Dinesh Kumar v. State of Haryana

o o o o 1o o o 104o(2ocases)o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHo o

1.o CRM-M-15060-2026o o1. CRM 15060 2026 o DineshoKumaroo o o o o o ....Petitionero versuso StateoofoHaryanaoo ....Respondento o o o o o o 2.o CRM-M-16853-2026oo o KunaloBhukkaloandootherso o o o ....Petitionerso versuso StateoofoHaryanao ....Respondento o DateoofoDecision:ooo Aprilo06,o2026o DateoofoUploading:oo Aprilo06,o2026o o CORAM:oo HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSUMEEToGOELooCORAM:o HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSUMEEToGOEL o Present:oPresent o Mr.oAdityaoSanghi,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioner(s)o o o (inobothotheopetitions).oo o o o Ms.oMahimaoYashpaloSingla,oSenioroDAGoHaryana.oo o o o Dr.oPankajoNanhera,oSenioroAdvocateowithoo o o Mr.oSachinoJangra,oAdvocateoforotheocomplainant.oo o *****o SUMEEToGOEL,oJ.o(Oral)oo o o o Byowayoofothisocommonoorder,othisoCourtoproposesotoodecideotheo aforementionedo twoo petitionso filedo undero Sectiono 482o ofo theo Bharatiyao NagarikoSurakshaoSanhita,o2023,oseekingograntoofoanticipatoryobailotootheo petitioner(s),o ino caseo FIRo No.370o datedo 20.12.2022,o registeredo undero o o o o 2o o Sectionso420,o465,o467,o468,o471oando120-BoIPCoatoPoliceoStationoRatia,o DistrictoFatehabad.oo

2.o o TheogravamenoofotheoFIRoisothatotheocomplainant,onamelyoSmt.o KiranoSingla,owifeoofoSh.oSubhashoKumar,oresidentoofoHouseoNo.58,oNewo TownoRatia,oTehsiloRatia,oDistrictoFatehabad,owhooisotheosoleoproprietoroofoao firm,o namely,o "M/so Ramprasado Vijendrao Kumar"o ando ownero ofo theo residentialohouseoinoquestion,oallegedothatotheoaccusedopersonso(petitionerso hereino ino botho theo petitions),o ino connivanceo witho eacho other,o hatchedo ao conspiracyotoocheatoherobyopreparingoaofalseoandofabricatedoagreementotoosello datedo26.04.2022.oAsoperotheosaidoagreement,oitowasofalselyoshownothatotheo complainanto hado agreedo too sello hero houseo too accusedo Dinesho Kumaro (petitioneroinoCRM-M-15060-2026)oforoaototaloconsiderationoofo`40,00,000/-,o outoofowhicho`15,00,000/-owasoallegedotoohaveobeenopaidotooheroinocash.oAso perotheocomplainant,otheosaidoagreementowasopurportedlyopreparedoatoHisaro whereasotheoresidenceoofotheocomplainantohadobeenosituatedoatoRatia,oDistricto FatehabadoandosheoneverovisitedoHisaroono26.04.2022.ooTheocomplainantohaso categoricallyodeniedohavingoexecutedoanyosuchoagreementoorohavingoreceivedo anyo amount.o Theo complainanto haso furthero assertedo thato theo signatureso appearingoonotheosaidoagreementowereonotohersoandohaveobeenoforged.oIno orderotoosubstantiateoheroclaim,otheodisputedosignaturesowereoexaminedobyoano expert,owhooopinedothatotheosameodoonotomatchowithotheogenuineosignatureso ofotheocomplainant.oItohasobeenofurtheroallegedothatooneoofotheoco-accusedo (i.e.o petitionero No.3o ino CRM-M-16853-2026),o beingo relatedo too theo complainanto ando havingo earliero accesso too hero businesso premiseso ando documents,o hado accesso too paperso containingo hero signatures,o whicho wereo o o o o 3o o subsequentlyo misused.o Ono theo basiso ofo sucho access,o theo accusedo personso (petitioner(s)oherein)oareoallegedotoohaveopreparedotheoforgedoagreementoando latero projectedo ito aso ao genuineo documento ino judicialo proceedings.o Theo complainantohasofurtheroallegedothatotheoaccusedopersons,obyousingotheosaido forgedoagreement,oattemptedotoocreateofalseorightsooveroheropropertyoandotoo unlawfullyoextractomoneyofromoher.oOnotheseosetoofoallegations,otheoFIRoino questionocameotoobeoregisteredoandoinvestigationoensued.oo

