Single judge allowed a criminal appeal against refusal of regular bail in a murder case under SC/ST Act. The court found a case for bail existed, set aside the lower court's refusal, and directed release on standard conditions.
Impugned order refusing bail set aside; appellant released on bail with Rs 10,000 bond and two sureties.
This page shows the compact analysis of this judgement. The full analysis — procedural history, issue-by-issue holdings with ratio and obiter, advocates, and paragraph-level evidence for every claim — is being added to the record in batches and will appear here when this judgement has been through it.
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CRIMINAL APPEAL (SJ) No 2331 of 2021
Arising Out of PS. Case No.-77 Year-2020 Thana- KHUDAGANJ District- Nalanda
======================================================
AJAY YADAV Son of Rambhawan Yadav Resident of Village - Khudaganj, P.S.- Khudaganj, District - Nalanda.
... ... Appellant/s
Versus The State of Bihar ... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance : For the Appellant/s : Mr Anil Kumar No 1, Advocate For the Respondent/s : Mr Sadanand Paswan, Special PP ======================================================
... ... Respondent/s
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE MADHURESH PRASAD
ORAL JUDGMENT
Date : 15-07-2021
This case has been listed today for consideration through Video Conferencing.
2 Heard learned counsel for the appellant and the learned Special Public Prosecutor (Special PP) for the State.
3 The appellant has preferred the present Appeal under Section 14 - A (2) of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act (for brevity, SC/ST Act ) against the refusal of his prayer for regular bail vide order dated 21.02.2021 passed by Additional Sessions Judge I -cum- Special Judge, Bihar Sharif, Nalanda in a case registered under Sections 302/34 of Indian Penal Code and Sections 3 (i) (r) (s) of SC/ST Act in
Patna High Court CR. APP (SJ) No.2331 of 2021 dt.15-07-2021 2/4
connection with Khudaganj Police Station (for brevity, PS ) Case No 77 of 2020.
4 After the recovery of dead body of her husband from the river, the informant has lodged the First Information Report (for brevity, FIR ) raising suspicion against the appellant, coaccused Vijay Yadav and Sanjay Yadav of having killed her husband. FIR narrates that earlier in the day, the husband of the informant had an altercation with the instant appellant. In the evening, he had left the house but did not return.
5 Learned counsel for the appellant submits that from the prosecution case, it is evident that FIR is based merely on suspicion. The other co-accused Vijay Yadav and Sanjay Yadav have been allowed bail by the lower Court itself. Appellant has no criminal antecedent and charge sheet has been submitted. He continues to be in custody since 09.12.2020. Further submission is that from the case diary also, no material has surfaced to draw any distinction between the instant appellant and co-accused Vijay Yadav and Sanjay Yadav who have already been allowed bail by the lower Court itself.
6 Learned Special PP has opposed the prayer for bail. He, however, is not in a position to dispute the submission of the
Patna High Court CR. APP (SJ) No.2331 of 2021 dt.15-07-2021 3/4
appellant’s counsel that the case of the appellant is based on priority with other co-accused persons.
7 In my opinion, in view of nature of accusation in the FIR, and submission of parties, a case for grant of regular bail is made out. The impugned order dated 21.02.2021 requires interference by this Court, which is, accordingly, set aside.
8 This appeal is allowed. The impugned order dated 21.02.2021 passed by Additional Sessions Judge I -cum- Special Judge, Biharsharif in connection with Khudaganj PS Case No 77 of 2020 is set aside.
9 Let the appellant above named be released on bail on his furnishing bonds of Rs 10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of Additional Sessions Judge I -cum- Special Judge, Biharsharif in Khudaganj PS Case No 77 of 2020 subject to the following conditions:
(1) That one of the bailors will be a close relative of the appellant who will give an affidavit giving genealogy as to how he is related with the appellant. The bailor will also undertake to inform the Court if there is any change in the address of the appellant.
Patna High Court CR. APP (SJ) No.2331 of 2021 dt.15-07-2021 4/4
date and if he fails to do so on two consecutive dates, his bail will
be liable to be cancelled.
(Madhuresh Prasad, J)
M.E.H. /-
| AFR/NAFR | NAFR |
|---|---|
| CAV DATE | NA |
| Uploading Date | 17.07.2021 |
| Transmission Date | 17.07.2021 |
3 issues framed by the court
Whether the impugned order refusing Regular Bail in a caste-atrocity case involving murder warrants interference.
Whether the appellant is entitled to release on bail given the lack of material distinguishing him from co-accusers already granted bail.
What are the conditions for granting bail to the appellant if bail is allowed?
3 provisions across 2 enactments
Ajay Yadav
The State of Bihar
Madhuresh Prasad
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
