Heard Sri Dharmendra Pratap Singh, learned counsel for the applicant, Sri Krishnaveer Singh, Advocate holding brief of Ms. Alka Upadhyay, learned counsel for the first informant and Sri S.B. Maurya, learned A.G.A. for the State and perused the material on record.
This bail application under Section 439 of Code of Criminal Procedure has been filed by the applicant- Sagar @ Kala, seeking enlargement on bail during trial in connection with Case Crime No. 197 of 2021, under Section 304 I.P.C., registered at Police Station Nayi Mandi, District Muzaffar Nagar.
Learned counsel for the applicant argued that the the case of the applicant is identical to co-accused Shivam @ Bittu and Saurabh @ Chotu, who have been granted bail by this Court vide order dated 30.07.2021 passed in Criminal Misc. Bail Application No. 24583 of 2021. It is further argued that co-accused Pradeshi, who is the main accused, has also been granted bail by a co-ordinate Bench of this Court vide order dated 17.08.2021 passed in Criminal Misc. Bail Application No. 27664 of 2021, the copy of the said orders have been produced before the Court which is taken on record. Bail is pressed on the ground of parity. It has also been pointed out that the applicant is not having any criminal history as stated in para 18 of the affidavit and he is in jail since 09.06.2021.
Per contra, learned A.G.A. and learned counsel for the first informant opposed the prayer for bail but could not dispute the fact that identically placed co-accused have been granted bail by this Court.
After having heard the learned counsel for the parties and perusing the record, it is apparent that the present case is a case of parity, where co-accused persons have been granted bail.
Looking to the facts and circumstances of this case, the nature of evidence and also the absence of any convincing material to indicate the possibility of tampering with the evidence, this Court is of the view that the applicant may be enlarged on bail.
Let the applicant- Sagar @ Kala, be released on bail in the aforesaid case crime number on furnishing a personal bond and two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the court concerned with the following conditions which are being imposed in the interest of justice:-
i) The applicant will not tamper with prosecution evidence and will not harm or harass the victim/complainant in any manner whatsoever.
ii) The applicant will abide the orders of court, will attend the court on every date and will not delay the disposal of trial in any manner whatsoever.
(iii) The applicant shall file an undertaking to the effect that he shall not seek any adjournment on the date fixed for evidence when 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.
(iv) The applicant will not misuse the liberty of bail in any manner whatsoever. In case, the applicant misuses the liberty of bail during trial and in order to secure his presence proclamation under section 82 Cr.P.C., may be issued and if 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 I.P.C.
(v) The applicant shall remain present, in person, before the trial court on dates fixed for (1) opening of the case, (2) framing of charge and (3) 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 and the trial court may proceed against him under Section 229-A IPC.
(vi) The trial court may make all possible efforts/endeavour and try to conclude the trial expeditiously after the release of the applicant.
The identity, status and residential proof of sureties will be verified by court concerned and in case of breach of any of the conditions mentioned above, court concerned will be at liberty to cancel the bail and send the applicant to prison.
The bail application is allowed.
The party shall file computer generated copy of such order downloaded from the official website of High Court Allahabad.
The computer generated copy of such order shall be self attested by the counsel of the party concerned.
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 :- 25.8.2021 AS Rathore (Samit Gopal,J.)