Shekhar v. State of Haryana

o o CRM-M-20143-2025o o o o o 1o o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHo o 101-5oo o o o o ooooooo ooooooCRM-M-20143-2025o o Shekharo o o o o o o o ....Petitionerooo V/so StateoofoHaryanaooo o o o o o ....Respondento Dateoofodecision:o06.03.2026o DateoofoUploadingo:o09.03.2026o o CORAM:oo HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSUMEEToGOELo Present:oo Mr.oSandeepoSinghoJattan,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioner.oo o o Mr.oGurmeetoSingh,oAAGoHaryana.oo *****o SUMEEToGOEL,oJ.o(Oral)oo

1.o o PresentopetitionohasobeenofiledounderoSectiono439oofotheoCr.P.C.o forograntooforegularobailotootheopetitioneroinocaseobearingoFIRoNo.387odatedo

10.11.2023,oregisteredoforotheooffencesopunishableounderoSectionso328,o302,o 120-B,o201oofoIPCoandoSectiono72-AoofotheoPunjaboExciseoAct,o1914o(aso amendedobyotheoHaryanaoAmendmentoBill,o2020)oandosubsequentlyodeletedo Sectiono 304o ofo IPCo ando Sectionso 120-B/302/201/307o ofo IPCo haveo beeno added)oatoPoliceoStationoChhapar,oDistrictoYamunanagar,oHaryana.oo

2.o o Theo gravameno ofo theo FIRo reflectso thato ono 09.11.2023,o informationowasoreceivedoatoPoliceoStationoChhapar,oDistrictoYamunanagaro regardingo theo deatho ofo oneo Jagmal,o whoo allegedlyo diedo aftero consumingo intoxicating/spuriouso country-madeo liquoro upono receipto ofo theo saido information.oTheopoliceoreachedoCiviloHospital,oYamunanagar,owhereotheo AJAYgKUMAR deceasedohadobeenobrought.ooOnotheofollowingoday,oi.e.,o10.11.2023,otheo o o CRM-M-20143-2025o o o o o 2o o statemento ofo Mohit,o sono ofo theo deceased,o waso recordedo byo theo police,o whereinoheoallegedothatohisofather,owhooworkedoasoaolabourer,ohadoconsumedo country-madeoliquoroallegedlyopurchasedofromocertainoindividuals,onamelyo RajoKumaro@oBabli,oNareshoKumaro@oKhuba,oRajeshoKumaroandoRadhey.o Itowasoallegedothatotheosaidoliquorowasopoisonousoinonatureoandoresultedoino theo deatho ofo theo deceased.o Ono theo basiso ofo theo saido statement,o FIRo ino questionowasoregisteredoandoinvestigationowasosetointoomotion.oDuringotheo courseo ofo investigation,o severalo accusedo personso wereo arrestedo ando theiro disclosureo statementso wereo recorded,o pursuanto too whicho theo investigatingo agencyoclaimedotoohaveounearthedoaolargeronetworkoallegedlyoinvolvedoinotheo manufacture,o supplyo ando distributiono ofo illicito ando spuriouso liquor.o Subsequently,o upono furthero investigationo ando ino viewo ofo theo materialo collectedobyotheoinvestigatingoagency,oSectiono302oIPCowasoaddedowhileo Sectiono304oIPCowasodeletedoatotheostageoofoframingoofocharge.ooDuringotheo courseo ofo furthero investigation,o threeo moreo personso namelyo Anilo Kumar,o Paramjeeto ando Sushilo wereo alsoo statedo too haveo diedo aftero allegedlyo consumingotheospuriousoliquor.oo