3.o o Learnedocounseloforotheopetitionero–oDineshoKumaro(inoCRM-M-15060-2026)ohasoiteratedothatotheopetitionerohasobeenofalselyoimplicatedo intoo theo FIRo ino questiono ando haso noto committedo anyo offenceo aso alleged.oo Learnedocounselohasofurtheroiteratedothatotheodisputeobetweenotheopartiesoiso essentiallyociviloinonatureoarisingooutoofoanoagreementotoosellowhichoisoalreadyo theo subjecto mattero ofo ao civilo suito foro specifico performanceo filedo byo theo petitioneroagainstotheocomplainant.oAccordingotoolearnedocounsel,otheopresento FIRohasobeenolodgedoasoaocounter-blastotootheosaidociviloproceedingsowithoano obliqueomotiveotoopressurizeotheopetitionerotoowithdrawotheosuit.ooItohasobeeno furtherocontendedothatotheopetitionerohas,oinofact,oenteredointooanoagreemento andohasoalreadyopaidoanoamountoofoRs.15.00olacsotowardsopartoconsiderationo andohenceotheoallegationsoofoforgeryohaveobeenofalselyoleveled.ooLearnedo counselohasoemphasizedothatotheoinvestigationohasobeenoconductedoinoaopartialo manneroinoorderotoofavourotheocomplainant.ooItohasobeenofurtheroarguedothato theo nameo ofo theo petitionero haso beeno falselyo ropedo intoo theo instanto caseo withoutoanyosupportingoevidenceooroproperoinvestigation.oLearnedocounselo hasofurtherocontendedothatotheopetitioneroisoreadyotoojoinotheoinvestigationoando shalloabideobyoanyoconditionoimposedobyothisoCourtoinocaseoheoisoenlargedoono o o o o 4o o pre-arrestobail.ooFurthermore,otheopetitioneroisoaopracticingoAdvocateoandoao permanentoresidentoandothereoisonoolikelihoodoofohisoabscondingoorotamperingo withoevidence.ooOnotheostrengthoofotheoaforesaidosubmissions,otheograntoofo anticipatoryobailotoopetitioneroDineshoKumaroisoprayedofor.ooo

3.1.o o Asoregards,opetitionerso–oKunaloBhukkal,oRamphaloandoRajato SinglaoinopetitionoCRM-M-16853-2026oisoconcerned,olearnedocounselohaso contendedothatotheopetitionersohaveobeenofalselyoimplicatedointootheopresento caseo aso theyo haveo noo roleo ino theo allegedo offence.o o Learnedo counselo haso iteratedo thato noo specifico allegationso areo madeo againsto themo whicho wouldo attractotheooffencesoasoallegedoinotheoFIR.ooAccordingotoolearnedocounsel,otheo disputeoisoprimarilyociviloinonatureoarisingooutoofoanoagreementotoosellowhicho isoalreadyopendingoadjudicationobeforeotheociviloCourtoandotheopresentocaseo haso beeno initiatedo onlyo aso ao counterblasto too pressurizeo theo petitioners.oo LearnedocounselohasopointedooutothatotheopetitioneroNo.1-KunaloBhukkaloiso merelyo ao scribeo ofo theo agreemento ino questiono whereaso petitionero No.2o –o RamphaloisoonlyoanoattestingowitnessoandopetitioneroNo.3o–oRajatoSinglaohaso beenofalselyoropedoinosolelyoonoaccountoofohisorelationshipowithotheoothero accusedowithoutothereobeingoanyosubstantiveomaterialoagainstohim.ooItohaso beeno contendedo thato theo investigatingo agencyo haso noto conductedo theo investigationofairlyoandoisoproceedingounderotheoinfluenceoofotheocomplainant.oo Furthermore,otheopetitionersohaveoalreadyojoinedotheoinvestigationoandoareo willingotoocooperateowithotheoinvestigatingoagencyoasoandowhenorequired.ooIto hasobeenocontendedothatoallotheorelevantodocumentsoareoalreadyoinopossessiono ofo theo investigatingo agencyo ando henceo theo custodialo interrogationo ofo theo petitionersoisonotonecessary.ooOnotheostrengthoofoaforesaidogrounds,olearnedo o o o o 5o o counselo haso prayedo thato theo petitionerso beo grantedo theo concessiono ofo anticipatoryobail.oo

