Allahabad High Court
Sajan vs State Of U.P. And 3 Others on 29 November, 2023
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD ?Neutral Citation No. - 2023:AHC:224878 Court No. - 76 Case :- CRIMINAL MISC. BAIL APPLICATION No. - 36840 of 2023 Applicant :- Sajan Opposite Party :- State Of U.P. And 3 Others Counsel for Applicant :- Gaurav Kumar Shukla Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A. Hon'ble Vikram D. Chauhan,J.
1. Learned A.G.A. for the State submits that instructions have been received and has no objection in case the bail application is heard on merits.
2. Heard learned counsel for the applicant, learned A.G.A. for the State and perused the record.
3. It is submitted by learned counsel for the applicant that initially the First Information Report was lodged against applicant with the allegation that the victim met the applicant in one marriage and thereafter they entered into friendship. Subsequently, applicant has taken nude photograph of the victim and the same was uploaded on the social media. It is submitted that the statement of victim under Section 164 Cr.P.C. has been recorded where she has supported the prosecution case and has stated that applicant has committed rape, however, in the medical evidence, no allegation of rape is found, as the victim has refused to go for medical examination. It is submitted that no video/photograph of the victim has been recovered nor there is evidence of uploading the same on the social media. The applicant has no criminal history. Applicant is languishing in jail since 23.5.2023 and in case he is released on bail, he will not misuse the liberty of bail and will cooperate in the trial.
4. Learned A.G.A. for the State opposed the prayer for bail but does not dispute factual matrix of the case.
5. Learned AGA for the State has not brought any fact or circumstances to indicate criminal history or antecedents of the applicant which would disentitle the applicant for Bail.
6. It is not the case of the State that there is a possibility of interdicting fair trial by the accused-applicant if released on bail. No material has been shown that the Applicant is of such character that his mere presence at large would intimidate the witnesses or there is any material to show that applicant will use his liberty to subvert justice or tamper with the evidence.
7. The object of the bail is to secure the attendance of the accused, the detention of the accused pending trial cannot be punitive in nature as there is presumption of innocence in favour of the accused person. Learned A.G.A. has not brought any facts and circumstances to demonstrate that the character of the accused-applicant (s) is such that his mere presence at large would intimidate the witness.
8. Learned A.G.A. has not placed any reasonable apprehension of the witnesses being tampered with, the larger interest of the public/State will be at peril in case the Applicant is released on bail.
9. It is not the case of the State that the applicant has been convicted for any offence on previous occasion.
10. No material has been placed by the opposite party that the Applicant in the past has attempted to evade the process of law. Further, no material facts and circumstances have been placed to show that it is not in public interest or interest of society at large to release the applicant on bail.
11. No material has been shown to suggest that the applicant is at flight risk, has chance of repeating the offence, or intimidating the witness if enlarged on bail.
11-A. In the counter affidavit although it has been stated that the video clip was prepared, however, as per learned AGA no evidence in respect of video clip/photograph is available in the case diary.
12. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, nature of offence, evidence, complicity of the accused, submissions of learned counsel for the parties and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, the Court is of the view that the applicant has made out a case for bail. The bail application is allowed.
13. Let the applicant Sajan involved in Case Crime No.119 of 2023, under Sections 354C, 504, 506 IPC, Section 7/8 POCSO Act and Section 67 of Information Technology Act, Police Station Purani Basti, District Basti be released on bail on furnishing a personal bond and two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the court concerned subject to the following conditions:-
i. The applicant will not tamper with the evidence during the trial.
ii. The applicant will not pressurize/intimidate the prosecution witness.
iii. The applicant will appear before the trial court on the date fixed, unless personal presence is exempted and/or the applicant shall make himself available for interrogation by a police officer as and when required.
iv. The applicant shall not commit an offence similar to the offence of which he is accused, or suspected, of the commission of which he is suspected.
v. The applicant shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police officer or tamper with the evidence.
vi. The applicant shall not leave India without the previous permission of the Court.
vii. In the event, the applicant changes residential address, the applicant shall inform the court concerned about new residential address in writing.
14. In case of breach of any of the above condition, the prosecution shall be at liberty to move bail cancellation application before this Court.
Order Date :- 29.11.2023 D. Tamang