Allahabad High Court, Court No. 82 (Hon'ble Sameer Jain, J., single judge) — CRIMINAL MISC. ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION U/S 482 BNSS No. - 7015 of 2025, decided September 16, 2025: ALLOWED. Applicant Surendra Pal Singh, a retired officer (retired 2009, now about 76 years old, formerly Tax Assistant Officer), sought anticipatory bail in F.I.R./Case Crime No. 330 of 2004, Police Station Tarya Sujan, District Kushingar, under Sections 419, 420, 467, 468, 471, 120B IPC and Sections 13(1) and 13(2) P.C. Act. The 2004 FIR alleged tax evasion by nominated accused persons; the applicant's name emerged during investigation in 2011 with the allegation that he acted negligently; he was never arrested during investigation and a charge-sheet was filed in 2018 without arrest; he learnt of it only when bailable warrants were issued following his non-appearance. Counsel urged that after 20 years it was improper to jail him and that he had no criminal history; the learned AGA opposed but could not dispute the arguments on facts. Finding that the only allegation against the applicant was failure to diligently perform his duties, the Court held him entitled to anticipatory bail till conclusion of trial and, without expressing any opinion on merits, allowed the application: release on arrest upon a personal bond with two sureties each in the like amount, subject to conditions (no inducement/threat/promise or tampering with evidence; no leaving India without court permission; appearance before the trial court on each fixed date unless exempted; no pressurizing/intimidating prosecution witnesses); breach confers liberty on the court concerned to cancel the bail; observations made shall not affect the trial Judge's independent opinion based on witness testimony.
