Hariom @ Dinesh v. State of U.P

Court No. - 66 Case :- CRIMINAL MISC. BAIL APPLICATION No. - 45674 of 2023 Applicant :- Hariom @ Dinesh Opposite Party :- State of U.P. Counsel for Applicant :- Rahul Kumar Jadaun Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A. Hon'ble Ajay Bhanot,J. By means of the second bail application the applicant has prayed to be enlarged on bail in Criminal Case No.1390 of 2023 (State v. Hariom) arising out of Case Crime No.1146 of 2022 at Police Station-Baghpat, District-Baghpat under Sections 419, 420, 467, 468, 471 IPC and Section 30 of the Arms Act. The applicant is in jail since 24.12.2022. The first bail application of the applicant was rejected by this Court on 20.02.2023. The following arguments made by Shri Rahul Kumar Jadaun, learned counsel on behalf of the applicant, which could not be satisfactorily refuted by Shri Paritosh Kumar Malviya, learned AGA-I from the record, entitle the applicant for grant of bail:

¶1The applicant is a law abiding citizen and had always cooperated with the investigations and joined the trial. The applicant never tampered with evidence nor did he influence any witness.

¶2The trial is moving at a snail's pace and and shows no sign of early conclusion. The applicant cannot be faulted for the delay in the trial.

¶3Inordinate delay in concluding trial has lead to an indefinite imprisonment of the applicant without being any evidence against the applicant. The right of the applicant to speedy trial has been violated.

¶4Continued incarceration of the applicant will disable him from framing an effective defence strategy, gathering evidence in his support thereof and tendering the same before the learned trial court to absolve himself.

¶5The applicant has explained his criminal history. It is contended that the applicant is a convenient scapegoat for the police authorities. The applicant has been falsely nominated in a number of cases only to show the proficiency of the police investigators. The said cases do not have any bearing on the instant bail application.

¶6The applicant is not a flight risk. The applicant being a law abiding citizen has always cooperated with the investigation and undertakes to cooperate with the court proceedings. There is no possibility of his influencing witnesses, tampering with the evidence or reoffending. This Court in Prabhat Gangwar v. State of U.P. (Criminal Misc. Bail Application No.2586 of 2023) while considering the grant of enlarging an accused on bail for preparing his defence and gathering evidence to tender the same before the learned trial court for establishing his innocence held: "Nature and gravity of the offence is certainly liable to be considered by the court while considering grant of bail. The Court has also to factor the likelihood of whether the accused committed the offence while deciding a bail application. The court also has to determine in the facts of the case whether the accused needs to be set at liberty to frame his defence and gather evidence to refute the prosecution case and establish his innocence. The bail court has to examine whether continued incarceration would disable the accused from tendering an effective defence of his case. This is a demand of processual fairness in criminal jurisprudence. Setting an accused at liberty at large on this ground cannot be applied mechanically in all cases. The issue has to be considered in the facts and circumstances of each case while doing so. All relevant facts including the evidences in the record, the conduct of the accused during the investigation as well as trial have to be adverted to before a decision is made in this regard." Considering the aforesaid parameters in light of the above facts of this case, I am of the opinion that the applicant is entitled for bail. In wake of the preceding discussion and without making any observations on the merits of the case, the bail application is allowed. Let the applicant-Hariom @ Dinesh 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 below. The following conditions be imposed in the interest of justice:-

(i) The applicant will not tamper with the evidence or influence any witness during the trial.

(ii) The applicant will appear before the trial court on the date fixed, unless personal presence is exempted. Order Date :- 30.10.2023 Ashish Tripathi High Court of Judicature at Allahabad High Court of Judicature at Allahabad