Punni Devi Alias Puniya Devi and 4 Others v. State of U.P. and Another

Court No. - 71 Case :- CRIMINAL MISC ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION U/S 438 CR.P.C. No. - 12459 of 2023 Applicant :- Punni Devi Alias Puniya Devi And 4 Others Opposite Party :- State of U.P. and Another Counsel for Applicant :- Abhishek Kumar Chaubey Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A. Hon'ble Shekhar Kumar Yadav,J.

¶1Heard learned counsel for the applicants and learned Additional Government Advocate for the State.

¶2This anticipatory bail application (under section 438 Cr.P.C.) has been moved seeking bail in Case Crime No. 126 of 2018, under sections 147, 148, 332, 353, 353, 336, 395, 435, 452,427, 186, 506 IPC and Section 7 of C.L.A. Act, P.S. Anpara, District Sonbhadra during the pendency of this application.

¶3At the outset, learned counsel for the applicants submitted that applicants are innocent and have apprehension of arrest in the above mentioned case, whereas there is no credible evidence against them. It is further submitted that co accused Shiv Shankar Pal and Hira Lal, have already been granted anticipatory bail vide order dated

20.09.2023 passed in Criminal Misc Anticipatory Bail Application No. 9991 of 2023.

¶4It is further submitted that the case of the applicants stand on identical footing, hence the applicants are also entitled for anticipatory bail on the ground of parity. The applicants are having definite apprehension that they may be arrested by the police any time.

¶5Learned AGA has opposed the prayer for bail, but could not dispute the said facts.

¶6Hence without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case and considering the nature of accusations and antecedents of applicants, they are directed to be enlarged on anticipatory bail as per the Constitution Bench judgment of the Apex Court in the case of Sushila Aggarwal vs. State (NCT of Delhi)- 2020 SCC Online SC 98. The future contingencies regarding anticipatory bail being granted to applicants shall also be taken care of as per the aforesaid judgment of the Apex Court.

¶7In the event of arrest, the applicants shall be released on anticipatory bail. Let the applicants Punni Devi @ Puniya Devi, Shiva Kumar, Krishna Kumar Sharma, Ram Narayan Bharti and Bablu Rawat involved in the aforesaid crime be released on anticipatory bail on their furnishing a personal bond of Rs. 50, 000/-with two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the trial court concerned with the following conditions:-

(1) The applicants shall co-operate with the Investigating Officer during investigation and shall report to the Investigating Officer as and when required for the purpose of conducting investigation;

(2) The applicants 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 them from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police officer; and

(3) The applicants shall not leave the country during the currency of trial without prior permission from the concerned trial Court.

(4) The applicants shall surrender his passport, if any, to the concerned Court forthwith. Their passport will remain in custody of the concerned Court.

(5) The applicants shall file an undertaking to the effect that they shall not seek any adjournment on the dates fixed for evidence and 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 to ensure presence of the applicants.

(6) In case, the applicants misuse the liberty of bail, the Court concerned may take appropriate action in accordance with law and judgment of Apex Court in the case of Sushila Aggarwal vs. State (NCT of Delhi)- 2020 SCC Online SC 98.

(7) The applicants 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 default of this condition is deliberate or without sufficient cause, then it shall be open for the trial court to treat such default as abuse of liberty of their bail and proceed against them in accordance with law.

¶8In default or misuse of any of the conditions, the Public Prosecutor/ Investigating Officer/ first informant-complainant is at liberty to file appropriate application for cancellation of anticipatory bail granted to the applicants.

¶9With the aforesaid observations/ directions, the application stands disposed of. Order Date :- 22.11.2023 RavindraKSingh High Court of Judicature at Allahabad