Azidul Islam v. The State of Meghalaya

JUDGMENT AND ORDER (ORAL)

¶1Heard Mr. M.M. Zaman, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Mr. N. Syngkon, learned GA.

¶2This matter has been put up before this Court today pursuant to the order passed by this Court on 25.08.2023 directing the prosecution to file the status report as regard Shella P.S. Case No. 22(06) 2023 under Section 379 IPC. It may, however, be noted that the accused persons herein are also involved in another case, that is, Shella P.S. Case No. 20(5) 2023 under Section 379 IPC, both cases being similar in nature inasmuch as it involves allegation of car theft.

¶3Brief facts of the case as far as the case No. 22(06)2023 is concerned is that on 14.06.2023 an FIR was lodged with the In-charge, Bholaganj Police Station, wherein the informant therein said to be the owner of a vehicle bearing registration No. ML 10C 4160 has filed the report stating that her vehicle was found missing from the place it was parked. Accordingly, the said Shella P.S. Case No. 22(06)2023 was registered.

¶4The accused persons namely, Faridul Islam, Md. Fulchan Ali and Md. Mahidul Islam being prime suspects in the case were accordingly arrested and are still in judicial custody till date for about 61 days from the date they were arrested, that is, on 29.06.2023.

¶5The investigation into the case is still ongoing, however, it is admitted by the prosecution that the I/O is yet to file the charge sheet and accordingly, the provisions of Section 167(2)(a)(ii) CrPC can be set into motion. The said provision reads as under:- "167…

(2)… [(a)…

(ii) sixty days, where the investigation relates to any other offence, and, on the expiry of the said period of ninety days, or sixty days, as the case may be, the accused person shall be released on bail if he is prepared to and does furnish bail, and every person released on bail under this sub-section shall be deemed to be so released under the provisions of Chapter XXXIII for the purposes of that Chapter;]"

¶6Without further discussion on this provision, needless to say that in a catena of judgments by the Apex Court, notably the case of Rakesh Kumar Paul v. State of Assam: (2017) 15 SCC 67, it was clearly held that in case the charge sheet could not be file within the stipulated and mandatory period of 60 days or 90 days as the case may be, the accused person is entitled to be

enlarged on default bail, if he is prepared to furnish bail.

¶7This being the case, at this juncture, the accused persons represented by the petitioner herein are entitled to be enlarged on bail.

¶8The above named accused persons are hereby directed to be released on bail on the following conditions: i. that they shall not abscond or tamper with the evidence and witnesses; ii. that they shall not leave the jurisdiction of India without prior permission from the I/O or the court concerned; iii. That they shall cooperate with the I/O or the court as and when required; iv. that they shall furnish a personal bond of ₹ 1,00,000/- with one solvent surety of like amount to the satisfaction of the I/O or the court concerned.

¶9Needless to say, violation of the bail conditions set hereinabove would render the bail granted liable to be cancelled in accordance with due procedure to be followed.

¶10This petition is hereby disposed of.

Judge

Meghalaya

28.08.2023 "Tiprilynti–PS"

Serial No. 05 Regular List HIGH COURT OF MEGHALAYA AT SHILLONG BA No. 30 of 2023 Date of Decision: 28.08.2023 Azidul Islam Vs. State of Meghalaya Coram: Hon'ble Mr. Justice W. Diengdoh, Judge Appearance: For the Petitioner/Appellant(s) : Mr. M.M. Zaman, Adv. For the Respondent(s) : Mr. N. Syngkon, GA with Ms. A. Thungwa, GA