Manoj Lodhi vs State of U.P. — Murder and Culpable Homicide | Allahabad HC (2025)

Manoj Lodhi vs State of U.P. — Murder and Culpable Homicide | Allahabad HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Release of applicant Manoj Lodhi on bail on furnishing a personal bond and two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the court concerned, with verification of sureties before issuing the release order, subject to conditions (i) not to tamper with evidence, (ii) not to pressurise/intimidate prosecution witnesses, (iii) to appear before the trial court on dates fixed; breach of conditions to be a ground for cancellation of bail.

Issue for consideration

Whether the applicant Manoj Lodhi should be released on bail in Case Crime No.306 of 2023 (Sections 302, 201 and 120B I.P.C.) during the pendency of trial.

Ratio / Principle

Considering the facts and circumstances, submissions, evidence on record and the delay in institution of the FIR, and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, the Court was prima facie of the view that the applicant had made out a case for bail, and the bail application was allowed.

Key takeaways

The applicant Manoj Lodhi was ordered to be released on bail on furnishing a personal bond and two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the court concerned, with sureties to be verified before the release order, subject to conditions that he shall not tamper with evidence, shall not pressurise or intimidate prosecution witnesses, and shall appear before the trial court on dates fixed.ratio¶9
Breach of any of the imposed bail conditions shall constitute a ground for cancellation of bail.ratio¶10
It was expressly made clear that the observations made while granting bail shall not in any way affect the trial judge in forming his independent opinion based on the testimony of the witnesses.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Allahabad High Court (Krishan Pahal, J.), December 2, 2025 — Criminal Misc. Bail Application No. 37135 of 2025 (Manoj Lodhi v. State of U.P.): Bail allowed in Case Crime No. 306 of 2023, Police Station Husainganj, District Fatehpur, under Sections 302, 201 and 120B I.P.C. The decision took into account the delay of about two years in institution of the FIR without explanation, the applicant's custody since 03.11.2023, and the explained criminal history of one case, without expressing any opinion on merits. Release ordered on a personal bond and two sureties each in the like amount (sureties to be verified before the release order), subject to standard conditions (no tampering with evidence, no pressurising/intimidating prosecution witnesses, appearance on dates fixed), breach of any condition being a ground for cancellation; observations expressly stated not to affect the trial judge's independent assessment.

HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD

CRIMINAL MISC. BAIL APPLICATION No. - 37135 of 2025

Manoj Lodhi

.....Applicant(s) Versus State of U.P. .....Opposite Party(s) Counsel for Applicant(s) : Shivakant Counsel for Opposite Party(s) : G.A.

Court No. - 67

HON'BLE KRISHAN PAHAL, J.

List has been revised.

Supplementary affidavit filed today is taken on record.

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

Applicant seeks bail in Case Crime No.306 of 2023, under Sections 302, 201 and 120B I.P.C., Police Station Husainganj, District Fatehpur, during the pendency of trial.

Learned counsel for the applicant has argued that the applicant is absolutely innocent and has been falsely implicated in the present case. He has been made an accused on the basis of suspicion only. The FIR itself is delayed by about two years and there is no explanation of the said delay caused. There is no evidence against the applicant.

Learned counsel for the applicant has further argued that the criminal history of one case assigned to the applicant stands explained. The applicant is languishing in jail since 03.11.2023 and he is ready to cooperate with trial. In case, the applicant is released on bail, he will not misuse the liberty of bail.

Learned A.G.A. has vehemently opposed the bail application but the submissions raised by the learned counsel for the applicant could not be disputed.

BAIL No. 37135 of 2025

2

Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, submissions made by learned counsel for the parties, the evidence on record, taking into consideration the delay in institution of FIR, and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, prima-facie the Court is of the view that the applicant has made out a case for bail. The bail application is allowed .

Let the applicant- Manoj Lodhi , 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.

(i) The applicant shall not tamper with evidence during trial.

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

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

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

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.

(Krishan Pahal,J.)

December 2, 2025

(Ravi Kant)

Digitally signed by :- RAVI KANT High Court of Judicature at Allahabad