Prateek Yadav v. State of U.P

Court No. - 73 Case :- CRIMINAL MISC ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION U/S 438 CR.P.C. No. - 10679 of 2023 Applicant :- Prateek Yadav Opposite Party :- State of U.P. Counsel for Applicant :- Manoj Yadav Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A. Hon'ble Nalin Kumar Srivastava,J.

¶1Heard learned counsel for the applicant, learned AGA and perused the material available on record.

¶2This application for anticipatory bail has been filed by applicant-Prateek Yadav in connection with Case Crime No.11 of 2023, under section 420 IPC, P.S. Etmadpur, District Agra.

¶3It is alleged in the F.I.R. that the present applicant was held at the registration counter of the examination centre where he was trying to appear in the examination as an imposter in place of co-accused, Dilpasand Yadav. An F.I.R. was lodged on 16.01.2023 and investigation started and now charge sheet has been submitted in this matter.

¶4It has been submitted by the learned counsel for the applicant that applicant is innocent and he has apprehension of arrest in the above-mentioned case, whereas there is no credible evidence against him. Allegations levelled against the applicant are false. Charge sheet in the matter has been submitted. It is further submitted that as a matter of fact, the accused applicant had gone to the examination centre with his relative co-accused, Dilpasand Yadav, who had to appear in the examination on the relevant date. It is further submitted that due to some dispute with the police, he was falsely implicated in this matter. It is next submitted that during the course of investigation, the applicant has been granted bail from the police station on the same day. It is also submitted that he been cooperative with the I.O. of the case during the course of investigation and as such, he is entitled for anticipatory bail. In case applicant is granted anticipatory bail, he shall not misuse the liberty of bail and would obey all conditions of bail.

¶5Learned A.G.A. has opposed the prayer for anticipatory bail and it has been argued that it is a case of impersonation because in the place of co-accused, Dilpasand Yadav, the present applicant was trying to appear in the examination.

¶6In the present case, charge sheet has been submitted and now no custodial interrogation is required from the present applicant. The arrest of the applicant is not required and the applicant is said to be a student and he is having no criminal history to his credit.

¶7Although the charge sheet has been submitted in this matter, but in Sushila Aggarwal and others vs. State (NCT of Delhi) and another, (2020) 5 SCC 1, the Hon'ble Apex Court has settled the controversy finally by holding the anticipatory bail need not be of limited duration invariably. In appropriate case, it can continue upto conclusion of trial. It has been further held therein that anticipatory bail granted can, depending on the conduct and behavior of the accused, continue after filing of the charge sheet till end of trial. It has been further held by the Hon'ble Apex Court that while considering an application for grant of anticipatory bail, the court has to consider the nature of the offence, the role of the person, the likelihood of his influencing the course of investigation, or tampering with evidence including intimidating witnesses, llikelihood of fleeing justice, such as leaving the country, etc. It has further been held that Courts ought to be generally guided by considerations such as the nature and gravity of the offences, the role attributed to the applicant, and the facts of the case, while considering whether to grant anticipatory bail, or refuse it. Whether to grant or not is a matter of discretion.

¶8Hence, considering the settled principles of law regarding anticipatory bail, submissions of the learned counsel for the parties, nature of accusation, role of applicant and all attending facts and circumstances of the case, without expressing any opinion of the merits of the case, in my view, it is a fit case for anticipatory bail to the applicant till conclusion of trial in the matter.

¶9The anticipatory bail application is allowed.

¶10In the event of arrest of the applicant in the aforesaid case crime, he shall be released on anticipatory bail on his furnishing a personal bond of Rs. 50,000/-with two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the Court concerned with the following conditions :-

(i) 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.

(ii) The applicant shall not pressurize/ intimidate the prosecution witness.

(iii) The applicant shall not commit an offence similar to the offence of which he is accused, or suspected, of the commission of which he is suspected.

(iv) The applicant shall not leave India without prior permission of the Court and if they have passport, the same shall be deposited by him before the S.S.P./S.P. concerned.

¶11In case of breach of any of the above conditions, the Investigating Officer shall be at liberty to file appropriate application for cancellation of anticipatory bail of the applicant in accordance with law. Order Date :- 24.11.2023 Shivangi High Court of Judicature at Allahabad High Court of Judicature at Allahabad