3.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionero haso iteratedo thato theo petitionerohasobeenofalselyoimplicatedointootheoFIRoinoquestionoandohisonameo doesonotofigureoinotheooriginaloFIR.oLearnedocounselohasofurtheroiteratedothato theo petitionero iso merelyo ao labourero employedo ato theo factoryo premiseso ino questionoandohasonooroleowhatsoeveroinotheoallegedomanufactureoofospuriouso liquor.oItohasobeenofurtherocontendedothatotheopetitionerowasonotoawareothato anyospuriousoliquorohasobeenomanufacturedoatotheosaidopremises.oItohasobeeno o o CRM-M-20143-2025o o o o o 3o o furtheroarguedothatotheopetitionerowasoonlyoperformingotheolabouroworkoando hasonooknowledgeoaboutotheoallegedoillegaloactivity.ooItohasobeenofurthero submittedothatotheopetitionerohasobeenonominatedoinotheopresentocaseoonlyoono theobasisoofotheodisclosure/confessionalostatementoofoaoco-accusedopersono andothereoisonooindependentoorodirectoevidenceotooconnectotheopetitionerowitho theoallegedooffence.oLearnedocounselohasoemphasizedothatosuchodisclosureo statementohasolimitedoevidentiaryovalueoandocannotobyoitselfoformotheobasiso forocontinuedoincarcerationoofotheopetitioner.oItohasobeenofurtherocontendedo thatoneitheroanyorecoveryowhatsoeverohasobeenoeffectedofromotheopetitionero norothereoisoanyodocumentaryoevidenceoagainstohimoAccordingotoolearnedo counsel,otheoentireoprosecutionocaseoagainstotheopetitionerorestsosolelyoupono custodialo disclosureo statementso whicho byo themselveso cannoto constituteo legallyoadmissibleoevidenceoinoviewoofotheosettledopositionoofolaw.oLearnedo counselohasofurtherosubmittedothatotheopetitionerohasobeenoinocustodyosinceo

29.02.2024oandotheoinvestigationoquaohimostandsoconcluded.oFurthermore,o theochallanoandosupplementaryochallanohaveoalreadyobeenopresentedobeforeo theocompetentoCourtoofojurisdiction.oLearnedocounselohasoassertedothatooutoofo 107o prosecutiono witnesseso citedo noto eveno ao singleo witnesso haso beeno examinedosoofaroandotheotrialoisolikelyotootakeoaoconsiderableoperiodoofotimeo tooconclude.oItohasobeenofurtherosubmittedothatotheocontinuedoincarcerationoofo theopetitioner,oinotheoabsenceoofoanyosubstantiveoevidence,owouldoserveonoo purpose.oTheopetitioneroshalloundertakeotooabideobyoalloconditionsothatomayo beo imposedo byo thiso Court,o includingo noto tamperingo witho theo prosecutiono evidenceooroinfluencingowitnessesoandonotoleavingotheocountryowithoutoprioro o o CRM-M-20143-2025o o o o o 4o o permissionoofotheoCourt.oOnotheostrengthoofoaforesaidosubmissions,otheogranto ofopetitionoinohandoisoentreatedofor.oo

4.o o Perocontra,olearnedoStateocounselohasovehementlyoopposedotheo grantoofobailotootheopetitionerobyoarguingothatotheoallegationsoareograveoando seriouso ino natureo aso theo caseo pertainso too theo manufactureo ando supplyo ofo illicit/spuriouso liquoro whicho ultimatelyo resultedo ino theo deatho ofo certaino persons.o Learnedo Stateo counselo haso iteratedo thato duringo theo courseo ofo investigation,oaolargeroconspiracyoinvolvingoseveralopersonsoengagedoinotheo manufactureo ando distributiono ofo poisonouso liquoro haso beeno unearthed.oo AccordingotoolearnedoStateocounsel,oduringotheocourseoofoinvestigation,otheo petitionerohasobeenofoundoinvolvedoinotheoillegaloactivityobeingocarriedooutoato theopremisesowhereotheospuriousoliquorohasobeenoprepared.oFurthermore,otheo petitionero waso presento ando activelyo associatedo witho theo operationso beingo conductedo ato theo saido premises.o Ito haso beeno furthero contendedo thato theo petitionero haso beeno nominatedo duringo investigationo ono theo basiso ofo theo disclosureostatementoofoco-accusedopersonsoandootheromaterialocollectedobyo theo investigatingo agency.o Learnedo Stateo counselo submitso thato keepingo ino viewotheoseriousnessoofotheooffenceoandotheolargeropublicointerestoinvolved,o theopetitionerodoesonotodeserveotheoconcessionooforegularobail.oConsideringo theogravityoofotheooffenceoandotheospecificoroleoattributedotootheopetitioner,o learnedoStateocounselohasoprayedoforotheodismissaloofotheoinstantopetition.oo