4.o o Perocontra,olearnedoStateocounselohasovehementlyoopposedotheo granto ofo anticipatoryo bailo byo arguingo thato theo allegationso againsto theo petitionerso(inobothotheopetitions)oareograveoandoseriousoinonature,oinvolvingo preparationo ofo forgedo documentso ando commissiono ofo fraudo ino respecto ofo residentialopropertyoofotheocomplainant.ooLearnedoStateocounselohasoiteratedo thatotheopetitioners,oinoconnivanceowithoeachoother,ohaveofabricatedoaofalseo agreemento too sello byo forgingo theo signatureso ofo theo complainanto witho ano intentionotoograboheropropertyoandotooextractomoneyofromoher.ooAccordingotoo learnedo Stateo counsel,o duringo theo courseo ofo investigation,o theo disputedo documentsowereosentotooFSLoandoasoperotheoreportoreceived,otheosignaturesoono theoagreementohaveobeenofoundotoobeoforged.ooLearnedoStateocounselohaso emphasizedothatotheocustodialointerrogationoofotheopetitionersoisonecessaryotoo unearthotheolargeroconspiracyoandotooascertainotheoroleoplayedobyoeachoofotheo accused.oInoviewoofotheoseriousnessoofotheoallegations,otheonatureoofooffenceo andotheorequirementoofotheocustodialointerrogationoforoaofairoandoeffectiveo investigation,otheodismissaloofobothotheopetitionsoisoentreatedofor.oo

5.o o RaisingosubmissionoinotandemowithotheoStateocounsel,olearnedo seniorocounseloappearingoforotheocomplainantohasovociferouslyoopposedotheo granto ofo anticipatoryo bailo too theo petitioners.o Accordingo too learnedo senioro counsel,otheocomplainantohasobeenosubjectedotooaowelloplannedofraudobyotheo petitioners,o who,o ino connivanceo witho eacho other,o preparedo ao forgedo agreementotooselloinoorderotoograboheroresidentialoproperty.ooLearnedosenioro counselo haso emphasizedo thato theo complainanto haso nevero executedo anyo o o o o 6o o agreementonororeceivedoanyoamounto&otheodocumentoinoquestionohasobeeno fabricatedobyomisusingoherosignaturesowhichoisoalsoosupportedobyotheoreporto ofotheoFSL.oAccordingly,otheodismissaloofotheopetitionoinohandoisoprayedofor.oo

6.o o Iohaveoheardotheolearnedocounseloforotheorivalopartiesoandohaveo goneothroughotheoavailableorecordoofotheocase.oo

7.o o Ito wouldo beo appositeo too refero hereino too ao judgmento ofo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto titledo aso Kishoro Vishwasraoo Patilo vs.o Deepako Yashwanto Patilo ando anothero passedo ino SLP(Crl)o No.1125-2022,o relevantoYashwanto Patilo ando anothero SLP(Crl)o No.1125 2022,o whereoforeadsoasounder:o o "74.oOrdinarily,oarrestoisoaopartoofotheoprocessoofotheoinvestigationointendedo too secureo severalo purposes.o Thereo mayo beo circumstanceso ino whicho theo accusedomayoprovideoinformationoleadingotoodiscoveryoofomaterialofactso ando relevanto information.o Granto ofo anticipatoryo bailo mayo hampero theo investigation.oPre-arrestobailoisotoostrikeoaobalanceobetweenotheoindividual'so righto too personalo freedomo ando theo righto ofo theo investigatingo agencyo too interrogateotheoaccusedoasotootheomaterialosoofarocollectedoandotoocollecto moreo informationo whicho mayo leado too recoveryo ofo relevanto information.oInoStateov.oAniloSharmao[Stateov.oAniloSharma,o(1997)o7oSCCo 187o:o1997oSCCo(Cri)o1039],otheoSupremeoCourtoheldoasoundero:o(SCCop.o 189,oparao6)oo o o "6.o Weo findo forceo ino theo submissiono ofo CBIo thato custodialo interrogationoisoqualitativelyomoreoelicitation-orientedothanoquestioningoao suspecto whoo iso well-ensconcedo witho ao favourableo ordero underoSectiono 438oofotheoCode.oInoaocaseolikeothis,oeffectiveointerrogationoofoaosuspectedo persono iso ofo tremendouso advantageo ino disinterringo manyo usefulo informationso ando alsoo materialso whicho wouldo haveo beeno concealed.o Successoinosuchointerrogationowouldoeludeoifotheosuspectedopersonoknowso thatoheoisowelloprotectedoandoinsulatedobyoaopre-arrestobailoorderoduringotheo timeoheoisointerrogated.oVeryooftenointerrogationoinosuchoaoconditionowouldo reduceotooaomereoritual.oTheoargumentothatotheocustodialointerrogationoiso fraughto witho theo dangero ofo theo persono beingo subjectedo too third-degreeo methodso needo noto beo countenanced,o for,o sucho ano argumento cano beo advancedobyoalloaccusedoinoallocriminalocases.oTheoCourtohasotoopresumeo thatoresponsibleopoliceoofficersowouldoconductothemselvesoinoaoresponsibleo mannero ando thato thoseo entrustedo witho theo tasko ofo disinterringo offenceso wouldonotoconductothemselvesoasooffenders.o o

