Heard Shri Om Prakash and Shri Satya Prakash Rathur holding brief of Shri Shiv Kumar Singh learned counsel for the appellant; Shri Shailendra Singh, learned counsel for the opposite party no.2 learned AGA for the State and perused the material placed on record.
The present criminal appeal under Section 14-A(2) Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act has been filed by the appellant to set aside the impugned order dated 8.8.2022, whereby the Special Judge, SC/ST Act, Jhansi has rejected the bail application of the appellant moved by him in Case Crime No. 167 of 2022, under Sections 376, 120-B IPC and Section 3(2) 5 SC/ST Act, Police Station Raksa, District Jhansi.
There is allegation against the appellant of committing offence of rape against the girl belonging to Schedule caste after entering into her house .Learned counsel for the appellant has submitted that it is a case of false implication.The story as alleged in the First Information Report is improbable .The appellant and victim were sitting in a room then aunt and grand mother of the victim came there and they saw the appellant and victim together. The appellant has been falsely implicated in this case because the victim was seen in compromising position with the appellant.The medical report does not supports the prosecution case. Appellant has no criminal history to his credit and is languishing in jail since 17.6.2022. In case, the appellant is released on bail, he will not misuse the liberty of bail.
Per contra, learned A.G.A. and learned counsel for the opposite party no.2 have supported the order passed by the Sessions court and vehemently opposed the prayer for grant of bail to the appellant and submits that the allegations involved are very serious in nature. But he could not point out any material to the contrary. He further submits that in case the appellant is released on bail, he will again indulge in similar activities and will misuse the liberty of bail.
In view of above, the order of rejection of bail passed by the court below dated 8.8.2022 is, hereby, set aside.
Having considered the submissions of the parties noted above, finding force in the submissions made by the learned counsel for the appellant; keeping in view uncertainty regarding conclusion of trial; one sided investigation by police, ignoring the case of accused side; applicant being under-trial having fundamental right to speedy; larger mandate of the Article 21 of the Constitution of India, considering 5-6 times overcrowding in jails over and above their capacity by under trials and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, court is of the opinion that the appellant is entitled to be enlarged on bail.
Let appellant, Chhotoo Alias Amol Singh Yadav be released on bail in the aforesaid case crime number on his furnishing a personal bond and two reliable sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the court concerned subject to the following conditions:
(i) The appellant 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.
(ii) The appellant shall not pressurize/intimidate the prosecution witnesses.
(iii) The appellant 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 of Cr.P.C.
(iv) The appellant shall file an undertaking to the effect that he shall not seek any adjournment on the dates fixed for evidence when the witnesses are present in the trial court.
(v) The appellant shall remain present before the trial court on each date fixed, either personally or through his counsel.
(vi) The appellant shall not indulge in any criminal activity or commission of any crime after being released on bail.
In case of breach of any of the above conditions, it shall be a ground for cancellation of bail. If in the opinion of the trial court that absence of the appellant 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 in accordance with law.
The trial court may make all possible efforts/endeavour and try to conclude the trial expeditiously in accordance with law after the release of the appellant, if there is no other legal impediment.
It is made clear that the observations made in this order are limited to the purpose of determination of this bail application and will in no way be construed as an expression on the merits of the case. The trial court shall be absolutely free to arrive at its independent conclusions on the basis of evidence led unaffected by anything said in this order.
The criminal appeal is allowed.
Order Date :- 13.4.2023 Atul kr. sri.