Mahendra v. State of U.P. and 3 Others

Court No. - 72 Case :- CRIMINAL MISC ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION U/S 438 CR.P.C. No. - 11916 of 2023 Applicant :- Mahendra Opposite Party :- State Of U.P. And 3 Others Counsel for Applicant :- Pawan Giri,Himanshu Goswami Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A. Hon'ble Krishan Pahal,J.

¶1List has been revised. As informed by learned A.G.A., the notice to the opposite party no. 2 has been served on 26.10.2023.

¶2Heard Sri Himanshu Goswami, learned counsel for the applicant as well as Sri S.P. Pandey, learned A.G.A. for the State and also perused the record.

¶3The present anticipatory bail application has been filed on behalf of the applicant in F.I.R./Case Crime No. 215 of 2023, under Sections 363, 366, 120B, 376 IPC and 3/4 POCSO Act, Police Station Gambhirpur, District Azamgarh, with a prayer to enlarge him on anticipatory bail.

¶4As per prosecution story, the FIR was instituted by the informant against unknown persons alleging that his daughter is missing since 28.6.2023 at 7.00 pm.

¶5Learned counsel for the applicant has stated that the applicant is maliciously being prosecuted in the present case due to ulterior motive and has the apprehension of his arrest. The applicant has nothing to do with the said offence as alleged by the prosecution. Learned counsel has next stated that the applicant is not named in the FIR. He is a practicing advocate at Azamgarh. Learned counsel has further stated that a bare perusal of the statement of the victim recorded u/s 164 Cr.P.C. indicates that the applicant had facilitated her to meet her friend, Himanshu, to whom she is happily married. The only allegation against the applicant is that after sometime, he has colluded with her father and has not given her marriage certificate and other documents, as the victim had filed a petition before this High Court also. It is further stated that there is no allegation of assault or indecent behaviour against the applicant.

¶6Several other submissions have been made on behalf of the applicant to demonstrate the falsity of the allegations made against him. The circumstances which, as per counsel, led to the false implication of the applicant have also been touched upon at length. It is further submitted that the applicant has no criminal antecedents. In case, the anticipatory bail application of the applicant is allowed, he will not misuse the liberty and shall cooperate with trial.

¶7On the other hand, learned A.G.A. has vehemently opposed the prayer for grant of anticipatory bail but unable to dispute the submissions raised by the learned counsel for the applicant and also the fact that the applicant has no criminal history.

¶8On due consideration to the arguments advanced by the learned counsel for the parties and in view of the law laid down by the Apex Court in the case of "Sushila Aggarwal Vs. State (NCT of Delhi)-2020 SCC online SC 98", the applicant is entitled to be granted anticipatory bail in this case.

¶9Without expressing any opinion upon ultimate merits of the case either ways which may adversely affect the trial of the case, the anticipatory bail application of the applicant is allowed.

¶10In the event of arrest of the applicant, Mahendra involved in the aforesaid case crime number, shall be released on anticipatory bail till the conclusion of trial on furnishing a personal bond with two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the Presiding Officer/Court Concerned, with the conditions that:- i. that the applicant shall make himself available for interrogation by a police officer as and when required; ii. that the applicant 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 from disclosing such facts to the court or to any police officer or tamper with the evidence; iii. that the applicant shall not leave India without previous permission of the court; iv. that the applicant shall not tamper with the evidence during the trial; v. that the applicant shall not pressurize/ intimidate the prosecution witness; vi. that the applicant shall appear before the trial court on each date fixed unless personal presence is exempted;

¶11In case of breach of any of the above conditions, the court concerned shall have the liberty to cancel the bail granted to the applicant.

¶12It is made clear that observations made in granting anticipatory bail to the applicant shall not in any way affect the learned trial Judge in forming his independent opinion based on the testimony of the witnesses. (Justice Krishan Pahal) Order Date :- 9.11.2023 Shalini High Court of Judicature at Allahabad