Prashant v. State of U.P

Court No. - 72 Case :- CRIMINAL MISC ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION U/S 438 CR.P.C. No. - 13688 of 2023 Applicant :- Prashant Opposite Party :- State of U.P. Counsel for Applicant :- Rajeev Tiwari Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A. Hon'ble Krishan Pahal,J.

¶1List has been revised.

¶2Heard Sri Anurag Dubey, Advocate holding brief of Sri Rajeev Tiwari, learned counsel for the applicant and Sri Arun Kumar, learned A.G.A. for the State and also perused the record.

¶3This second anticipatory bail application has been filed on behalf of the applicant in F.I.R./Case Crime No. 261 of 2023, under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 171, 120-B of IPC, Police Station Ganga Nagar, District Meerut, with a prayer to enlarge him on anticipatory bail. His first anticipatory bail application was rejected by this Court vide order dated 08.11.2023 passed in Criminal Misc. Anticipatory Bail Application u/s 438 Cr.P.C. No.12385 of 2023.

¶4Learned counsel for the applicant has stated that his first anticipatory bail application was rejected by this Court only on the ground that the applicant has criminal history of one case. Learned counsel has placed much reliance on Annexure-3 to the affidavit filed along with anticipatory bail application by which it has been categorically indicated that the applicant has been exonerated in the said case, as such, it has been wrongly stated by learned AGA that he is wanted in it. Learned counsel for the applicant has also claimed parity with the co-accused Rajat @ Devendra, who has already been granted anticipatory bail by this Court in Criminal Misc. Anticipatory Bail Application u/s 438 Cr.P.C. No. 12097 of 2023 vide order dated 16.11.2023. Since the case of the applicant is at par with the co-accused who has already been granted anticipatory bail, the applicant is also entitled for the same on the ground of parity.

¶5The prayer for anticipatory bail has been vehemently opposed by learned AGA. 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 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 is entitled to be granted anticipatory bail in this case. The bail application is allowed on the ground of parity.

¶7In the event of arrest of the applicant, Prashant involved in the aforesaid case crime number, shall be released on anticipatory bail till the conclusion of trial on furnishing a personal bond with two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the Presiding Officer/Court Concerned, with the conditions that:- i. that the applicant shall make himself available for interrogation by a police officer as and when required; ii. that 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; iii. that the applicant shall not leave India without the previous permission of the court; iv. that in case, the charge-sheet is submitted, the applicant shall not tamper with the evidence during the trial; v. that the applicant shall not pressurize/ intimidate the prosecution witness; vi. that the applicant shall appear before the trial court on each date fixed unless personal presence is exempted;

¶8In case of breach of any of the above conditions, the court concerned shall have the liberty to cancel the anticipatory bail of the applicant.

¶9It is made clear that observations made in granting anticipatory 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. (Justice Krishan Pahal) Order Date :- 16.12.2023 Siddhant High Court of Judicature at Allahabad