Neeraj Gupta and Another v. State of U.P. and Another

Court No. - 73 Case :- CRIMINAL MISC ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION U/S 438 CR.P.C. No. - 11217 of 2023 Applicant :- Neeraj Gupta And Another Opposite Party :- State of U.P. and Another Counsel for Applicant :- Ashok Kumar Singh Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A. Hon'ble Nalin Kumar Srivastava,J.

¶1Supplementary affidavit filed today is taken on record.

¶2This application has been moved on behalf of the applicants - Neeraj Gupta and Arvind Kumar Gupta seeking anticipatory bail in Case Crime No. 132 of 2022, under Sections 406, 506 IPC, Police Station Pipari, District Sonbhadra.

¶3Heard learned counsel for the applicants, learned A.G.A. for the State and perused the record.

¶4It is submitted by the learned counsel for the applicants that applicants are innocent and they have apprehension of arrest in the above-mentioned case, whereas there is no credible evidence against them. Allegations levelled against the applicants are false. It is further submitted that as a matter of fact Rs. 50,000/- in the account of applicant no.1 and Rs. 10,000/- in the bank account of applicant no.2 were transferred by the informant but out of the total amount of Rs. 60,000/-, Rs. 55,000/- has already been repaid by the applicants through bank transaction in favour of the informant and copy thereof has bee been annexed with the supplementary affidavit filed today. Applicants never instructed the informant to deposit any money through any bank transaction. After completion of investigation, charge sheet has been submitted in the matter. No process under Sections 82 and 83 CrPC has been issued against the applicants and the applicants have not been declared absconder. In case applicants are granted anticipatory bail, they will not misuse the liberty of bail and would obey all conditions of bail.

¶5Learned A.G.A. opposed the prayer for anticipatory bail.

¶6I have considered the rival submissions made by the learned counsel for the parties.

¶7In this matter, from the perusal of the record it reveals that Rs. 4,30,000/- was borrowed by the present applicants from the informant and the money was transferred through google pay in the bank account of the present applicants and of other members, as directed, but the same was not returned. F.I.R. was lodged on

24.9.2022 and after investigation charge sheet has been submitted. It also appears that the applicants have been cooperative during investigation and now after submission of charge sheet no custodial interrogation appears to be required.

¶8In Sushila Aggarwal and others vs. State (NCT of Delhi) and another, (2020) 5 SCC 1, the Hon'ble Apex Court has settled the law on the subject finally by holding that the anticipatory bail need not be of limited duration invariably. In appropriate case, it can continue upto conclusion of trial. It has been further held therein that anticipatory bail granted can, depending on the conduct and behavior of the accused, continue after filing of the charge sheet till end of trial. It has been further held by the Hon'ble Apex Court that while considering an application for grant of anticipatory bail, the court has to consider the nature of the offence, the role of the person, the likelihood of his influencing the course of investigation, or tampering with evidence including intimidating witnesses, likelihood of fleeing justice, such as leaving the country, etc. It has further been held that Courts ought to be generally guided by considerations such as the nature and gravity of the offences, the role attributed to the applicant, and the facts of the case, while considering whether to grant anticipatory bail, or refuse it. Whether to grant or not is a matter of discretion.

¶9Considering the settled principles of law regarding anticipatory bail, nature of accusation, role of applicants and all attending facts and circumstances of the case, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, in my view, it is a fit case for anticipatory bail to the applicants till the end of trial.

¶10The application is allowed accordingly.

¶11In the event of arrest of the applicants, they shall be released on anticipatory bail on their furnishing a personal bond of Rs.50,000/-with two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the Court concerned with the following conditions:-

(i) The applicants shall make themselves available before the Court concerned on the date fixed in the matter and will cooperate in the trial.

(ii) The applicants 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/her from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police office.

(iii) The applicants shall not leave India without the previous permission of the Court and if they have passport, the same shall be deposited by them before the S.S.P./S.P. Concerned.

¶12In case of default of any of the conditions, the same may be a ground for cancellation of protection granted to the applicants. Order Date :- 18.10.2023 safi High Court of Judicature at Allahabad