75.o Observingo thato theo arresto iso ao parto ofo theo investigationo intendedo too secureo severalo purposes,o ino Adrio Dharano Daso v.o Stateo ofo W.B.o [Adrio DharanoDasov.oStateoofoW.B.,o(2005)o4oSCCo303o:o2005oSCCo(Cri)o933]o,oito wasoheldoasoundero:o(SCCop.o313,oparao19)oo o "19.o Ordinarily,o arresto iso ao parto ofo theo processo ofo investigationo intendedo too secureo severalo purposes.o Theo accusedo mayo haveo too beo questionedo ino detailo regardingo variouso facetso ofo motive,o preparation,o o o o o 7o o commissiono ando aftermatho ofo theo crimeo ando theo connectiono ofo othero persons,oifoany,oinotheocrime.oThereomayobeocircumstancesoinowhichotheo accusedomayoprovideoinformationoleadingotoodiscoveryoofomaterialofacts.oIto mayo beo necessaryo too curtailo hiso freedomo ino ordero too enableo theo investigationotooproceedowithoutohindranceoandotooprotectowitnessesoando personso connectedo witho theo victimo ofo theo crime,o too prevento hiso disappearance,otoomaintainolawoandoorderoinotheolocality.oForotheseooroothero reasons,o arresto mayo becomeo ano inevitableo parto ofo theo processo ofo investigation.oTheolegalityoofotheoproposedoarrestocannotobeogoneointooinoano applicationounderoSectiono438oofotheoCode.oTheoroleoofotheoinvestigatoroiso wellodefinedoandotheojurisdictionaloscopeoofointerferenceobyotheocourtoinotheo processoofoinvestigationoisolimited.oTheocourtoordinarilyowillonotointerfereo withotheoinvestigationoofoaocrimeoorowithotheoarrestoofotheoaccusedoinoao cognizableooffence.oAnointerimoorderorestrainingoarrest,oifopassedowhileo dealingowithoanoapplicationounderoSectiono438oofotheoCodeowilloamountotoo interferenceo ino theo investigation,o whicho cannot,o ato anyo rate,o beo doneo underoSectiono438oofotheoCode."o o

76.oInoSiddharamoSatlingappaoMhetreov.oStateoofoMaharashtrao[Siddharamo SatlingappaoMhetreov.oStateoofoMaharashtra,o(2011)o1oSCCo694o:o(2011)o1o SCCo(Cri)o514],otheoSupremeoCourtolaidodownotheofactorsoandoparameterso toobeoconsideredowhileodealingowithoanticipatoryobail.oItowasoheldothatotheo natureoandotheogravityoofotheoaccusationoandotheoexactoroleoofotheoaccusedo mustobeoproperlyocomprehendedobeforeoarrestoisomadeoandothatotheocourto mustoevaluateotheoavailableomaterialoagainstotheoaccusedoveryocarefully.oIto wasoalsooheldothatotheocourtoshouldoalsooconsiderowhetherotheoaccusationso haveo beeno madeo onlyo witho theo objecto ofo injuringo oro humiliatingo theo applicantobyoarrestingohimooroher.o o

