Manoj Patel v. State of U.P. and 3 Others

Court No. - 72 Case :- CRIMINAL MISC. BAIL APPLICATION No. - 47965 of 2023 Applicant :- Manoj Patel Opposite Party :- State Of U.P. And 3 Others Counsel for Applicant :- Kunjesh Kumar Dubey Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A.,Aarushi Khare Hon'ble Krishan Pahal,J.

¶1List has been revised. As informed by learned A.G.A., notice to the informant has been served on 4.11.2023.

¶2Heard learned counsel for the applicant as well as Sri D.K. Singh, learned A.G.A. for the State and perused the material placed on record.

¶3Applicant seeks bail in Case Crime No. 397 of 2023 U/S 363, 366, 120B, 504, 506 IPC, 4/5 Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, Police Station Jhunsi, District Prayagraj, during the pendency of trial.

¶4As per prosecution story, the daughter of the informant was found missing since 17.9.2023 at about 8.00 pm, as such, the FIR was instituted by the informant on 18.9.2023.

¶5Learned counsel for the applicant has argued that the applicant is absolutely innocent and has been falsely implicated in the present case with a view to cause unnecessary harassment and to victimize him. It is next stated that the applicant is not named in the FIR. His name has come up in the statement of the victim recorded u/s 164 Cr.P.C. The victim is the consenting party and has married the co-accused person Ashish out of her own sweet will. To buttress his arguments, learned counsel has placed reliance on the statement of the victim recorded u/s 164 Cr.P.C., whereby she has stated that she has married the co-accused person Ashish out of her own sweet will, in a temple nearby her house and she has allayed the allegations regarding the applicant of having introduced her to Ashish.

¶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 stated that there is no criminal history of the applicant. The applicant is languishing in jail since

21.9.2023. In case, the applicant is released on bail, he will not misuse the liberty of bail.

¶7Learned A.G.A. has vehemently opposed the bail application but has not disputed the fact that there is no criminal history of the applicant.

¶8Keeping in view the nature of the offence, evidence on record regarding complicity of the accused, larger mandate of the Article 21 of the Constitution of India 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.

¶9Let the applicant-Manoj Patel, who is involved in aforementioned case 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 subject to following conditions. Further, before issuing the release order, the sureties be verified.

(i) The applicant shall not tamper with evidence.

(ii) The applicant shall remain present, in person, before the Trial Court on dates fixed for (1) opening of the case, (2) framing of charge and (3) 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.

¶10In case of breach of any of the above conditions, it shall be a ground for cancellation of bail.

¶11It is made clear that observations made in granting 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 :- 21.11.2023 Shalini High Court of Judicature at Allahabad