Ashok Kumar @ Ashok Kumar v. State of U.P

Court No. - 68 Case :- CRIMINAL MISC. BAIL APPLICATION No. - 52117 of 2023 Applicant :- Ashok Kumar @ Ashok Kumar Opposite Party :- State of U.P. Counsel for Applicant :- Mahendra Pal Singh Gaur,R.U. Rinki Renu Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A. Hon'ble Dr. Gautam Chowdhary,J.

¶1Heard Shri Mahendra Pal Singh Gaur, learned counsel for the applicant, learned A.G.A for the State and perused the record.

¶2Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the victim herself got lodged the present F.I.R. on the basis of an application filed under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C. against the applicant and four other accused persons, namely, Kundan Seth, Duliram, Pancham Singh and Pooja Singh with the allegation that on the pretext of false promise of marriage and taking care of her children the applicant used to make sexual relations with her for the last three years and when she reached at the house of applicant to marry her all the accused persons abused and assaulted her. Learned counsel for the applicant further submits there are various contradictions in the statements of the victim recorded under Sections 161 & 164 Cr.P.C. as well as in the F.I.R. Learned counsel for the applicant further submits medical evidence does not support the prosecution case wherein no injury was seen on the person of the victim and doctor has opined that no definite opinion about sexual assault can be given. Learned counsel for the applicant further submits that victim is a married woman aged about 28 years, she knows the applicant for the last three years, she went with the applicant to Rudrapur and stayed with him and she was in relations with him for several years and whatever sexual relations were made between them it was on the consent of the victim. Several other submissions in order to demonstrate the falsity of the allegations made against the applicant have also been placed before the Court. The circumstances which, according to the counsel, led to the false implication of the accused have also been mentioned. It has also been assured on behalf of the applicant that he is ready to cooperate with the process of law and shall faithfully make himself available before the court whenever required and is also ready to accept all the conditions which the Court may deem fit to impose upon him. He next submits that applicant is languishing in jail since 14.08.2023, having no criminal history.

¶3Per contra, learned A.G.A. has opposed the prayer for bail of the applicant by contending that the innocence of the applicant cannot be adjudged at pre trial stage, therefore, he does not deserve any indulgence.

¶4After perusing the record in the light of the submissions made at the bar and after taking an overall view of all the facts and circumstances of this case, the nature of evidence and also the absence of any convincing material to indicate the possibility of tampering with the evidence, without expressing any opinion on merits of the case, this Court is of the view, that the applicant may be enlarged on bail.

¶5Let applicant-Ashok Kumar @ Ashok Kumar, involved in Case Crime No. 62 of 2023, under Sections 147, 376(2)N, 313, 323, 504, 506 I.P.C., Police Station Mahila Thana, District Bareilly, be enlarged on bail on furnishing a personal bond and two heavy local sureties each of the like amount to the satisfaction of the court concerned subject to the following conditions:-

(i) The applicant will not tamper with prosecution evidence and will not harm or harass the victim/complainant in any manner whatsoever.

(ii) The applicant will abide the orders of court, will attend the court on every date and will not delay the disposal of trial in any manner whatsoever.

(iii) The applicant shall file an undertaking to the effect that he shall not seek any adjournment on the date fixed for evidence when 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.

(iv) The applicant will not misuse the liberty of bail in any manner whatsoever. In case, the applicant misuses the liberty of bail during trial and in order to secure his presence proclamation under section 82 Cr.P.C., may be issued and if applicant fails to appear before the court on the date fixed in such proclamation, then, the trial court shall initiate proceedings against him, in accordance with law, under section 174-A I.P.C.

(v) 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 and the trial court may proceed against him under Section 229-A IPC.

¶6The identity, status and residential proof of sureties will be verified by court concerned and in case of breach of any of the conditions mentioned above, court concerned will be at liberty to cancel the bail in accordance with law.

¶7The bail application is allowed. Order Date :- 12.12.2023 Mustaqeem. High Court of Judicature at Allahabad