77.o Aftero referringo tooSiddharamo Satlingappao Mhetreo [Siddharamo SatlingappaoMhetreov.oStateoofoMaharashtra,o(2011)o1oSCCo694o:o(2011)o1o SCCo(Cri)o514]oandootherojudgmentsoandoobservingothatoanticipatoryobailo canobeograntedoonlyoinoexceptionalocircumstances,oinoJaioPrakashoSinghov.o StateoofoBiharo[JaioPrakashoSinghov.oStateoofoBihar,o(2012)o4oSCCo379o:oStateoofoBiharo[JaioPrakashoSingh v.oStateoofoBihar,o(2012)o4oSCCo379o:o

(2012)o2oSCCo(Cri)o468]o,otheoSupremeoCourtoheldoasoundero:o(SCCop.o386,o(2012)o2oSCCo(Cri)o468] parao19)oo o "19.oParametersoforograntoofoanticipatoryobailoinoaoseriousooffenceo areorequiredotoobeosatisfiedoandofurtherowhileograntingosuchorelief,otheocourto mustorecordotheoreasonsotherefor.oAnticipatoryobailocanobeograntedoonlyoino exceptionalocircumstancesowhereotheocourtoisoprimaofacieoofotheoviewothato theoapplicantohasofalselyobeenoenropedoinotheocrimeoandowouldonotomisuseo hiso liberty.o (SeeoD.K.o Ganesho Babuo v.o P.T.o Manokarano [D.K.o Ganesho Babuov.oP.T.oManokaran,o(2007)o4oSCCo434o:(2007)o2oSCCo(Cri)o345]o,o StateoofoMaharashtraov.oMohd.oSajidoHusainoMohd.oS.oHusaino[StateoofoStateoofoMaharashtraov.oMohd.oSajidoHusainoMohd.oS.oHusaino[Stateoofo Maharashtraov.oMohd.oSajidoHusainoMohd.oS.oHusain,o(2008)o1oSCCo213o:o

(2008)o1oSCCo(Cri)o176]oandoUnionoofoIndiaov.oPadamoNarainoAggarwalo [UnionoofoIndiaov.oPadamoNarainoAggarwal,o(2008)o13oSCCo305o:o(2009)o1o SCCo(Cri)o1]o.)"o o Economicooffenceso o

78.oPowerounderoSectiono438oCrPCobeingoanoextraordinaryoremedy,ohasotoo beoexercisedosparingly;omoreoso,oinocasesoofoeconomicooffences.oEconomico offencesostandoasoaodifferentoclassoasotheyoaffectotheoeconomicofabricoofotheo society.oInoDirectorateoofoEnforcementov.oAshokoKumaroJaino[Directorateo ofoEnforcementov.oAshokoKumaroJain,o(1998)o2oSCCo105o:o1998oSCCo(Cri)o o o o o 8o o 510],oitowasoheldothatoinoeconomicooffences,otheoaccusedoisonotoentitledotoo anticipatoryobail."o o o 15.oInoSushilao Agrawalo ando otherso v.o Stateo (NCTo ofo Delhi)o ando Anotheroreportedoino(2020)o5oSCCo1,oConstitutionoBenchoofothisoCourtoheldoAnother reportedoino(2020)o5oSCCo1 thatowhileoconsideringoanoapplicationoforograntoofopre-arrestobailotheoCourto haso too considero theo natureo ofo theo offence,o theo roleo ofo theo person,o theo likelihoodoofohisoinfluencingotheocourseoofoinvestigation,oorotamperingowitho evidenceoorolikelihoodoofofleeingojustice.oTheoCourtoheld:-o o o "92.4.oCourtsooughtotoobeogenerallyoguidedobyoconsiderationsosucho asotheonatureoandogravityoofotheooffences,otheoroleoattributedotootheo applicant,oandotheofactsoofotheocase,owhileoconsideringowhetherotoo grantoanticipatoryobail,oororefuseoit.oWhetherotoograntooronotoisoao mattero ofo discretion;o equallyo whethero ando ifo so,o whato kindo ofo specialo conditionso areo too beo imposedo (oro noto imposed)o areo dependentoonofactsoofotheocase,oandosubjectotootheodiscretionoofotheo court."o o

