Disposed

Shaji v. State of Kerala

Kerala HC17 Feb 2022Bail Appl./10034/2021

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The Court considered a second anticipatory bail application where the prior order mandated surrender which the petitioner failed to comply with due to COVID-19. Finding no substantial change in circumstances but acknowledging pandemic difficulties, the Court modified the earlier order directing surrender within ten days followed by immediate bail consideration.

What did the court decide?

The application was disposed of by modifying the earlier order, directing the petitioner to surrender within ten days, after which bail shall be considered expeditiously.

Shaji Vs State of Kerala — Public Procurement and Tenders | Kerala HC (2022)

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM

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PRESENT

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THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P.G. AJITHKUMAR

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THURSDAY, THE 17^TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2022 / 28TH MAGHA, 1943 BAIL APPL. NO. 10034 OF 2021

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CRIME NO.1593 OF 2021 OF SOORANADU POLICE STATION,

KOLLAM

PETITIONER:

SHAJI,

AGED 36 YEARS, S/O.RAHIM, SHAJI MANZIL, SOUTH MYNAKKAPPALLY P.O., KOLLAM DISTRICT - 690 510.

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BY ADVS. SHIRAZ ABDULLA K.ABDUL NASSAR

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RESPONDENT:

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STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE, SOORANADU POLICE STATION, KOLLAM DISTRICT, THROUGH THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA, ERNAKULAM - 682 031.

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SMT MAYA M.N- PUBLIC PROSECUTOR

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THIS BAIL APPLICATION HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 17.02.2022, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:

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B.A.No.10034 of 2021

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P.G. AJITHKUMAR, J.

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-----------------------------------------------------------

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B.A.No. 10034 of 2021

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----------------------------------------------------------Dated this the 17^th day of February, 2022

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O R D E R

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This is the second application for anticipatory bail filed under Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.

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The offences alleged against the petitioner/2^nd accused and co-accused are punishable under Sections 465, 468, 471 and 420 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

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The petitioner along with the 3^rd accused filed B.A.No.9094 of 2021 before this Court and that application

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was dismissed as per order dated 21.12.2021 with the following directions:

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The petitioners are directed to surrender before the Investigating Officer within ten days from today and on surrender, the Investigating Officer after necessary interrogation and formalities, shall produce them before the jurisdictional Magistrate within the time stipulated in Section 57 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. On such production of the petitioners, the bail applications, if filed, shall be disposed of as

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B.A.No.10034 of 2021

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expeditiously as possible, at any rate on the same day itself.

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The petitioner now contends that since he was affected with COVID-19, he could not comply with the directions in the above order. He also contends that due to a failure on his part, a few facts were omitted to be brought to the notice of this Court while moving B.A.No.9094 of 2021 and if those facts were also placed, the anticipatory bail should have been granted.

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The learned Public Prosecutor would contend that after considering the entire materials on record, this Court has passed the order dated 21.12.2021 and the contention now raised by the petitioner that the omitted facts would also to be considered and the application decided afresh is untenable. The learned Public Prosecutor would also submit that the present application is not liable to be entertained in view of the bar contained in Section 362 of the Code.

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Having gone through the averments in the application and also the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioner as also the learned Public

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B.A.No.10034 of 2021

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Prosecutor, I am of the view that by non-disclosure or otherwise, omission by this Court to consider a few facts while passing a final order in an application for bail is not a ground for entertaining a second application. However, if there is change of circumstances, a second application is liable to be considered. I am of the view that the reasons stated in the application are not sufficient to hold that there is substantial change in the circumstances. However, taking into consideration the pandemic situation prevailing in the Country and the difficulties caused to the petitioner as also general public due to COVID-19, I proceed to consider this application.

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In the nature of the offence, major part of the evidence is documentary evidence. I am not forgetting the fact that the petitioner did not comply with the direction issued by this Court as per order dated 21.12.2021. Taking all matters into account, I am of the view that this is not a fit case where anticipatory bail can be granted. However, a modification to the earlier order is required.

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B.A.No.10034 of 2021

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Therefore, I am disposing of this application with a modification to the order dated 21.12.2021. The petitioner shall surrender before the investigation officer within a period of ten days from today. The investigating officer, after interrogation and recovery, if any, produce the petitioner before the jurisdictional Magistrate on the same day and if he files an application for bail, the same shall be disposed of, as expeditiously as possible, preferably on the same day on taking into account the prevailing pandemic situation.

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Sd/-

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P.G. AJITHKUMAR, JUDGE

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dkr

Shaji v. State of Kerala

Case brief

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Shaji v. State of Kerala

Case brief

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