Firoj @ Sanoj vs State of U.P. and Another

Heard Sri Ashutosh Kumar Shukla, learned counsel for the applicant and Sri V.K.S. Parmar, learned A.G.A. for the State and also perused the material placed on record.

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Applicant seeks bail in Case Crime No. 892 of 2023, under Sections 302 & 328 of IPC, Police Station - Piparaich, District - Gorakhpur, during the pendency of trial.

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As per prosecution story, the informant's son (now deceased) is stated to have established illicit relationship with the co-accused Priya, who happens to be the wife of co-accused Kartik. It is alleged that the applicant along with co-accused persons, Kartik and Priya had forcibly administered poison to the informant's son, leading him to death.

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Learned counsel for the applicant has argued that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the present case. He has nothing to do with the said offence as alleged in the FIR. The FIR neither mention the time of offence nor the date when the poison was administered.

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Learned counsel has also stated that the cause of death of deceased could not be ascertained, as such, viscera was preserved. As per viscera report, aluminium phosphide has been found in it. It is argued that it is

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BAIL No. 30218 of 2025

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almost impossible by any person to forcibly administer the said aluminium phosphide to any person whatsoever.

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Learned counsel has further stated that subsequently after a lapse of about two years, a video is stated to have been procured by the police in which the deceased is shown stating that the applicant along with coaccused Kartik had administered him the said poison ultimately leading to his death. The ward boy, who recorded the said video, has not been examined. Even there is no certificate fetched under the provisions of Section 65B of Indian Evidence Act, as such, it is a clear cut case of false implication as the veracity of the video has to be tested.

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Learned counsel has next contended that the applicant is languishing in jail since 28.05.2025, having no criminal history to his credit. In case, the applicant is released on bail, he will not misuse the liberty of bail and shall cooperate with trial.

¶19

Per contra, learned AGA has vehemently opposed the bail application but unable to dispute the submissions raised by the learned counsel for the applicant and also the fact that the applicant has no criminal history.

¶20

The well-known principle of "Presumption of Innocence Unless Proven Guilty," gives rise to the concept of bail as a rule and imprisonment as an exception. A person's right to life and liberty, guaranteed by Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, cannot be taken away simply because the person is accused of committing an offence until the guilt is established beyond a reasonable doubt. Article 21 of the Indian Constitution states that no one's life or personal liberty may be taken away unless the procedure established by law is followed, and the procedure must be just and reasonable. The said principle has been reiterated by the Supreme Court in Satender Kumar Antil Vs. Central Bureau of Investigation and another, 2022 (10) SCC 51 . Learned AGA could not bring forth any exceptional circumstances which would warrant denial of bail to the applicant.

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It is a settled principle of law that the object of bail is to secure the attendance of the accused at the trial. No material particulars or circumstances suggestive of the applicant fleeing from justice or

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BAIL No. 30218 of 2025

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thwarting the course of justice or creating other troubles in the shape of repeating offences or intimidating witnesses and the like have been shown by learned AGA.

¶25

The said viewpoint was shared in Nagendra Nath Chakrabarthi v. King-Emperor AIR 1924 Cal 476; Emperor v. Hutchinson AIR 1931 All 356; K. N. Joglekar v. Emperor AIR 1931 All 504; Sanjay Chandra v. Central Bureau of Investigation AIR 2012 SC 830; Inhuman Conditions in 1382 Prisons, In re. (2017) 10 SCC 658; State Of Rajasthan Vs. Balchand AIR 1977 SC 2447; and Ashim vs. National Investigation Agency (2022) 1 SCC 695) .

¶26

Reiterating the aforesaid view, the Supreme Court in the case of Manish Sisodia Vs. Directorate of Enforcement, 2024 INSC 595 , has again emphasized that the very well-settled principle of law that bail is not to be withheld as a punishment is not to be forgotten. It is high time that the Courts should recognize the principle that " bail is a rule and jail is an exception ".

¶27

Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, submissions made by learned counsel for the parties, delay in lodging the FIR and also considering the fact that the FIR neither mention the time of offence nor the date of said poison was administered, prima facie I find it a fit case to release the applicant on bail. The bail application is allowed .

¶28

Let the applicant- Firoj @ Sanoj , 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 will not tamper with the evidence during trial.

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ii) The applicant will not pressurise/intimidate with the prosecution witnesses.

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iii) The applicant will appear before the trial court on the date fixed.

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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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(Krishan Pahal,J.)

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October 9, 2025

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Siddhant

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Digitally signed by :- SIDDHANT SAHU High Court of Judicature at Allahabad

Firoj @ Sanoj v. State of U.P. and Another

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Firoj @ Sanoj v. State of U.P. and Another

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