Bail application for an applicant implicated in an investment-scheme fraud case with a large criminal history. The court noted the offence was triable by Magistrate, trial had not commenced despite long incarceration, relied on a recent judgment on bail, and granted bail with conditions.
This page shows the compact analysis of this judgement. The full analysis — procedural history, issue-by-issue holdings with ratio and obiter, advocates, and paragraph-level evidence for every claim — is being added to the record in batches and will appear here when this judgement has been through it.
Neutral Citation No. - 2024:AHC-LKO:65477
Court No. - 14
Case :- CRIMINAL MISC. BAIL APPLICATION No. - 1659 of 2024
Applicant :- Ajeet Kumar Gupta Opposite Party :- State Of U.P. Thru. Secy. Deptt. Home Annexe Bhawan Civil Sectt. Lko
Counsel for Applicant :- Chandra Shekhar Sinha,Akshat Sinha,Gaurav Verma
Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A.,Brijesh Singh Vishen
Hon'ble Karunesh Singh Pawar,J.
1. Heard learned counsel for the applicant, learned Additional Government Advocate for the State and perused the record.
2. It is alleged in the prosecution case that the accused persons formed Anee Bullion Company about 10 years before and allured general public by offering 40 per cent return on investments. Investment was made by the public, including the complainant. Gradually, Ajit Gupta, present applicant has formed many other companies. On maturity, the money has not been returned by the accused person(s).
3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the offences are triable by Magistrate. The applicant has a criminal history of 152 cases which has been explained by him in the bail application. The applicant has been released on bail in 71 cases. The applicant is in jail since 16.7.2020. Till date, the trial has not commenced.
It is further submitted that there is no possibility of the applicant of fleeing away after being released on bail or tampering with the witnesses. In case the applicant is enlarged on bail, he shall not misuse the liberty of bail.
4. Learned A.G.A. opposed the prayer for bail but could not dispute the aforesaid facts as argued by the learned counsel for
the applicant.
5. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, as per the admitted case between the parties, trial has not yet commenced, the offence is triable by Magistrate, arguments advanced by learned counsel for the parties, the period for which the applicant is in jail as also the judgment in Javed Gulam Nabi Shaikh versus State of Maharashtra and another Criminal Appeal No.2787 of 2024 (arising out of SLP(Crl) No.3809 of 2024, and without expressing any opinion on the merit of the case, I find it to be a fit case for enlarging the applicant on bail.
6. Let the applicant Ajeet Kumar Gupta, involved in Case Crime No.798 of 2020 under sections 420, 409 I.P.C., P.S. Gomti Nagar, Lucknow, 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 which are being imposed in the interest of justice:-
(i) The applicant will not tamper with the evidence during the trial.
(ii) The applicant will not pressurize/ intimidate the prosecution witness.
(iii) The applicant shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police officer or tamper with the evidence.
(iv) 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.
(v) 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 of the Indian Penal Code.
(vi) 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. is issued and the 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 of the Indian Penal Code.
7. The application is allowed accordingly.
Order Date :- 21.9.2024 kkb/
Digitally signed by :- KRISHNA KUMAR BARANWAL High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, Lucknow Bench
1 issue framed by the court
Whether the applicant should be enlarged on bail given the offence is triable by Magistrate and the trial has not commenced after prolonged custody.
Colour shows how this judgement treated each authority
Javed Gulam Nabi Shaikh versus State of Maharashtra and anotherRelied on¶5
Criminal Appeal No.2787 of 2024 (arising out of SLP(Crl) No.3809 of 2024
4 provisions across 2 enactments
Ajeet Kumar Gupta
State Of U.P.
Karunesh Singh Pawar
As recorded by the court registry
4 orders share this CNR
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
