Vikas Sharma v. State of U.P. and 3 Others

Court No. -64 Case :-CRIMINAL MISC. BAIL APPLICATION No. -46967 of 2023 Applicant :-Vikas Sharma Opposite Party :-State Of U.P. And 3 Others Counsel for Applicant :-Gaurav Kumar Singh Counsel for Opposite Party :-G.A. Hon'ble Siddharth,J. Learned AGA informs that notice has been served. Heard learned counsel for the applicant as well as the learned AGA for the State and perused the material placed on record. The instant bail application has been filed on behalf of the applicant, Vikas Sharma, with a prayer to release him on bail in Case Crime No. 155 of 2023, under Sections 363, 376 IPC and Section 4(2) of POCSO Act, Police Station-Ravindranagar Dhus, District-Khushinagar, during pendency of trial. There is allegation against the applicant of abduction of minor girl, commission of offence of rape and penetrative Sexual Assault. Learned counsel for the applicant has submitted that from the statement of victim recorded under Section 164 Cr.P.C., it is clear that on 07.08.2023 at about 4:00 pm, the victim left her house on her own sweet will being annoyed by her father who stopped her studies. She went to Gorakhpur and from Gorakhpur she took the train and went to Pune. She has claimed that she met the applicant at Pune and married him in a temple and started living with him as husband and wife. Thereafter, her father threatened her of life on phone and she came back and got her statement recorded. She has stated that she wants to live with the applicant and does not wants to go back to her parents. Learned counsel for the applicant has relied upon the judgement of Apex Court in the case of S Varadarajan Vs. State of Madras, 1964 LawSuit (SC) 209. It has been submitted that victim herself left the company of lawful guardianship of her parents on her own and went from Gorakhpur to Pune. The applicant did not took her away from the company of her lawful guardianship. No offence under Section 363 I.P.C., is made out against the applicant. The victim has not made any allegation of commission of offence of rape against the applicant. She is although minor, but the applicant cannot be implicated for commission of the alleged offence in view of statement of victim recorded under Section 164 Cr.P.C. The applicant has been falsely implicated in this case. He has no criminal history to his credit and is languishing in jail since 13.09.2023. The trial in the aforesaid case is not likely to be concluded in near future. Per contra learned A.G.A. has opposed the prayer for bail of the applicant by contending that the innocence of the applicant cannot be adjudged at pre trial stage, therefore, he does not deserves any indulgence. In case the applicant is released on bail he will again indulge in similar activities and will misuse the liberty of bail. Having considered the submissions of the parties noted above, finding force in the submissions made by the learned counsel for the applicant, keeping in view the uncertainty regarding conclusion of trial; one sided investigation by police, ignoring the case of accused side; applicant being under-trial having fundamental right to speedy trial; larger mandate of the Article 21 of the Constitution of India, considering the dictum of Apex Court in the case of Satendra Kumar Antil Vs. C.B.I. & Another, passed in S.L.P. (Crl.) No. 5191 of 2021, judgement dated 11.7.2022 and considering 5-6 times overcrowding in jails over and above their capacity by under trials and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, let the applicant involved in the aforesaid crime be released on bail on his furnishing a personal bond and two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the court concerned with the following conditions that :-

(i) The applicant shall not tamper with the evidence or threaten the witnesses.

(ii) The applicant shall file an undertaking to the effect that he shall not seek any adjournment on the dates 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.

(iii) The applicant shall remain present before the Trial Court on each date fixed, either personally or as directed by the Court. In case of his absence, without sufficient cause, the Trial Court may proceed against him under Section 229-A of the Indian Penal Code.

(iv) In case the applicant misuse the liberty of bail during trial and in order to secure his presence, proclamation under Section 82 Cr.P.C. is issued and the applicants fail 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.

(v) 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. In case, of breach of any of the above conditions, it shall be a ground for cancellation of bail. Identity and residence proof of the applicant and sureties be verified by the court concerned before the bonds are accepted. Order Date :- 3.11.2023 Abhishek High Court of Judicature at Allahabad