8.o o Indubitably,oseriousoallegationsohaveobeenolevelledoagainstotheo petitionersoinotheoFIRoinoquestion.oAsoperotheoallegations,otheoroleoattributedo toopetitionero–oDineshoKumaroisopivotalotootheoentireotransaction,oinasmuchoaso he,oinofurtheranceoofoaowelloplannedocriminaloconspiracyowithoco-accused,o procuredoagreementotoosellodatedo26.04.2022oinorespectoofotheopropertyoofotheo complainantobyofabricatingoherosignatures.oTheoallegationsoagainstohimoareo notomerelyoperipheralobutogootootheorootoofotheomatteroasoheoisotheobeneficiaryo ofotheoallegedoforgedodocument.oTheostandoofotheoinvestigatingoagencyobeforeo thisoCourtoisothatotheopetitionero–oDineshoKumaroisotheomainoarchitectoofotheo fraudulentotransactionoandoisostatedotoohaveoreliedouponotheosameotooasserto rightsooverotheopropertyoofotheocomplainant.oo o o SoofaroasotheopetitionersonamelyoKunaloBhukkal,oRamphaloando Rajato Singlao areo concerned,o theo recordo primao facieo reflectso theiro activeo participationo inotheoexecutiono ando preparationoofotheodisputedo agreement.oo TheopetitioneroNo.1-KunaloBhukkaloisostatedotoobeotheoscribeoofotheodocumento whereasopetitioneroNo.2-oRamphaloisoanoattestingowitnesso&opetitioneroNo.3-o RajatoSinglaoisoallegedotoohaveoprioroaccessotootheodocumentsoandosignatureso o o o o 9o o ofo theo complainanto whicho wereo allegedlyo misusedo foro theo purposeo ofo preparingotheoforgedoagreement.ooInotheoconsideredoopinionoofothisoCourt,otheo roleso ascribedo too theo petitioners,o thougho distincto buto appearo too beo interconnected.ooAtothisostage,oitocannotobeosaidothatotheiroinvolvementoiso withouto anyo basiso aso theo materialo collectedo duringo theo courseo ofo investigation,oincludingotheoFSLoreportoopiningotheosignaturesotoobeoforgedo andolendsoprimaofacieocredenceotootheoprosecutionocaseoandopointsotowardso theoexistenceoofoaoconspiracyoamongotheopetitioners.oTheoallegationsopertaino too ao wello plannedo conspiracyo involvingo preparationo ando useo ofo forgedo documentsowithotheointentotoousurpotheovaluableoproperty.ooSuchooffenceso haveofaroreachingoconsequencesoandocannotobeolightlyobrushedoasideoasomereo civilodisputes.ooo

9.o o Theopleaoofotheopetitioner(s)othatotheomatteroisociviloinonatureo doesonotopersuadeothisoCourtoatothisostageoparticularlyowhenoallegationsoofo fabricationo ofo documentso supportedo byo scientifico evidenceo areo ono record.oo Furthermore,otheoinvestigationoisostillounderwayoandotheomanneroinowhichotheo forgedodocumentsohaveobeenopreparedoasowelloasotheospecificoroleoplayedobyo eachoofotheoaccusedoisoyetotoobeofullyounearthed.ooInosuchocircumstances,otheo custodialointerrogationoofotheopetitionersoassumesosignificanceoforoaofairoando effectiveoinvestigation.oInotheoconsideredoopinionoofothisoCourt,otheograntoofo anticipatoryobailoatothisostageomayoimpedeotheoongoingoinvestigationowhich,o atothisostage,ocannotobeoconductedowithoutotheopetitioner(s)obeingoinocustody.o Moreover,o noo exceptionalo oro compellingo circumstanceo haso beeno demonstratedowhichowouldowarrantotheograntoofoanticipatoryobailoinosuchoao seriousooffence.oItoisowellosettledothatoinocasesoinvolvingoeconomicooffenceso o o o o 10o o andocheatingoofosubstantialoamount,otheoCourtomustoexerciseocautionowhileo grantingoanticipatoryobail,oasosuchooffencesohaveoaoseriousoimpactoonopublico confidence.oo

