Saurabh Agrawal S/O Mahendra Kumar Agrawal Vs State… — Cheating and Forgery | Rajasthan HC (2025)

Saurabh Agrawal S/O Mahendra Kumar Agrawal Vs State… — Cheating and Forgery | Rajasthan HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Application accepted; investigating officer/station officer directed that in the event of the applicant's arrest, if he furnishes a personal bond of Rs. 1,00,000/- and two sureties of Rs. 50,000/- each to their satisfaction, he shall be admitted to bail under the following conditions: (1) he shall answer questions put by the police officer as and when required and available (para 22); (2) he shall neither directly nor indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case to dissuade or prevent him/her from disclosing such facts to any court or police officer (para 25); and (3) he shall not leave India without prior permission of the court (para 26).

Issue for consideration

Whether the applicant (Saurabh Agrawal) is entitled to release on bail under Section 482 BNSS in connection with FIR No. 476/2024 (offences under Sections 420 and 406 IPC, Police Station Kotwali Jhalawar), i.e., release on bail in the event of arrest, having regard to the nature of the allegations, the settlement and dishonoured-cheque background, and the contention that no custodial interrogation is required.

Court's answer

On review of the record, the cheating-related allegations laid in the FIR are not against the petitioner/applicant but against his brother Ashok.

Ratio / Principle

It is prima facie apparent that, pursuant to the memorandum written by his brother, the applicant issued cheques to the complainant for repayment of the amount, and that those cheques came to be dishonoured.

Key takeaways

Taking into account the applicant's participation (pursuant to execution of the court's order), no kind of custodial interrogation of the applicant is now stated to be necessary.ratio¶20
Looking at the complete facts and circumstances of the case and the submissions advanced by learned counsel for the applicant, the present ordinary bail application is fit to be accepted without making any comment on the merits of the matter.ratio¶20

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

S.B. Criminal Miscellaneous Bail Application No. 3436/2025 by Saurabh Agrawal seeking release on bail under Section 482 BNSS in connection with FIR No. 476/2024 (Sections 420, 406 IPC), Police Station Kotwali Jhalawar, allowed by the High Court of Judicature for Rajasthan, Jaipur Bench (Shubha Mehta, J.), Order dated 03/07/2025. The Court found on review of the record that the cheating-related allegations in the FIR lie against the applicant's brother Ashok and not against the applicant (para 20); that it is prima facie apparent that the applicant issued cheques on behalf of his brother pursuant to the latter's memorandum for repayment of the amount and the cheques stood dishonoured (para 20); and that, given the applicant's participation pursuant to execution of a court's order, no custodial interrogation of him is now necessary (para 20). Without commenting on the merits, the Court held the application fit to be accepted and directed that in the event of arrest the applicant be admitted to bail upon furnishing a personal bond of Rs. 1,00,000/- and two sureties of Rs. 50,000/- each to the satisfaction of the investigating officer/station officer, subject to: answering police questioning as and when required; making no inducement, threat or promise, directly or indirectly, to any person acquainted with the case facts to prevent disclosure thereof; and not leaving India without the court's prior permission (paras 21-26). Opposing submissions recorded: prosecution/complainant side argued the entire amount remains unpaid despite a long lapse of time (para 18); defence counsel cited the 28-04-2023 settlement with Ashok, the dishonoured cheques issued for the ailing brother, and payment of about Rs. 4 lakh to the complainant (para 14).

HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN BENCH AT JAIPUR

S.B. Criminal Miscellaneous Bail Application No. 3436/2025

Saurabh Agrawal S/o Mahendra Kumar Agrawal, Aged About 41 Years, R/o Jhalawar, Police Station Kotwali Jhalawar (Raj.).

----Petitioner

Versus

State Of Rajasthan, Through Pp

----Respondent

For Petitioner(s) : Mr. M.S. Choudhary For Respondent(s) : Mr. Vivek Chaudhary, PP Mr. Saurabh Bhandari

HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE SHUBHA MEHTA

Order

03/07/2025

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[CRLMB-3436/2025]

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[CRLMB-3436/2025]

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2- fd izkFkhZ bl ekeys ds rF;ksa ls voxr fdlh O;fDr dks U;k;ky; ;k fdlh iqfyl vf/kdkjh ds le{k ,sls rF;ksa dks izdV u djus ds fy;s eukus ds okLrs izR;{k% vFkok ijks{k :i ls mls dksbZ mRizsj.kk] /kedh ;k opu ugha nsxkA

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(SHUBHA MEHTA),J

AJAY KUMAR SINGHAL /70