Boluram Borah @ Boluram Bora v. The State of Assam and Anr

ORDER Date : 27.06.2024

Heard Mr. B. D. Goswami, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Mr. R. J. Baruah, learned Additional Public Prosecutor for the State respondent No. 1 and Mr. M. Kalita, learned Amicus Curiae appearing on behalf of the respondent No. 2/informant.

¶2This is an application under Section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 praying for grant of bail to the accused/petitioner, who has been arrested in connection with Spl.(P) Case No. 104/2023, under Section 10 of the POCSO Act, pending before the Court of learned Special Judge (POCSO), Golaghat (arising out of Merapani P.S. Case No. 55/2023, under Sections 354 of the Indian Penal Code read with Section 10 of POCSO Act).

¶3Scanned copy of the Case Record along with the Case Diary has been received and I have perused the same.

¶4It is submitted by Mr. B. D. Goswami, learned counsel for the petitioner, that the accused/petitioner is innocent and he has not committed any offence as alleged in the F.I.R. The accused/petitioner was earlier arrested and behind the bar since 01.10.2023 in connection with Merapani P.S. Case No. 56/2023 and he was shown arrest in connection with the present case on 30.10.2023 and hence, considering his length of detention, he may be enlarged on bail so that he can Page No.# 3/5 participate in the trial and can defend his case properly. More so, as per allegation, only attempt of sexual assault was made by the accused/petitioner.

¶5In this context, Mr. R. J. Baruah, learned Additional Public Prosecutor, has submitted that there are sufficient incriminating materials against the present accused/petitioner. More so, the victim is a minor girl of aged about 11 years and thus, there is every chance of influencing or hampering or tampering with the evidence of the victim if the accused/petitioner is enlarged on bail at this stage. The trial of the case has already commenced and the case is at the stage of evidence. The victim girl in her statement recorded under Section 164 Cr.P.C. has clearly implicated the present accused/petitioner.

¶6Mr. M. Kalita, learned Amicus Curiae appearing on behalf of the respondent No. 2/informant, also subscribed to the submission made by the learned Additional Public Prosecutor and submitted that the present accused/petitioner is a habitual offender and since the victim is a minor girl, there is every probability of hampering or tampering with the evidences. Accordingly, he vehemently opposed to the bail prayer of the present accused/petitioner.

¶7After hearing the submissions made by the learned counsels appearing on behalf of the parties, I have also perused the case record and the statement of the victim recorded under Section 164 Cr.P.C. and statement of the other witnesses recorded under Section 161 Cr.P.C. wherefrom it is seen that the victim girl as well as the witnesses have implicated the present accused/petitioner. More so, it is seen that the victim girl is a minor aged about 11 years and hence, the probability of hampering or tampering with the Page No.# 4/5 evidence cannot be out rightly rejected at this stage. Further it is seen that the accused was also arrested in connection with Merapani P.S. Case No. 56/2023, under Sections 376 AB/506 of the Indian Penal Code read with Section 6 of POCSO Act, in similar kind of offence.

¶8The Apex Court in the case of Kalayan Chandra Satkar Vs. Rajesh Ranjan Alias Pappu Yadav & Anr. [(2005) 2 SCC 42] has expressed the view that the accused cannot be granted with bail solely on the ground of period of incarceration undergone by the accused. It was further held that the sole ground of delay in conclusion of the trial without taking into consideration the allegation made by the prosecution in regard to the existence of prima facie case, gravity of the offence and the allegation of tampering with the witnesses by threat and inducement when on bail.

¶9In the case of Rajesh Ranjan [(2004) 7 SCC 528], the Supreme Court has held that mere fact that the accused has undergone certain period of incarceration by itself would not entitle the accused to be enlarged on bail nor the fact that the trial is not likely to be concluded in the near future, either by itself or coupled with the period of incarceration would be sufficient for enlarging the accused on bail. It is also held that while considering the bail application, the Court must consider the nature of acquisition, the severity of the punishment in case of conviction, the nature of supporting evidence, reasonable apprehension of tampering with the witnesses or apprehension of threat to the complainant and prima facie satisfaction of the court in support of the charge.

¶10Further, in the case of Pramod Kumar Saxena vs. Union of India & Page No.# 5/5 Anr., the Supreme Court has held that mere long period of incarceration in jail would not be per se illegal. If the accused has committed offence, he has to remain behind bars. Such detention in jail even as an under trial prisoner would not be violative of Article 21 of the Constitution.

¶11In view of above and also considering the entire aspects of the case, viz-a-viz the nature and gravity of offence and the punishment prescribed for the same, I am of the view that this is not a fit case where the accused/petitioner can be granted with the privilege of bail at this stage and accordingly, the same stands rejected.

¶12The bail application stands disposed of in terms above. JUDGE Comparing Assistant

PageoNo.#o1/5 GAHC010052332024 ooooooo ooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooTHEoGAUHATIoHIGHoCOURTo (HIGHoCOURToOFoASSAM,oNAGALAND,oMIZORAMoANDoARUNACHALoPRADESH)o CaseoNo.o:oBailoAppln./728/2024o BOLURAMoBORAHo@oBOLURAMoBORAo S/OoLATEoBHUBANoCHANDRAoBORAHo R/OoAMGURICHUKoCHAWDANGoPATHAR,o P.S.oMERAPANIo DIST.oGOLAGHAT,oASSAM VERSUSo THEoSTATEoOFoASSAMoANDoANR.o REPoBYoTHEoPP,oASSAM 2:SIMANTAoSAIKIA oS/OoLATEoKUKHESWARoSAIKIAo R/OoAMGURICHUKoCHAWDANGoPATHAR o P.S.oMERAPANIo DISToGOLAGHAT oASSAo AdvocateoforotheoPetitionerooooo:oMR.oBoDoGOSWAMIo AdvocateoforotheoRespondento:oPP,oASSAMoo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Page No.# 2/5 BEFORE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE MITALI THAKURIA