Court No. - 66
Case :- CRIMINAL MISC. BAIL APPLICATION No. - 39704 of 2021 Applicant :- Pappu Opposite Party :- State of U.P.
Counsel for Applicant :- Purushottam Dixit Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A.
Hon'ble Ajay Bhanot,J.
Heard Shri Purushottam Dixit, learned counsel for the applicant and learned AGA for the State.
A first information report was lodged as Case Crime No.16 of 1998 at Police Station- Gaunda, District- Aligarh, under Section 2/3 of Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986.
The bail application of the applicant was rejected by learned Special Judge/Additional Sessions Judge,Aligarh, on 24.08.2021.
The applicant is in jail since 09.08.2021, pursuant to the said F.I.R.
Shri Purushottam Dixit, learned counsel for the applicant submits that the applicant moved to another town in search of livelihood. This and the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in a communication gap with his counsel. The applicant was not intimated the dates in the proceedings by the office of the counsel before the trial court which led to his absence in the trial. Learned counsel for the applicant contends that the applicant is a law abiding citizen and undertakes to cooperate in the proceedings. Apart from the instant case, the applicant does not have any criminal history. Lastly it is contended by the learned counsel for applicant that the applicant shall not abscond and will fully cooperate in the criminal law proceedings. The applicant shall not tamper with the evidence nor influence the witnesses in any manner.
Shri Nafees Ahmad, learned AGA for the State could not satisfactorily dispute the aforesaid submissions from the record. Learned AGA could not dispute the fact that the applicant does not have any criminal history apart from this case.
Courts have taken notice of the overcrowding of jails during the current pandemic situation (Ref.: Suo Motu Writ Petition (c) No. 1/2020, Contagion of COVID 19 Virus in prisons before the Supreme Court of India). These circumstances shall also be factored in while considering bail applications on behalf of accused persons.
I see merit in the submissions of the learned counsel for the applicant and hold that the applicant is entitled to be enlarged on bail.
In the light of the preceding discussion and without making any observations on the merits of the case, the bail application is allowed.
Let the applicant-Pappu involved in Case Crime No.16 of 1998 at Police Station- Gaunda, District-Aligarh, under Section 2/3 of Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti- Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986 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.
1. The applicant will not tamper with the evidence during the trial.
2. The applicant will not influence any witness.
3. The applicant will appear before the trial court on the date fixed, unless personal presence is exempted.
4. 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 to any police officer or tamper with the evidence.
In case of breach of any of the above conditions, the prosecution shall be at liberty to move bail cancellation application before this Court.
Order Date :- 20.12.2021 Dhananjai