finalizing it as the target. Thereafter, he had contacted co-accused Preet @ Baba Gujjar, who in turn had arranged fake SIM cards through accused Hemant and engaged co-accused Nikki Bidhuri and Akash @ Katil for the actual firing at the shop. It is further argued that the applicant had arranged the stolen motorcycle and firearms used in the offence from one Adi, who remains absconding. It is also highlighted that the applicant had deliberately concealed his real identity by introducing himself to the co-accused persons as "KD" and had used internet-based calls to communicate with them. It is also contended that the mobile phone used to facilitate the crime was recovered from the applicant's car, and during his police custody remand, he himself disclosed that he had destroyed another mobile device to erase evidence, which necessitated the addition of Section 238 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (earlier Section 201 of IPC) to the case. The learned APP also emphasized the applicant's criminal antecedents, stating that he is a habitual offender with prior involvement in two other serious criminal cases i.e. FIR No. 203/2022, under Sections 365/323/364A/385/506/34 of IPC, registered at PS Seemapuri, Delhi, and FIR No. 314/2023, under Sections 419/482/34 IPC, registered at PS I.P. Estate, Delhi. It is contended that though he was granted anticipatory bail in both cases, his repeated involvement in similar offences demonstrate a pattern of his criminal behavior. It is submitted that the investigation is still ongoing, as FSL report is awaited, and absconding accused Adi Bihar, who had supplied the weapons and stolen vehicle, is yet to be apprehended. Given the gravity of the allegations,and the potential for tampering with evidence and influencing witnesses, the learned APP for the State prays that the present bail application be dismissed.