10.o o Ino viewo ofo theo gravityo ofo theo allegations,o theo specifico roleo attributedo too theo petitioner(s)o ino theo FIR,o theo requiremento ofo custodialo interrogationoasoalsootheofactualomatrixoofotheocaseoinohandoessentiallyoleadotoo theo unequivocalo conclusiono thato theo petitioner(s)o doo noto deserveo theo concessionoofoanticipatoryobail.oItoisopertinentotoomentionohereothatotheoreliefo ofoanticipatoryobailoisoaimedoatoensuringopersonalolibertyoofoanoindividual.oo However,owhileodecidingoaopleaoforograntoofoanticipatoryobail,otheoCourtohaso toostrikeoaobalanceobetweenosafeguardingoindividualorightsoandoprotectingo societalointerest.oTheoCourtomustoalsooconsiderotheogravityoofotheooffence;otheo roleoattributedotootheoaccused;otheoimpactoonotheoSocietyoandotheoneedoforofairo andofreeoinvestigation.oTheoreliefomustonotoundulyohamperotheorightsoofotheo investigatingoagencyotooconductofree,ofairoandoimpartialoinvestigation.ooAtothiso stage,othereoisonoomaterialoonorecordotooholdothatoprimaofacieocaseoisonotomadeo outoagainstotheopetitioner(s).oTheomaterialowhichohasocomeoonorecordoando preliminaryoinvestigation,oappearotoobeoestablishedoaoreasonableobasisoforotheo accusations.o Thus,o ito iso noto appropriateo too granto anticipatoryo bailo too theo petitioner(s),o aso ito wouldo necessarilyo causeo impedimento ino effectiveo investigation.oInoviewoofotheonatureoasoalsooseriousnessoofotheoallegations,oito mayonotobeopossibleoforotheoinvestigatingoagencyotoounravelotheoentireotruthoifo theo petitioner(s)o areo armedo witho ao protectiveo order.o Moreover,o ito iso theo specificostandoofotheoStateothatotheocustodialointerrogationoisonecessaryotootakeo theo investigationo too itso logicalo endo ando too concludeo fairo ando meaningfulo o o o o 11o o investigation.oInoStateov.oAniloSharma,o(1997)o7oSCCo187o:o1997oSCCo(Cri)o 1039,otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoheldoasoundero:o(SCCop.o189,oparao6)o o o "6.o Weo findo forceo ino theo submissiono ofo CBIo thato custodialo interrogationoisoqualitativelyomoreoelicitation-orientedothanoquestioningoao suspectowhooisowell-ensconcedowithoaofavourableoorderounderoSectiono438o ofo theo Code.o Ino ao caseo likeo this,o effectiveo interrogationo ofo ao suspectedo persono iso ofo tremendouso advantageo ino disinterringo manyo usefulo informationso ando alsoo materialso whicho wouldo haveo beeno concealed.o Successoinosuchointerrogationowouldoeludeoifotheosuspectedopersonoknowso thatoheoisowelloprotectedoandoinsulatedobyoaopre-arrestobailoorderoduringotheo timeoheoisointerrogated.oVeryooftenointerrogationoinosuchoaoconditionowouldo reduceotooaomereoritual.oTheoargumentothatotheocustodialointerrogationoiso fraughto witho theo dangero ofo theo persono beingo subjectedo too third-degreeo methodso needo noto beo countenanced,o for,o sucho ano argumento cano beo advancedobyoalloaccusedoinoallocriminalocases.oTheoCourtohasotoopresumeo thatoresponsibleopoliceoofficersowouldoconductothemselvesoinoaoresponsibleo mannero ando thato thoseo entrustedo witho theo tasko ofo disinterringo offenceso wouldonotoconductothemselvesoasooffenders."o o o o Takingointooconsiderationotheototalityoofotheofactualomilieuoofo theocaseoinohandoandotheogravityoofooffence,othisoCourtoisoofotheoconsideredo opinionothatotheopetitioner(s)odoonotodeserveotheoconcessionoofoanticipatoryo bail.oo

11.o o Inoviewoofotheoprevenientoratiocination,oitoisoordainedothus:o

(i)o Botho theo petitionso areo devoido ofo meritso ando areo herebyo dismissed.oo o

(ii)o Nothingosaidohereinaboveoshallobeodeemedotoobeoanoexpressiono ofoopinionouponomeritsoofotheocase/investigation.oo o

(iii)o Pendingoapplication(s),oifoany,oshalloalsoostandodisposedooff.o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o ooooooo o(SUMEEToGOEL)o o o o o o JUDGEo Aprilo06,o2026o Ajay/mahavirooo Whetherospeaking/reasoned:o o Yes/Noo Whetheroreportable:o o o Yes/Noo