Junaid Abdul Khalid Kadar v. the State of Maharashtra Thr Pso Ps Gittikhadan Dist. Nagpur and Another
Case brief
What is this about?
Bail rejected; speedy trial Article 21 plea fails as delay in framing charge caused by absence of co-accused and applicant's counsel; Crime No. 397/2023 PS Gittikhadan Nagpur; Sections 398, 377, 504 r/w 34 IPC; Section 135 Maharashtra Police Act; arrest 21.06.2023; charge-sheet 22.08.2023; medical report not supportive but victim statement discloses involvement; prima facie case; relies on Sheikh Javed Iqbal (Criminal Appeal No.2790/2024) and X v. State of Rajasthan (SLP(Crl) No. 13378/2024); Urmila Joshi-Phalke, J.; Bombay HC Nagpur Bench; 2025:BHC-NAG:4120.
What did the court decide?
The delay in framing of the charge was attributable to the accused side - the co-accused remained absent on several occasions and the applicant's counsel remained absent at the hearing before framing of charge - therefore the applicant cannot take the benefit of the speedy-trial ground based on the delay.