Sudesh Lodhi @ Swadesh Lodhi v. State of U.P

Court No. - 64 Case :- CRIMINAL MISC. BAIL APPLICATION No. - 28785 of 2021 Applicant :- Sudesh Lodhi @ Swadesh Lodhi Opposite Party :- State of U.P. Counsel for Applicant :- Rajeev Upadhyay,Ajay Kumar Kashyap,Amar Singh Kashyap,Arun Kumar Sharma,Manish Yadav Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A. Hon'ble Siddharth,J. Heard learned counsel for the applicant, and learned A.G.A. for the State. There are allegations against the applicant of committing offence s of rioting, attempt to murder, murder etc., with common object and intention by hatching conspiracy. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that he was not initially named in the first information report. His name has surfaced in the confessional statement of co-accused, Bhola @ Vinay and other number of co-accused. Co-accused, Bhola @ Vinay has already been enlarged on bail vide Crl. Misc. Bail Application No.24325 of 2021. Applicant is in jail since 03.12.2021. Before the trial court only two out of 25 prosecution witnesses have been examined. Trial will take time to conclude. Applicant has criminal history of ten cases. He is also previous convict in one case wherein he is on bail. Learned AGA has opposed the prayer for bail but could not dispute the above submissions. Keeping in view the nature of the offence, evidence, complicity of the accused; submissions of the learned counsel for the parties noted above; finding force in the submissions made by the learned counsel for the applicant; keeping 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 and recent judgment dated

11.07.2022 of the Apex Court in the case of Satendra Kumar Antil vs. C.B.I., passed in S.L.P (Crl.) No. 5191 of 2021 and considering 5-6 times overcrowding in jails over and above their capacity by the under trials and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, the Court is of the view that the applicant has made out a case for bail. The bail application is allowed. Let the applicant, Sudesh Lodhi @ Swadesh Lodhi, involved in Case Crime No.752 of 2020, under Sections 147, 148, 149, 427, 307, 302, 34, 120B I.P.C, Police Station Kotwali Manipuri, District-Mainpuri 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 subject to following conditions. Further, before issuing the release order, the sureties be verified.

(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.

(vi) Applicant will report his presence before the Police Station Bhogaon, District Mainpuri in first week of every month after he is released on bail and till the conclusion of trial. In case of breach of any of the above conditions, the complainant is free to move an application for cancellation of bail before this court. Identity and residence proof of the applicant and sureties be verified by the court concerned before the bonds are accepted. Order Date :- 16.11.2023 SS High Court of Judicature at Allahabad