Ritik Kala @ Kartoos v. State of U.P

Court No. - 72 Case :- CRIMINAL MISC. BAIL APPLICATION No. - 49976 of 2023 Applicant :- Ritik Kala @ Kartoos Opposite Party :- State of U.P. Counsel for Applicant :- Araf Khan,Tauseef Khan Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A. Hon'ble Krishan Pahal,J.

¶1List has been revised.

¶2Heard Ms. Sonakshi Arora, Advocate holding brief of Sri Araf Khan, learned counsel for the applicant, Sri Sunil Kumar, learned A.G.A. for the State and perused the material placed on record.

¶3Applicant seeks bail in Case Crime No.398 of 2022, S.T. No.487 of 2023, under Sections 147, 148, 149, 323, 341, 307, 120-B IPC, Police Station Civil Lines, District Aligarh, during the pendency of trial.

¶4It is submitted by learned counsel for the applicant that similarly placed co-accused person, Siraj has already been enlarged on bail by this Court vide order dated 17.11.2023 passed in Criminal Misc. Bail Application No.43259 of 2023. The applicant is languishing in jail since 20.09.2023. 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. Criminal history of the applicant has been explained in paragraph nos.1 to 9 of the supplementary affidavit. In three cases, there is no service of process against the applicant and has yet to apply for bail.

¶5The prayer for bail has been vehemently opposed by learned A.G.A. However, the aforesaid factual aspect of the 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-Ritik Kala @ Kartoos, 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.

¶8In case of breach of any of the above conditions, it shall be a ground for cancellation of bail.

¶9It 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. Order Date :- 30.11.2023 Priya High Court of Judicature at Allahabad