5.o o Io haveo heardo learnedo counselo foro theo rivalo partieso ando haveo perusedotheoavailableorecord.oo o o CRM-M-20143-2025o o o o o 5o o

6.o o Theograntoofobailofallsowithinotheodiscretionaryodomainoofotheo court;o however,o sucho discretiono musto beo exercisedo ino ao judiciouso ando principledomanner,oensuringoitoalignsowithoestablishedolegaloprecedentsoando theointerestsoofojustice.oWhileoconsideringoaobailoapplication,otheoCourtomusto evaluateofactorsosuchoasotheoexistenceoofoprimaofacieoevidenceoimplicatingo theoaccused,otheonatureoandogravityoofotheoallegedooffenceoandotheoseverityoofo theo likelyo sentenceo upono conviction.o Theo Courto musto alsoo assesso theo likelihoodoofotheoaccusedoabscondingooroevadingotheodueoprocessoofolaw,otheo probabilityoofotheooffenceobeingorepeatedoandoanyoreasonableoapprehensiono ofo theo accusedo tamperingo witho evidenceo oro influencingo witnesses.o Additionally,otheocharacter,oantecedents,ofinancialomeans,osocietalostanding,o andooveralloconductoofotheoaccusedoplayoaocrucialorole.oFurthermore,otheo Courto musto weigho theo potentialo dangero ofo granto ofo bailounderminingo theo administrationoofojusticeoorothwartingoitsodueocourse.oAoprofitableoreferenceo inothisoregardoisomadeotootheojudgmentopassedobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourto titledoasoStateothroughoC.B.I.ovs.oAmaramanioTripathi,o2005oAIRoSupremeo Courto3490,orelevantowhereoforeadsoasounder:o o "14.oo Itoisowellosettledothatotheomattersotoobeoconsideredoinoanoapplicationo forobailoareo(i)whetherothereoisoanyoprimaofacieoororeasonableogroundotoo believeo thato theo accusedo hado committedo theo offence;o (ii)o natureo ando gravityo ofo theo charge;o (iii)o severityo ofo theo punishmento ino theo evento ofo conviction;o(iv)odangeroofoaccusedoabscondingoorofleeingoiforeleasedoono bail;o (v)o character,o behaviour,o means,o positiono ando standingo ofo theo accused;(vi)o likelihoodo ofo theo offenceo beingo repeated;o (vii)o reasonableo apprehensionoofotheowitnessesobeingotamperedowith;oando(viii)odanger,oofo course,o ofo justiceo beingo thwartedo bygranto ofo bailo (seeo Prahlado Singho Bhatiov.oNCT,oDelhi,o2001(2)oRCRo(Criminal)o377o(SC)o:2001(4)oSCCo 280oandoGurcharanoSinghov.oStateo(DelhioAdministration),oAIRo1978oAJAYgKUMAR o o CRM-M-20143-2025o o o o o 6o o SupremeoCourto179).oWhileoaovagueoallegationothatoaccusedomayotampero withotheoevidenceoorowitnessesomayonotobeoaogroundotoorefuseobail,oifotheo accusedo iso ofo sucho charactero thato hiso mereo presenceo ato largeo wouldo intimidateotheowitnessesooroifothereoisomaterialotooshowothatoheowillouseohiso libertyotoosubvertojusticeoorotamperowithotheoevidence,othenobailowillobeo refused.oWeomayoalsooreferotootheofollowingoprinciplesorelatingotoograntooro refusalo ofo bailo statedo ino Kalyano Chandrao Sarkaro v.o Rajesho Ranjan,o 2004(2)oRCRo(Criminal)o254o(SC)o:2004(7)oSCCo528o:"Theolawoinoregardo toograntoororefusaloofobailoisoveryowellosettled.oTheocourtograntingobailo shouldoexerciseoitsodiscretionoinoaojudiciousomanneroandonotoasoaomatteroofo course.oThoughoatotheostageoofograntingobailoaodetailedoexaminationoofo evidenceoandoelaborateodocumentationoofotheomeritoofotheocaseoneedonotobeo undertaken,othereoisoaoneedotooindicateoinosuchoordersoreasonsoforoprimao facieo concludingo whyo bailo waso beingo grantedo particularlyo whereo theo accusedo iso chargedo ofo havingo committedo ao seriouso offence.o Anyo ordero devoidoofosuchoreasonsowouldosufferofromonon-applicationoofomind.oItoiso alsoo necessaryo foro theo courto grantingo bailo too considero amongo othero circumstances,otheofollowingofactorsoalsoobeforeograntingobail;otheyoare:o o a.oTheonatureoofoaccusationoandotheoseverityoofopunishmentoinocaseoofo convictionoandotheonatureoofosupportingoevidence.o o b.o Reasonableo apprehensiono ofo tamperingo witho theo witnesso oro apprehensionoofthreatotootheocomplainant.o o c.oPrimaofacieosatisfactionoofotheocourtoinosupportoofotheocharge.o(seeoRamo GovindUpadhyayo v.o Sudarshano Singh,o 2002(2)o RCRo (Criminal)o 250o

