Santosh Kumar Alias Nandu vs State of U.P. and 3 Others

Neutral Citation No. - 2025:AHC:52781

Court No. - 65

Case :- CRIMINAL MISC. BAIL APPLICATION No. - 11701 of 2025

Applicant :- Santosh Kumar Alias Nandu Opposite Party :- State Of U.P. And 3 Others Counsel for Applicant :- Gaurav Gupta Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A.

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Hon'ble Krishan Pahal,J.

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List has been revised.

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Learned A.G.A. has informed that notice to the informant has been served on 19.3.2025.

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Heard Sri Gaurav Gupta, learned counsel for the applicant, Sri Sunil Kumar, learned A.G.A. for the State and perused the material placed on record.

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Applicant seeks bail in Session Case No.159 of 2025, arising out of Case Crime No.821 of 2024, under Sections 65(1), 333 B.N.S., 3/4(2) POCSO Act and 3(2)(v) SC/ST Act, Police StationPowayan, District- Shahjahanpur, during the pendency of trial.

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As per prosecution story, the applicant is stated to have enticed away the victim from her house on 28.11.2024 and had taken her beneath a culvert and committed rape with her. The victim was retrieved by the informant the same night from the said culvert.

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Learned counsel for the applicant has argued that the applicant is absolutely innocent and has been falsely implicated in the present case. The FIR is delayed by about two days and there is no explanation of the said delay caused. The victim by her looks seems to be major, although she is stated to be 16 years old as per the ossification test report, as such, a leverage of two years may be granted to the applicant on the upper side.

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Learned counsel for the applicant has further stated that it is a clear cut case of consensual relationship. There is no medical corroboration of the incident. There is no criminal antecedent of the applicant. The applicant is languishing in jail since 2.12.2024 and he is ready to cooperate with trial. In case, the applicant is

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released on bail, he will not misuse the liberty of bail.

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Learned A.G.A. has vehemently opposed the bail application.

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The Supreme Court in Jaya Mala vs. State of J & K, (1982) 2 SCC 538 and Mohd. Imran Khan vs. State (Govt. of NCT of Delhi), (2011) 10 SCC 192 has opined that the radiologist cannot predict the correct date of birth rather there is a long margin of 1 to 2 years on either side.

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In light of the judgement of the Supreme Court passed in Niranjan Singh and another vs Prabhakar Rajaram Kharote and others AIR 1980 SC 785, this Court has avoided detailed examination of the evidence and elaborate documentation of the merits of the case as no party should have the impression that his case has been prejudiced. A prima facie satisfaction of case is needed but it is not the same as an exhaustive exploration of the merits in the order itself.

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Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, submissions made by learned counsel for the parties, the evidence on record, and taking into consideration the settled law of the Supreme Court passed in Satender Kumar Antil vs. Central Bureau of Investigation and Ors., 2022 INSC 690 and Manish Sisodia vs. Directorate of Enforcement, 2024 INSC 595 and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, the Court is of the view that the applicant has made out a case for bail. The bail application is allowed .

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Let the applicant- Santosh Kumar Alias Nandu , 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.

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(i) The applicant shall not tamper with evidence.

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(ii) 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./351 B.N.S.S. 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.

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In case of breach of any of the above conditions, it shall be a ground for cancellation of bail.

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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.

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Order Date :- 10.4.2025 Vikas

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(Justice Krishan Pahal)

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Digitally signed by :- VIKAS VERMA High Court of Judicature at Allahabad

Santosh Kumar Alias Nandu v. State of U.P. and 3 Others

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Santosh Kumar Alias Nandu v. State of U.P. and 3 Others

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