Dharmendra Seth v. State of U.P.
Case brief
What is this about?
Bail granted under S.439 Cr.P.C.; offences under IPC ss.419/420/465/467/468/471/120-B/201/34 (cheating, personation, forgery, common intention, disappearance of evidence), S.66 I.T. Act and ss.3/9/4/10 U.P. Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 1998; RO/ARO Preliminary Examination recruitment-scam case; Case Crime No.74 of 2024, PS Civil Lines, Prayagraj; name surfaced via confessional statement of co-accused Sandeep Pandey; parity with co-accused released on bail 10.09.2024 (Bail Appn. No.29254 of 2024); custody since 22.12.2024; no criminal history; no incriminating recovery; bail-is-the-rule principle; reliance on Balchand (1977) 4 SCC 308, Gudikanti Narasimhulu AIR 1978 SC 429, Satender Kumar Antil (2021) 10 SCC 773; conditions incl. presence under S.313 Cr.P.C.; Allahabad High Court, single judge, decided 7.2.2025.
What did the court decide?
Bail granted to applicant Dharmendra Seth in Case Crime No. 74 of 2024 on furnishing a personal bond and two reliable sureties each in the like amount, subject to conditions (no inducement or tampering with evidence; no pressurizing/intimidating prosecution witnesses; personal presence at opening of the case, framing of charge and Section 313 Cr.P.C. examination; undertaking not to seek adjournments on evidence dates; presence on each date personally or through counsel; no criminal activity after release); breach to be a ground for cancellation; trial court to endeavour to conclude the trial expeditiously.