Court No. - 6
Case :- CRIMINAL MISC. BAIL APPLICATION No. - 20554 of 2021 Applicant :- Ram Pratap Opposite Party :- State of U.P.
Counsel for Applicant :- Vipin Kumar,Bratendra Singh Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A.
Hon'ble Ajay Bhanot,J.
Heard Sri Bratendra Singh, learned counsel for the applicant and learned AGA for the State through video conferencing mode.
A first information report was lodged against the applicant as Case Crime No.103 of 2020 at Police Station-Rijor, District-Etah on 28.06.2020 under Section 60 of the Excise Act and Section 420 of the IPC.
The bail application of the applicant was rejected by learned Sessions Judge, Etah on 12.04.2021.
The applicant is in jail since 12.04.2021, pursuant to the said F.I.R.
Sri Bratendra Singh, learned counsel for the applicant contends that the applicant is only a salesman in the liquor shop. The applicant has no concern with the goods or liquor stored and displayed for sale in aforesaid liquor shop. The liquor and the goods in the shop are in the exclusive ownership of the licensee. The applicant has been falsely implicated in the instant case. The applicant does not have any criminal history. Lastly it is submitted by Sri Bratendra Singh, 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.
Learned A.G.A could not satisfactorily dispute the aforesaid submissions from the record.
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 Sri Bratendra Singh, learned counsel for the applicant and accordingly 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-Ram Pratap be released on bail in Case Crime No.103 of 2020 at Police Station-Rijor, District-Etah registered on 28.06.2020 under Section 60 of the Excise Act and Section 420 of the IPC, on his furnishing a personal bond and two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the court below. The following conditions be imposed in the interest of justice:-
(i) The applicant shall remain present before the trial court on each date fixed, either through his counsel or personally as and when directed by the learned trial court. In case of his absence, without sufficient cause, the trial court may proceed against him in accordance with law.
(ii) 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 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.
(iii) In case, the applicant misuses the liberty of bail during trial, the trial in order to secure his presence may issue a proclamation under Section 82 Cr.P.C. In case the applicant fails to appear before the court on the date fixed in such proclamation, then, the trial court shall initiate proceedings against him, in accordance with law, under Section 174-A of the Indian Penal Code.
(iv) The party shall file computer generated copy of such order downloaded from the official website of High Court Allahabad.
(v) The computer generated copy of such order shall be self attested by the counsel of the party concerned.
(vi) 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 :- 21.5.2021 Ashish Tripathi Digitally signed by Justice Ajay Bhanot Date: 2021.05.23 17:44:26 IST Reason: Document Owner Location: High Court of Judicature at Allahabad