Lalit Kumar v. State of U.P

Court No. - 77 Case :- CRIMINAL MISC. BAIL APPLICATION No. - 52067 of 2023 Applicant :- Lalit Kumar Opposite Party :- State of U.P. Counsel for Applicant :- Sumit Pandey Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A. Hon'ble Mrs. Renu Agarwal,J.

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

¶2The present first bail application under Section 439 Cr.P.C. has been filed on behalf of the applicant in Case Crime No. 229 of 2023 under Sections 395, 412, 120-B, 34 I.P.C. Police Station Chandaus, District Aligarh with the prayer to enlarge him on bail.

¶3Learned counsel for the accused-applicant submitted that the applicant is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the instant case due to malafide intentions. Allegations levelled as per the F.I.R. is that informant was looted a sum of Rs. 3,26,100/-, mobile phone and laptop by five persons out of which the informant identified two person, namely, Shivam and Jeetu. It is submitted that applicant is not named in the F.I.R. and his named surfaced in the confessional statement of the co-accused. It is submitted that Rs. 1500/- is recovered from the house of the applicant. It is further submitted that co-accused-Jeetu, who has been identified by the applicant has been enlarged on bail by co-ordinate Bench of this Court vide order dated 02.11.2023 passed in Criminal Misc. Bail Application No. 46257 of 2023. It is contended that applicant was neither identified nor any test identification parade has been conducted by the police. It is next contended that there is no chance of absconding from the jurisdiction of this Court or tampering with the evidences. Applicant is languishing in jail since 07.10.2023 having no criminal history to his credit. It is lastly conended that since the role of the present applicant is at a better footing than that of co-accused, who has already been enlarged on bail, present applicant is also entitled to be enlarged on bail on the ground of parity and if he is granted the liberty of bail he will not misuse the same and he is ready to furnish his sufficient sureties, bonds and personal bonds and shall co-operate with the trial.

¶4On the other hand, learned AGA has opposed the prayer of bail but could not controvert the aforesaid arguments as advanced by learned counsel for the applicant.

¶5Considering the fact that the applicant was not named in the F.I.R. and his named surfaced in the confessional statement of the co-accused, applicant is languishing in jail since 07.10.2023 having no criminal history to his credit, co-accused-Jeetu who was identified by the informant has been enlarged on bail and the case of the applicant stands at better footing, case is triable by Magistrate and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, accused-applicant is liable to be released on bail.

¶6Let applicant Lalit Kumar be released on bail in the above case crime number and on his furnishing a personal bond and two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of Court concerned with the following conditions :-

(i) The applicant shall file an undertaking to the effect that he shall not seek any adjournment on the dates 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.

(ii) The applicant shall remain present before the trial court on each date fixed, either personally or through his counsel. In case of his absence, without sufficient cause, the trial court may proceed against him under Section 229-A of the Indian Penal Code.

(iii) 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. is issued and the 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 of the Indian Penal Code.

(iv) The applicant shall remain present, in person, before the trial court on the dates fixed for (i) opening of the case, (ii) framing of charge and (iii) 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.

(v) The applicant shall also furnish an undertaking from the sureties that the properties (movable/immovable) which are the basis of accepting the surety, shall not be disposed of by them till the conclusion of trial.

(vi) The applicant shall also give an undertaking to the effect that he will not change his address without prior intimation to the trial court concerned. (Renu Agarwal,J.) Order Date :- 12.12.2023 Karan High Court of Judicature at Allahabad