Court No. - 64
Case :- CRIMINAL MISC ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION U/S 438 CR.P.C. No. - 17874 of 2021 Applicant :- Brij Kishor Opposite Party :- State of U.P. and Another Counsel for Applicant :- Somdev Dixit Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A.
Hon'ble Ajit Singh,J.
Heard learned counsel for the applicant and learned AGA for the State.
The instant anticipatory bail application has been filed on behalf of the applicant, Brij Kishor, with a prayer to release him on bail in Case Crime No. 106 of 2021, under Sections 3/7 of Essential Commodities Act, P.S. Basai Mohammadpur, District - Firozabad, during pendency of trial.
Prior notice of this bail application was served in the office of Government Advocate and as per Chapter XVIII, Rule 18 of the Allahabad High Court Rules and as per direction dated 20.11.2020 of this Court in Criminal Misc. Anticipatory Bail Application U/S 438 Cr.P.C. No. 8072 of 2020, Govind Mishra @ Chhotu Versus State of U.P., hence, this anticipatory bail application is being heard. Grant of further time to the learned A.G.A as per Section 438 (3) Cr.P.C. (U.P. Amendment) is not required.
The First Information Report was lodged against the applicant on 18.09.2021 by complainant Satish Kumar. It was alleged in the FIR that checking of the units was done by the joint team and it transpired that the distribution of essential commodities was not being made properly and fairly by the applicant. The units were not found to be up to the mark and were not changed and corrected time to time just after the marriage, death or migration of the members of the families and essential commodities were being distributed by the applicant to dead persons and migrated families also. After lodging the FIR against the applicant, the matter was investigated and it was found that the names of the dead persons, migrated families as well as that of the married persons were not deleted from the Ration Cards with dishonest intention to embezzle the food-grains.
It is contended by learned counsel for the applicant that the applicant is a Fair Price Shop dealer and he has been falsely implicated in this case without cogent evidence against him. It is further submitted that it was the duty of the Food Inspector and other concerned officials of the Food Supply Department to check out, verify and delete the names of the dead persons, migrated families and of other persons who were not entitled for essential commodities. It is also submitted that since the entries in Ration Cards were standing and the Ration Cards were presented by the Ration Card holders for essential commodities, the applicant (dealer) could not deny them the essential commodities and it is obligatory on the part of the dealer to give ration to them. It is being next contended that the applicant was not arrested during investigation and the chargesheet was submitted against him, therefore, he should not be arrested. The applicant has definite apprehension that he may be arrested by the police any time.
Learned AGA has opposed the prayer for anticipatory bail of the applicant.
He further submits that in view of the seriousness of the allegations made against the applicant, he is not entitled to grant of anticipatory bail. The apprehension of the applicant is not founded on any material on record. Only on the basis of imaginary fear anticipatory bail cannot be granted.
After considering the rival submissions this court finds that there is a case registered against the applicant. It cannot be definitely said when the police may apprehend him. After the lodging of FIR the arrest can be made by the police at will. There is no definite period fixed for the police to arrest an accused against whom an FIR has been lodged. The courts have repeatedly held that arrest should be the last option for the police and it should be restricted to those exceptional cases where arresting the accused is imperative or his custodial interrogation is required. Irrational and indiscriminate arrests are gross violation of human rights. In the case of Joginder Kumar v. State of Uttar Pradesh AIR 1994 SC 1349 the Apex Court has referred to the third report of National Police Commission wherein it is mentioned that arrests by the police in India is one of the chief source of corruption in the police. The report suggested that, by and large, nearly 60 percent of the arrests were either unnecessary or unjustified and that such unjustified police action accounted for 43.2 percent of expenditure of the jails. Personal liberty is a very precious fundamental rights and it should be curtailed only when it becomes imperative. According to the peculiar facts and circumstances of the peculiar case the arrest of an accused should be made.
Hence without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case and considering the nature of accusations and antecedents of applicant, he is directed to be enlarged on anticipatory bail as per the Constitution Bench judgment of the Apex Court in the case of Sushila Aggarwal vs. State (NCT of Delhi)- 2020 SCC Online SC 98. The future contingencies regarding anticipatory bail being granted to applicant shall also be taken care of as per the aforesaid judgment of the Apex Court.
In the event of arrest, the applicant shall be released on anticipatory bail. Let the applicant involved in the aforesaid crime be released on anticipatory bail on furnishing a personal bond of Rs. 50,000/- with two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the trial court concerned with the following conditions:-
1. The applicant shall not leave the country during the currency of trial without prior permission from the concerned trial Court.
2. The applicant shall surrender his passport, if any, to the concerned Court forthwith. His passport will remain in custody of the concerned Court.
3. That 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;
4. The applicant shall file an undertaking to the effect that he shall not seek any adjournment on the dates fixed for evidence and the witnesses are present in court. In case of default of this condition, it shall be open for the trial court to treat it as abuse of liberty of bail and pass orders in accordance with law to ensure presence of the applicant.
5. In case, the applicant misuses the liberty of bail, the Court concerned may take appropriate action in accordance with law and judgment of Apex Court in the case of Sushila Aggarwal vs. State (NCT of Delhi)- 2020 SCC Online SC 98.
6. The applicant shall remain present, in person, before the trial court on the dates fixed for (i) opening of the case, (ii) framing of charge and (iii) recording of statement under Section 313 Cr.P.C. If in the opinion of the trial court default of this condition is deliberate or without sufficient cause, then it shall be open for the trial court to treat such default as abuse of liberty of his bail and proceed against him in accordance with law.
7. The party shall file computer generated copy of such order downloaded from the official website of High Court Allahabad.
8. The concerned Court/Authority/Official shall verify the authenticity of such computerized copy of the order from the official website of High Court Allahabad and shall make a declaration of such verification in writing.
Order Date :- 23.10.2021 LBY Digitally signed by Justice Ajit Singh Date: 2015.04.02 03:31:28 IST Reason: Document Owner Location: High Court of Judicature at Allahabad