Mona v. State of U.P

Court No. - 72 Case :- CRIMINAL MISC. BAIL APPLICATION No. - 45762 of 2023 Applicant :- Mona Opposite Party :- State of U.P. Counsel for Applicant :- Rakesh Kumar Maurya,Shweta Singh Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A. Hon'ble Krishan Pahal,J.

¶1List has been revised. Supplementary affidavit filed today by the learned counsel for the applicant is taken on record.

¶2Heard Sri Rakesh Kumar Maurya, learned counsel for the applicant and Sri R.P. Patel, learned A.G.A. for the State and perused the record.

¶3Applicant seeks bail in Case Crime No. 175 of 2023, under Sections 08/20 of NDPS Act, Police Station Dhaulana, District Hapur, during the pendency of trial.

¶4It is submitted by learned counsel for the applicant that similarly placed co-accused person, Dushyant has already been enlarged on bail by another Bench of this Court vide order dated 17.11.2023 passed in Criminal Misc. Bail Application No. 47045 of 2023. He further submitted that since the role of the applicant is identical to that of co-accused, who has already been enlarged on bail, he is also entitled to be enlarged on bail on the ground of parity. The applicant is languishing in jail since 24.08.2023. It is further stated that the applicant has criminal history of three cases which has been explained in the supplementary affidavit. One case is under the Gangsters Act to which the applicant could not apply for bail owing to pendency of present application. In support of his submission, learned counsel has also placed much reliance upon the judgement of Prabhakar Tewari Vs. State of U.P. and Another, 2020 (11) SCC 648, wherein the Apex Court has observed that pendency of several criminal cases against an accused itself cannot be a basis for refusal of bail, if otherwise his case for bail is made out. In case, the applicant is released on bail, he will not misuse the liberty of bail and shall cooperate with trial.

¶5The prayer for bail has been vehemently opposed by learned A.G.A.. However, the aforesaid factual aspect of parity to the co-accused has not been disputed by him.

¶6Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, submissions made by learned counsel for the parties, the evidence on record, pending trial and in light of the judgement passed by this Court in Nanha S/o Nabhan Kha vs. State of U.P., 1993 Crl.L.J. 938 and the judgement passed by the Apex Court in Paras Ram Vishnoi vs. The Director, Central Bureau of Investigation, MANU/SCOR/22410/2021, 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 on the ground of parity.

¶7Let the applicant-Mona, involved in aforementioned case crime number be released on bail on furnishing a personal bond and two heavy sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the court concerned subject to following conditions. i. The applicant will not tamper with the evidence during the trial. ii. The applicant will not pressurize/ intimidate the prosecution witness. iii. The applicant will appear before the trial court on the date fixed, unless personal presence is exempted. iv. The applicant shall not indulge in any criminal activity or commission of any crime after being released on bail. v. 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.

¶8In case of breach of any of the above conditions, the prosecution shall be at liberty to move bail cancellation application before this Court.

¶9Identity, status and residence proof of the applicant and sureties be verified by the court concerned before the bonds are accepted.

¶10It 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 on the testimony of the witnesses. (Justice Krishan Pahal) Order Date :- 24.11.2023 Siddhant High Court of Judicature at Allahabad