(SC)o :o 2002(3)o SCCo 598o andPurano v.o Ramo Bilas,o 2001(2)o RCRo (Criminal)o801o(SC)o:o2001(6)oSCCo338."o o o ThisoCourtoalsooinospecificotermsoheldothato:o o "theo conditiono laido downo undero sectiono 437(1)(i)o iso sineo quao nono foro grantingobailoevenounderosectiono439oofotheoCode.oInotheoimpugnedoordero itoisonoticedothatotheoHighoCourtohasogivenotheoperiodoofoincarcerationo alreadyo undergoneo byo theo accusedo ando theo unlikelihoodo ofo trialo concludingoinotheonearofutureoasogroundsosufficientotooenlargeotheoaccusedo onobail,oinospiteoofotheofactothatotheoaccusedostandsochargedoofooffenceso punishableowitholifeoimprisonmentooroevenodeathopenalty.oInosuchocases,oino ouroopinion,otheomereofactothatotheoaccusedohasoundergoneocertainoperiodo ofoincarcerationo(threeoyearsoinothisocase)obyoitselfowouldonotoentitleotheo accusedotoobeingoenlargedoonobail,onorotheofactothatotheotrialoisonotolikelyo 2026.03.09g10:37 toobeoconcludedoinotheonearofutureoeitherobyoitselfoorocoupledowithotheo o o CRM-M-20143-2025o o o o o 7o o periodoofoincarcerationowouldobeosufficientoforoenlargingotheoappellantoono bailo wheno theo gravityo ofo theo offenceo allegedo iso severeo ando thereo areo allegationsoofotamperingowithotheowitnessesobyotheoaccusedoduringotheo periodoheowasoonobail."o o o InoPanchananoMishraov.oDigambaroMishra,o2005(1)oApexoCriminalo319o o :o 2005(1)o RCR(Criminal)o 712o (SC)o :o 2005(3)o SCCo 143,o thiso Courto o observedo:o o "Theoobjectounderlyingotheocancellationoofobailoisotooprotectotheo fairotrialoandosecureojusticeobeingodoneotootheosocietyobyopreventingo theoaccusedowhooisosetoatolibertyobyotheobailoorderofromotamperingo withotheoevidenceoinotheoheinousocrime.....oItohardlyorequiresotoobeo statedothatoonceoaopersonoisoreleasedoonobailoinoseriousocriminalo casesowhereotheopunishmentoisoquiteostringentoandodeterrent,otheo accusedoinoorderotoogetoawayofromotheoclutchesoofotheosameoindulgeo inovariousoactivitiesolikeotamperingowithotheoprosecutionowitnesses,o threateningotheofamilyomembersoofotheodeceasedovictimoandoalsoo createoproblemsoofolawoandoorderosituation."oo

