Ashok Kumar Jain v. The Union of India

ORDER Date : 20-12-2023

Heard Mr. M. More, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard learned counsel Ms. N. Deka on behalf of Mr. S. C. Keyal, learned standing counsel for the GST. This application under Section 397 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 read with Page No.# 2/2 Section 401 of the said Code as well as under Section 439(1)(b) and Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure whereby the petitioner has prayed for modification of the bail condition imposed by learned Additional Sessions Judge No. 1, Kamrup(M), Guwahati in BA No. 363/2023 whereby the present petitioner was allowed to go on bail in Case No. DGCI/INV/FUP/51/2023 under Section 132(1)(b) of Central Goods AND Service Tax, 2017 ("CGST Act"). It is submitted by learned counsel for the petitioner that as per the condition No. 1 imposed by the impugned order, the petitioner was directed to appear before the Investigating Officer once in every seven days and to cooperate in the investigation. It is submitted that the petitioner is 60 years old and he is a heart patient. He has been appearing regularly every week from Kolkata for more than 7 months in compliance with the bail conditions imposed vide order dated 11.05.2023 in BA No. 363/2023. The petitioner is willing to abide by any other conditions but it is very difficult for him to appear regularly every week. The petitioner is also suffering from spinal disc problem. On the other hand, learned standing counsel, GST has submitted that the respondent side has no objection in relaxation of the ground No. 1 imposed by the impugned order. However, the requirement of interrogation of the present petitioner is still there as the investigation is yet to be completed. The learned standing counsel has suggested that the condition of appearing before the Investigating Officer once in a week may be relaxed to once in a month for next three months and thereafter as and when required by the Investigating Officer. The suggestion made by learned standing counsel, GST appears to be fair and reasonable. Hence, this criminal petition is disposed of by modifying the condition No. 1 imposed by order dated 11.05.2023 in BA No. 363/2023 in following manner:- "The petitioner (the accused) shall appear before Investigating Officer once in every month for next two months and thereafter as and when required by the Investigating Officer for the sake of fair completion of the investigation". With the above observation, this criminal revision petition is disposed of. JUDGE Comparing Assistant

Page No.# 1/2 GAHC010263232023 THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT (HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH) Case No. : Crl.Rev.P./497/2023 ASHOK KUMAR JAIN S/O LATE RATAN LAL JAIN R/O FLAT NO. 15B, BLOCK 5, SILVER SPRING APARTMENT, 5 EM BYE-PASS, KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL-700105 VERSUS THE UNION OF INDIA REP. BY THE SENIOR INTELLIGENCE OFFICER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF GOODS AND SERVICE TAX INTELLIGENE AT GUWAHATI THROUGH SC, GST. Advocate for the Petitioner : MR. M MORE Advocate for the Respondent : SC, GST BEFORE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE SUSMITA PHUKAN KHAUND