Ashish Kumar v. State of U.P. Thru. Prin. Secy. Home Lko.
Bail – grant – prolonged incarceration of four years and four months – trial unlikely to conclude in near future
Case brief
What is this about?
Allahabad High Court, Lucknow Bench (Rajesh Singh Chauhan, J.), Neutral Citation 2024:AHC-LKO:75865, order dated 18.11.2024 in Criminal Misc. Bail Application No. 11638 of 2024: bail allowed to Ashish Kumar, undertrial since 11.07.2020 in case crime no. 331 of 2020, Section 304 IPC, P.S. Lalganj, Raebareli. Grounds: 4 years 4 months incarceration, delayed trial (only 3 of 15 prosecution witnesses examined), grave medical condition (ascites, bilateral pneumonia, brain stroke, psychiatric changes). Relied on Union of India v. K.A. Najeeb (AIR 2021 SC 712) and Paras Ram Vishnoi (2021 SCC OnLine SC 3606). Bail conditions invoke Sections 229-A and 174-A IPC and Sections 82 and 313 Cr.P.C. First bail application (No. 4547 of 2021) rejected 19.04.2022 by Ram Krishna Gautam, J.
What did the court decide?
Release of applicant Ashish Kumar on bail in case crime no. 331 of 2020 on furnishing a personal bond and two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the court concerned, subject to conditions (i)-(iv) regarding non-seeking of adjournments, attendance before the trial court, consequences under Sections 229-A/174-A IPC and Section 82 Cr.P.C., and personal presence at opening of case, framing of charge and Section 313 Cr.P.C. statement.