Pradeep Kumar Singh v. State of U.P

Court No. - 73 Case :- CRIMINAL MISC ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION U/S 438 CR.P.C. No. - 12752 of 2023 Applicant :- Pradeep Kumar Singh Opposite Party :- State of U.P. Counsel for Applicant :- Rajesh Kumar Yadav Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A.,Anuj Kumar Mishra Hon'ble Nalin Kumar Srivastava,J.

¶1Heard learned counsel for the applicant, learned A.G.A. for the State as well as learned counsel for the informant and perused the record.

¶2This application has been moved on behalf of the applicant - Pradeep Kumar Singh seeking anticipatory bail in Case Crime No.301 of 2023, under Sections 419, 420, 386, 504, 506, 411, 467, 468 IPC, Police Station Bithoor, District Kanpur Nagar.

¶3The main accused Abhishek Singh posed himself as an employee in Prime Minister Office and on the basis of that, showing his status, large amount of money was grabbed by him from the informant. F.I.R. was lodged against accused Abhishek Singh on 20.8.2023 and during investigation, the name of the present applicant came into light as an associate of the main accused Abhishek Singh.

¶4It has been argued 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. Investigation is going on in the matter. It is further submitted that the applicant has no concern with the main accused Abhishek Singh. As per F.I.R. and also on the basis of the statements of witnesses given to the I.O. under section 161 Cr.P.C., it cannot be said that any person paid any amount to the present applicant. It is further submitted that the fraud, if any, has been committed by the main accused Abhishek Singh, who posed himself to be a representative of P.M.O. It is also submitted that the applicant has not made any wrongful gain in his favour. His name has come to surface on the basis of the statement of main accused Abhishek Singh, which was recorded during investigation under the police custody. It is further submitted that the applicant has no criminal history to his credit. He is cooperating with the investigation of the case. He is not named in the F.I.R. 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.

¶5Per contra, learned A.G.A. as well as learned counsel for the informant opposed the prayer for anticipatory bail and it has been submitted that the present applicant was cooperating the main accused Abhishek Singh in committing the fraud and to grab money from the innocent persons falsely showing the main accused Abhishek Singh as a representative of P.M.O. It is further submitted that the present applicant has played an active role in the commission of the crime and he is an active member of the gang of persons, who committed fraud upon the innocent persons of the public. However, learned A.G.A. as well as learned counsel for the informant could not controvert this factual position that no money, in fact, was actually paid to the present applicant.

¶6In Sushila Aggarwal and others vs. State (NCT of Delhi) and another, (2020) 5 SCC 1, the Hon'ble Apex Court has held 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.

¶7In Siddharth Vs. State of Uttar Pradesh & Another, (2022) 1 Supreme Court Cases 676, the Hon'ble Apex Court has held that personal liberty is an important aspect of our constitutional mandate. The occasion to arrest an accused during investigation arises when custodial investigation becomes necessary or it is a heinous crime or where there is a possibility of influencing the witnesses or accused may abscond. Merely because an arrest can be made because it is lawful does not mandate that arrest must be made. A distinction must be made between the existence of the power to arrest and the justification for exercise of it. If arrest is made routine, it can cause incalculable harm to the reputation and self-esteem of a person. If the Investigating Officer has no reason to believe that the accused will abscond or disobey summons and has, in fact, throughout cooperated with the investigation, then there is no compulsion on the officer to arrest the accused.

¶8Considering 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 filing of police report under Section 173(2) Cr.P.C. before the competent Court.

¶9The application is allowed accordingly.

¶10In the event of arrest of the applicant, he shall be released on anticipatory bail till filing of police report under Section 173 (2) Cr.P.C. on his furnishing a personal bond of Rs.50,000/-with two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of Station House Officer of the police station concerned with the following conditions:-

(i) The applicant shall make himself available for interrogation by a police officer as and when required.

(ii) 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/her from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police office.

(iii) The applicant shall not leave India without the previous permission of the Court and if he has passport, the same shall be deposited by him before the S.S.P./S.P. Concerned.

¶11In case of default of any of the conditions, the Investigating Officer shall be at liberty to file appropriate application for cancellation of protection granted to the applicant. Order Date :- 30.11.2023 ss High Court of Judicature at Allahabad