Rajasthan High Court - Jodhpur
Asha Ram Bapu vs State Of Rajasthan on 1 May, 2023
Author: Kuldeep Mathur
Bench: Kuldeep Mathur
[2023/RJJD/012559]
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN AT
JODHPUR
S.B. Criminal Miscellaneous Bail Application No. 4099/2023
Asha Ram Bapu S/o Thawar Das @ Thaoumal, Aged About 86
Years, B/c Sindhi, R/o Sant Shree Asha Ram Bapu Ashram,
Motera, Sabarmati, Dist. Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
(At Present Lodged At Central Jail, Jodhpur).
----Petitioner
Versus
State Of Rajasthan, Through PP
----Respondent
For Petitioner(s) : Mr. Neel Kamal Bohra,
Mr. Lalit Kishore Sen,
Mr. Dinesh Bishnoi.
For Respondent-State : Mr. Sumer Singh Rajpurohit, PP.
For Complainant : Mr. P.C. Solanki.
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE KULDEEP MATHUR
Order 01/05/2023 This application for bail under Section 439 Cr.P.C. has been filed by the petitioner who has been arrested in connection with FIR No.64/2017 registered at Police Station Ratanada, District Jodhpur, for offences under Sections 193, 196, 200, 201, 420, 465, 466, 468, 471 and 120-B of IPC.
As per prosecution, the petitioner who is in incarceration in connection with a criminal case, filed a petition before Hon'ble the Supreme Court, seeking regular bail being Special Leave Petition (Criminal) No.7946/2016 (Saint Asha Ram vs. State of Rajasthan). The bail under Section 439 of Cr.P.C. before Hon'ble the Apex Court was sought on the basis of a letter (RTI reply) dated 08.11.2016, said to be issued by the office of the Jail (Downloaded on 01/05/2023 at 11:43:03 PM) [2023/RJJD/012559] (2 of 7) [CRLMB-4099/2023] Superintendent, Central Jail, Jodhpur. The State of Rajasthan contested the genuineness of the letter (RTI reply) dated 08.11.2016, purportedly issued by the office of Jail Superintendent, Central Jail, Jodhpur. The petitioner in view of aforesaid development, vide order dated 06.12.2016 was directed to produce the original letter (RTI reply) dated 08.11.2016.
In compliance of the order dated 06.12.2016, an affidavit was filed before Hon'ble the Supreme Court by one of his pairokar Ravirai Marwah, stating inter alia that letter (RTI reply) dated 08.11.2016 was handed over to him by one of the Sadhaks, namely Ganesh Kumar Lohar and assuming the same to be an accurate and genuine copy of the original reply to the RTI application, finding the same in the interest of petitioner, a copy of the same was given in good faith to the Advocate on Record for annexing it along with the rejoinder in the aforementioned bail petition.
The pairokar (Ravirai Marwah) of the petitioner by way of filing the affidavit before Hon'ble the Supreme Court tendered his unqualified and unconditional apology for instructing the petitioner's Advocate on Record to place/file copy of the letter (RTI reply) dated 08.11.2016.
Hon'ble the Supreme Court vide order dated 30.01.2017 was pleased to dismiss the Special Leave Petition (Criminal) No.7946/2016 filed by the petitioner with exemplary costs of ₹1,00,000, while dismissing the Special Leave Petition, Hon'ble the Supreme Court in para 8, passed the following order:- (Downloaded on 01/05/2023 at 11:43:03 PM)
[2023/RJJD/012559] (3 of 7) [CRLMB-4099/2023] "...A collective perusal of the communication dated 8.11.2016, and the affidavit filed by the deponent/pairokar reveal, that the deponent/pairokar had placed reliance on an allegedly fictitious document, to persuade this Court, to extend the benefit of bail to the petitioner. The aforesaid document has been described as 9 unreliable by the deponent/pairokar himself, and he has taken the responsibility of the lapse committed by him for placing the communication dated 8.11.2016, on the record of the case. The instant action at the hands of the pairokar, and/or the petitioner, constitutes a serious offence, and cannot be let off merely by tender of apology. We therefore hereby direct the registration of the first information report, based on the letter dated 08.11.2016 (extracted hereinabove), as also, the affidavit of compliance filed in furtherance of the motion Bench order dated 06.12.2016. We direct the concerned Investigating Officer, to complete the investigation at the earliest, and in case an offence is made out, to initiate criminal proceedings against all concerned parties, in accordance with law."
An FIR No.64/2017 was thereupon lodged at PS Ratanada, Jodhpur. The investigating agency after making thorough investigation, filed charge sheet against present petitioner and co- accused namely Ravirai Marwah under Sections 193, 196, 200, 201, 420, 465, 466, 468, 471 and 120-B IPC.
Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner has been falsely implicated in the present case. Learned counsel submitted that the letter (RTI reply) dated 08.11.2016 was handed over to co-accused Ravirai Marwah by one of the Sadhaks, (Ganesh Kumar Lohar). Assuming the same to be a correct and genuine document, the same was handed over by co- accused Ravirai Marwah to the petitioner's Advocate on Record for filing the same before Hon'ble the Supreme Court. Learned counsel further submitted that the petitioner is in judicial custody in connection with another criminal case since last ten years and (Downloaded on 01/05/2023 at 11:43:03 PM) [2023/RJJD/012559] (4 of 7) [CRLMB-4099/2023] he has not been permitted to meet devotees and other visitors, without the presence of jail authorities. Learned counsel submitted that in view of aforesaid, the petitioner could not have had any opportunity to prepare or create a fake document. Learned counsel submitted that petitioner is only a signatory to the Vakalatnama filed before Hon'ble the Supreme Court, otherwise he did not get any chance to meet, converse or handover any document to his Advocate on Record. Learned counsel submitted that admittedly, the alleged letter (RTI reply) dated 08.11.2016 was handed over to the petitioner's Advocate on Record by co- accused Ravirai Marwah, as is evident from the affidavit filed before Hon'ble the Supreme Court, thus, the petitioner cannot be connected with the alleged crime.
Lastly, learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that co- accused Ravirai Marwah has already been enlarged on bail by the co-ordinate Bench of this Court vide order dated 19.01.2018 passed in S.B. CRLMB No.855/2018 and therefore, the petitioner also deserves to be enlarged on bail.
Learned Public Prosecutor vehemently opposed the bail application. However, he was not in a position to controvert the fact that co-accused Ravirai Marwah has already been enlarged on bail.
Heard learned counsel for the petitioner as well as learned Public Prosecutor and perused the material available on record.
The order dated 19.01.2018 passed by co-ordinate Bench of this Court enlarging co-acussed Ravirai Marwah on bail is reproduced herein below for ready reference of the Court:- (Downloaded on 01/05/2023 at 11:43:03 PM)
[2023/RJJD/012559] (5 of 7) [CRLMB-4099/2023] "The petitioner has been arrested in connection with FIRNo.64/2017 of Police Station Ratanada, Jodhpur for the offence punishable under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 120B IPC. He has preferred this bail application under Section 439 Cr.P.C.
Counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is a paralytic person and also suffering from heart deceased. The offences are triable by the Magistrate. The accused-petitioner is in judicial custody and the trial of the case will take sufficient longtime to be concluded. Therefore, the benefit of bail should begranted to the accused-petitioner.
Learned Public Prosecutor has opposed the bail application.
Having regard to the totality of the facts and circumstances of the case, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, I deem it just and proper to grant bail to the accused petitioner under Section 439 Cr.P.C.
Accordingly, the bail application filed under Sec.439 Cr.P.C. is allowed and it is directed that petitioner Raviraj Marwah S/o N.R. Marwah shall be released on bail in connection with FIRNo.64/2017 of Police Station Ratanada, Jodhpur provided he executes a personal bond in a sum of Rs.50,000/- with two sound and solvent sureties of Rs.25,000/- each to the satisfaction of learned trial court for his appearance before that court on each and every date of hearing and whenever called upon to do so till the completion of the trial."
This Court looking to the seriousness of the alleged offences, carefully perused the charge sheet submitted by the investigating agency before competent criminal court under Section 173 Cr.P.C.
From the perusal of the same, it is evident that in order to seek concession of bail in favour of the present petitioner, co-accused persons submitted forged letter (RTI reply) No.2921, dated 08.11.2016 before Hon'ble the Apex Court. The forged ID cards, seals, documents and mobile phones etc. said to be used in commission of crime have not been recovered from the present petitioner. It is also to be noticed that investigation against co-
