Ramapati Devi Shankar Sahu v. State of Maharashtra
Case brief
What is this about?
Bombay High Court (Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction), Amit Borkar J., Bail Application No.1234 of 2025, decided 25 August 2025: regular bail allowed under Section 439 CrPC to applicant Ramapati Devi Shankar Sahu in Crime Register No.402 of 2019, Narpoli Police Station, for offences under Sections 302, 397 read with Section 34 IPC. Case rests on circumstantial evidence (CCTV last-seen circumstance and recoveries at the applicant's instance; no eye-witness). Applicant in custody since 13 July 2019 (over six years); charge-sheet cites 41 witnesses, none examined; prolonged detention held violative of Article 21 speedy-trial right. Personal bond Rs.50,000 with solvent sureties; conditions include monthly reporting to Narpoli Police Station, no witness contact/tampering, no leaving Maharashtra without permission, and address/mobile disclosure.
What did the court decide?
Release on regular bail in Crime Register No.402 of 2019 (Narpoli Police Station) for offences under Sections 302, 397 read with Section 34 IPC, on a personal bond of Rs.50,000/- with one or more solvent sureties in the like amount, subject to conditions: (a) no tampering with evidence and no direct or indirect contact with, influence over, threatening or intimidation of witnesses, particularly family members of the deceased; (b) monthly reporting to Narpoli Police Station on the 1st Monday of each month between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon until further orders; (c) no leaving the State of Maharashtra without prior written permission; (d) no commission of any offence during the pendency of trial; (e) furnishing current residential address and mobile number to the Investigating Officer and Trial Court, with written intimation of any change; (f) liberty to the prosecution to move for cancellation of bail on breach.