Allahabad High Court
Hari Singh vs State Of U.P. on 17 December, 2024
Author: Krishan Pahal
Bench: Krishan Pahal
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD ?Neutral Citation No. - 2024:AHC:197442 Court No. - 65 Case :- CRIMINAL MISC. BAIL APPLICATION No. - 42527 of 2024 Applicant :- Hari Singh Opposite Party :- State of U.P. Counsel for Applicant :- Abhishek Kumar Jaiswal Hon'ble Krishan Pahal,J.
1. List has been revised.
2. Heard Sri Abhishek Kumar Jaiswal, learned counsel for the applicant and Sri Sunil Kumar, learned A.G.A. for the State and perused the record.
3. Applicant seeks bail in Case Crime No. 118 of 2021, under Sections 406, 420, 467, 468, 471 I.P.C., Police Station Sigra, District Varanasi , during the pendency of trial.
PROSECUTION STORY:
4. The applicant is stated to be the director in PINCON Group of Company. The informant is stated to have invested heavy amount with it and it was revealed that it was a chit-fund company and the entire amount was siphoned by the applicant and other co-accused persons.
ARGUMENTS ON BEHALF OF APPLICANT :
5. The applicant has been falsely implicated in the present case and he has nothing to do with the said offence.
6. The allegations are per se false.
7. The applicant is in jail since 04.12.2017, although warrant in the instant case was served on 20.07.2024.
8. The offence is triable by the Magistrate and falls below seven years and there is no likelihood of the applicant absconding in the instant case.
9. The criminal history of 12 cases assigned to the applicant stands explained as he has been enlarged on bail in all the cases. Although, it is true that in one of the cases at Kolkata, he has been convicted but he has been enlarged on bail in that case also in appeal.
10. Several other submissions have been made on behalf of the applicant to demonstrate the falsity of the allegations made against him. The circumstances which, as per counsel, led to the false implication of the applicant have also been touched upon at length.
11. The applicant is ready to cooperate with trial. In case, the applicant is released on bail, he will not misuse the liberty of bail.
ARGUMENTS ON BEHALF OF STATE :
12. The bail application has been opposed but the submissions raised by the learned counsel for the applicant could not be disputed.
CONCLUSION:
13. In the case of Prabhakar Tewari Vs. State of U.P. and another, (2020) 11 SCC 648, the Supreme Court has observed that pendency of several criminal cases against an accused by itself cannot be a basis for refusal of bail.
14. The well-known principle of "Presumption of Innocence Unless Proven Guilty," gives rise to the concept of bail as a rule and imprisonment as an exception.
15. A person's right to life and liberty, guaranteed by Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, cannot be taken away simply because the person is accused of committing an offence until the guilt is established beyond a reasonable doubt. Article 21 of the Indian Constitution states that no one's life or personal liberty may be taken away unless the procedure established by law is followed, and the procedure must be just and reasonable. The said principle has been recapitulated by the Supreme Court in Satender Kumar Antil Vs. Central Bureau of Investigation and Ors., 2022 INSC 690.
16. Reiterating the aforesaid view the Supreme Court in the case of Manish Sisodia Vs. Directorate of Enforcement 2024 INSC 595 has again emphasised that the very well-settled principle of law that bail is not to be withheld as a punishment is not to be forgotten. It is high time that the Courts should recognize the principle that "bail is a rule and jail is an exception".
17. Learned AGA could not bring forth any exceptional circumstances which would warrant denial of bail to the applicant.
18. It is settled principle of law that the object of bail is to secure the attendance of the accused at the trial. No material particulars or circumstances suggestive of the applicant fleeing from justice or thwarting the course of justice or creating other troubles in the shape of repeating offences or intimidating witnesses and the like have been shown by learned AGA.
19. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, submissions made by learned counsel for the parties, the evidence on record, 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.
20. Let the applicant-Hari Singh involved in aforementioned case crime number 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 following conditions.
(i) The applicant shall not tamper with evidence.
(ii) The applicant shall remain present, in person, before the Trial Court on dates fixed for (1) opening of the case, (2) framing of charge and (3) recording of statement under Section 313 Cr.P.C. If in the opinion of the Trial Court absence of the applicant is deliberate or without sufficient cause, then it shall be open for the Trial Court to treat such default as abuse of liberty of bail and proceed against him in accordance with law.
21. In case of breach of any of the above conditions, it shall be a ground for cancellation of bail. Identity, status and residence proof of the applicant and sureties be verified by the court concerned before the bonds are accepted.
22. It is made clear that observations made in granting bail to the applicant shall not in any way affect the learned trial Judge in forming his independent opinion based on the testimony of the witnesses.
Order Date :- 17.12.2024 Sumit S (Justice Krishan Pahal)