant delays in the trial where no witness had been examined. The bail was conditioned on personal bonds and sureties.
Released on bail on furnishing a personal bond and two sureties each in the like amount.
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Court No. - 85
Case :- CRIMINAL MISC. BAIL APPLICATION No. - 42006 of 2022
Applicant :- Arvind Kumar Opposite Party :- State of U.P. Counsel for Applicant :- Prashant Agrawal,Saurabh Basu Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A.
Hon'ble Siddharth,J.
Supplementary affidavit filed today is taken on record.
Heard learned counsel for the applicant as well as the learned AGA for the State and perused the material placed on record.
The instant bail application has been filed on behalf of the applicant, Arvind Kumar, with a prayer to release him on bail in Case Crime No. 694 of 2018, under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 504 IPC, P.S. Soron, District Kasganj, during pendency of trial.
This is second bail application of the applicant. The first bail application of the applicant was rejected by co-ordinate Bench of this Court on 7.12.2020. Since more than two years have passed, this case is listed before this Court as per the order of Hon'ble The Chief Justice dated 27.4.2022.
Learned counsel for the applicant has relied on supplementary affidavit filed in Court wherein order-sheet of the court below has been filed, which shows that before the trial court, not a single witness has been examined till date. The applicant has no criminal history to his credit and is languishing in jail since 7.2.2019. In case, the applicant is released on bail, he will not misuse the liberty of bail.
Per contra learned A.G.A. has opposed the prayer for bail of the applicant by contending that the innocence of the applicant cannot be adjudged at pre trial stage, therefore, he does not deserves any indulgence. In case the applicant is released on bail he will again indulge in similar activities and will misuse the liberty of bail.
Having considered the submissions of the parties noted above, finding force in the submissions made by the learned counsel for the applicant; keeping in view uncertainty regarding conclusion of trial; one sided investigation by police, ignoring the case of accused side; applicant being under-trial having fundamental right to speedy; larger mandate of the Article 21 of the Constitution of India, considering the dictum of Apex Court in the case of Satendra Kumar Antil Vs. C.B.I. & Another, passed in S.L.P.(Crl.) No. 5191 of 2021, judgement dated 11.7.2022 and considering 5-6 times overcrowding in jails over and above their capacity by under trials and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, let the applicant involved in the aforesaid 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 with the following conditions that :-
(i) The applicant shall not tamper with the evidence or threaten the witnesses.
(ii) The applicant shall file an undertaking to the effect that he shall not seek any adjournment on the dates 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.
(iii) The applicant shall remain present before the Trial Court on each date fixed, either personally or as directed by the Court. In case of his absence, without sufficient cause, the Trial Court may proceed against him under Section 229-A of the Indian Penal Code.
(iv) In case the applicant misuse the liberty of bail during trial and in order to secure his presence, proclamation under Section 82 Cr.P.C. is issued and the applicants fail 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 of the Indian Penal Code.
(v) The applicant shall remain present in person before the Trial Court on the dates fixed for (i) opening of the case, (ii) framing of charge and (iii) 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.
In case, of breach of any of the above conditions, it shall be a ground for cancellation of bail.
Identity and residence proof of the applicant and sureties be verified by the court concerned before the bonds are accepted.
Order Date :- 21.3.2023 Ruchi Agrahari
Digitally signed by :- RUCHI AGRAHARI High Court of Judicature at Allahabad
2 issues framed by the court
Whether the applicant should be granted bail on furnishing a personal bond and sureties after the trial court has not examined any witness for over two years.
Whether the existing delays in investigation and trial justify the release of the under-trial accused on bail.
Colour shows how this judgement treated each authority
Arvind Kumar
State of U.P.
Siddharth
As recorded by the court registry
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