accused Ajay Kumar Sharma is pending under Section 173(8) (Downloaded on 01/05/2023 at 11:43:03 PM) [2023/RJJD/012559] (6 of 7) [CRLMB-4099/2023] Cr.P.C. The relevant portion of the charge-sheet dated 16.10.2021 submitted before competent criminal court against the petitioner reads as under:
"प्रकरण हाजा मे मुलजिम आशाराम की जमानत के लिए के न्द्रीय कारागृह से जारी पत्र कमांक 489 दिनांक 27.06.2016 पर मुलजिम रविमारवाह व सहयोगी अजयशर्मा ने द्वारा मिलकर आशाराम की जमानत के लिए पत्र पर अंकित हस्ताक्षर व सीलो की फोटो कॉपी या स्केन कर फर्जी पत्र क्रमांक 2921 दिनांक 08.11.2016 बनाकर कुटरचना कर कूटरचित दस्तावेज आशाराम को जमानत के लिए न्यायालय में पेश किये गये। जिससे आशाराम को जमानत का लाभ मिल सके । जो कि तीनो मुलजिमानो द्वारा षडयंत्र पूवर्क कार्य किया गया।
प्रकरण हाजा मे सम्पूर्ण अनुसंधान, उच्चतम न्यायालय नई दिल्ली से प्राप्त प्रमाणित रेकर्ड के न्द्रीय कारागृह जोधपुर से जन्त दस्तावेज, रविमारवाह के घर से बरामद फर्जी परिचय पत्र, सील व दस्तावेजो एवम् एफएसएल रिपोर्ट एवं मोबाईल फोनो की एफएसएसल रिपोर्ट, पूछताछ मुलजिम, बाद ऐतराज पूर्ति एवम पत्रावली पर आये साक्ष्यों से मुलजिमान 01. रविराय मारवाह पुत्र श्री नियामतराय मारवाह जाति क्षत्रिय उम्र 48 वर्ष निवासी एफ-32 सरिन भवन मानसरोवर गार्डन न्यू दिल्ली हाल वरिष्ठ लेखाकार जोनल अकाउन्ट ऑफिसर के न्द्रीय प्रत्यक्ष कर बोर्ड चौथी मंजिल एन ब्लॉक विकास भवन नई दिल्ली 02. आशाराम बापु पुत्र श्री थावरदास उर्फ थाउमल उम्र 83 वर्ष जाति सिन्धी निवासी सन्त आशाराम बापू आश्रम साबरमती मोटेरा स्टेडियम के पास अहमदाबाद गुजरात हाल सजायाब्ता बन्दी के न्द्रीय कारागृह जोधपुर एवम 03. अजय कु मार शर्मा पुत्र श्री सतीश भाई जाति ब्राहमन उम्र 51 साल निवासी 5 विष्णु पार्क सोसायटी गंगा सीमेन्ट नरोदा रोड नियर भाग्योदग्य तेनामेन्ट अहमदाबाद हाल- सन्त आसाराम आश्रम मोटेरा साबरमती अहमदाबाद गुजरात के विरूद्ध जुर्म धारा 193, 196, 200, 201, 420, 465, 466, 468, 471, 120 बी भादस का बखूबी प्रमाणित है।
अतः अब तक के अनुसंधान से अजय कु मार शर्मा पुत्र श्री सतीश भाई जाति ब्राहमण उम्र 51 साल निवासी 5 विष्णु पार्क सोसायटी गंगा सीमेन्ट नरोदा रोड नियर भाग्योदय तेनामेन्ट अहमदाबाद हाल- सन्त आसाराम आश्रम मोटेरा साबरमती अहमदाबाद गुजरात के विरूद्ध श्रीमान पुलिस उपायुक्त जोधपुर पूर्व के आदेश क्रमांक 21255-56 दिनांक 16-10-2021 के तहत धारा 173(8) सीआरपीसी के तहत लम्बित अनुसंधान को रखने का आदेश प्राप्त किया गया।
अतः मुकदमाहाजा में चार्जशीट बरखिलफ मुलजिम 01: रविराय मारवाह पुत्र श्री नियामतराय मारवाह जाति क्षत्रिय उम्र 48 वर्ष निवासी एफ-32 सरिन भवन मानसरोवर गार्डन न्यू दिल्ली हाल वरिष्ठ लेखाकार जोनल अकाउन्ट ऑफिसर के न्द्रीय प्रत्यक्ष कर बोर्ड चौथी मंजिल एन ब्लॉक विकास भवन नई दिल्ली 02. आशाराम बापु पुत्र श्री थावरदास उर्फ थाउमल उम्र 83 वर्ष जाति सिन्धी निवासी सन्त आशाराम बापू आश्रम साबरमती मोटेरा स्टेडियम के पास अहमदाबाद गुजरात हाल सजायाब्ता बन्दी के न्द्रीय कारागृह जोधपुर के विरूद्ध जुर्म धारा 193, 196, 200, 201, 420, 465, 466, 468, 471, 120 बी भादस में पेश कर निवेदन है की बाद अवलोकन के कानुनी सलुक फरमावे।"
Having taken into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case, particularly the fact that Ravirai Marwah from whose possession various materials used for creation of false/fabricated (Downloaded on 01/05/2023 at 11:43:03 PM) [2023/RJJD/012559] (7 of 7) [CRLMB-4099/2023] document submitted before Hon'ble the Supreme Court was recovered, has already been enlarged on bail by co-ordinate Bench of this Court vide order dated 19.01.2018; in the charge sheet dated 16.10.2021 submitted by the investigating agency before the competent criminal court, no direct role has been attributed to the present petitioner in creation of the letter (RTI reply) dated 08.11.2016 submitted before the Apex Court; the offences alleged to have been committed by the petitioner are triable by Magistrate; accused petitioner is in judicial custody and the trial of the case will take sufficiently time to be concluded; challan/charge sheet has already been submitted, this Court deems it just and proper to grant indulgence of bail to the petitioner under Section 439 Cr.P.C.
Accordingly, the bail application under Section 439 Cr.P.C. is allowed and it is ordered that the accused-petitioner- Asha Ram Bapu S/o Thawar Das @ Thaoumal shall be enlarged on bail in connection with FIR No.64/2017 registered at Police Station Ratanada, District Jodhpur, provided he furnishes a personal bond in the sum of Rs.50,000/- with two sureties of Rs.25,000/- each to the satisfaction of the learned trial Judge for his appearance before the court concerned on all the dates of hearing as and when called upon to do so.
(KULDEEP MATHUR),J KshamaD/-
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