7.o o Indubitably,otheoallegationsoagainstotheopetitioneroareograveoino nature.ooTheomaterialowhichohasocomeoonorecord,oatothisostage,oprimaofacieo suggestsothatotheopetitionerospeciallyoattributedoanoactiveoroleoinotheoallegedo incident.o o Theogravameno ofo theo allegationsoinotheo FIRodisclosesothatotheo deceasedoJagmalohasoallegedlyoconsumedoillicitoandopoisonousoliquor,owhicho resultedoinohisodeath.oOnotheobasisoofotheostatementoofotheocomplainant,otheo FIRowasoregisteredoagainstocertainopersonsowhoowereoallegedlyoinvolvedoino theosaleoofosucholiquor.oDuringotheocourseoofoinvestigation,oseveraloaccusedo personsowereoarrestedoandodisclosureostatementsowereorecorded,owhicholedo theo investigatingo agencyo too unravelo ano allegedo networko engagedo ino theo manufactureoandodistributiono ofo spuriouso liquor.o o Asopero theo caseoofotheo prosecution,o theo nameo ofo theo presento petitionero haso surfacedo duringo theo courseoofofurtheroinvestigationothroughodisclosureostatementsoofocertainoco-AJAYgKUMAR o o CRM-M-20143-2025o o o o o 8o o accused.oOnotheobasisoofotheosaidostatementsoandotheoallegedoroleoattributedo toohimoinotheosupplyochain,otheopetitionerohasobeenosubsequentlyoarrestedoono

29.02.2024oandowasoarrayedoasoanoaccusedoinotheosupplementaryochallan.oooIto isonotoinodisputeothatotheopetitionerohasonotobeenonamedoinitiallyoandohiso implicationo iso basedo upono theo materialo collectedo duringo theo courseo ofo investigation.o Ito iso alsoo ao mattero ofo recordo thato theo investigationo haso culminatedo inotheo filingoofotheo maino challano aso welloasoao supplementaryo challano ando chargeso haveo beeno framedo byo theo Courto belowo againsto theo petitioneroandocertainootheroco-accusedoforooffencesounderoSectionso302,o328o ando120-Bo IPCo alongo witho Sectiono 72-Ao ofo theo Punjabo Exciseo Act.oTheo recordo furthero reflectso thato theo prosecutiono haso citedo ao largeo numbero ofo witnessesoandotheotrialoisocurrentlyoatotheostageooforecordingoevidence.oo

8.o o Theo allegationso ino theo presento caseo pertaino too ano incidento involvingotheomanufactureoandocirculationoofoillicitoliquoroleadingotoolossoofo humanolifeowhichoisoaomatteroofoseriousoconcern.oTheoprosecutionocase,oato thiso stage,o primao facieo indicateso theo existenceo ofo ao conspiracyo involvingo multipleo personso engagedo ino theo supplyo ando useo ofo alcoholo foro theo preparationoofospuriousoliquor.ooTheocontentionoofolearnedocounselothatotheo nameoofotheopetitionerodoesonotofigureoinotheoinitialoFIRoandoheohasobeeno subsequentlyonominatedodoesonot,obyoitself,ocreateoaogroundoforograntoofo regularobail,oasoitoisowellosettledothatoanoaccusedocanobeoarrayedoduringotheo courseoofoinvestigationoifosufficientomaterialosurfacesoagainstohim.oMoreover,o sucho submissionso wouldo requireo deepero appreciationo ofo evidence,o whicho cannotoappropriatelyobeoundertakenoatotheostageoofoconsiderationoofoaobailo o o CRM-M-20143-2025o o o o o 9o o petition.ooItoisoaptotoomentionohereinothatotheopetitionerohasoaolongocriminalo historyoinvolvingoaolargeonumberoofocasesoregisteredoagainstohim.oThoughoino someoofotheocasesoheohasobeenoreleasedoonobailobutotheonatureoofotheocaseso cannotobeoignoredowhileoconsideringotheopleaoforograntooforegularobail.oTheo criminaloantecedentsoofoanoaccusedoareoaorelevantofactorowhileoconsideringo theoprayeroforobail,oparticularlyowhereothereoisoaoreasonableoapprehensiono thato theo accused,o ifo released,o mayo indulgeo ino similaro activitieso oro mayo attemptotooinfluenceowitnesses.oFurthermore,otheopetitioneroisoallegedotoobeo merelyoworkingoasoaolaboureroatotheopremisesoandotheoallegationsorelateotootheo manufacturingoofospuriousoliquor,owhichoisoaoseriousooffenceoaffectingopublico healthoandosafety.oAtothisostage,oitocannotobeosaidothatotheoroleoattributedotoo theopetitioneroisoinsignificant.oTheoprosecutionocaseospecificallyoallegesothato theoinvolvementoofotheopetitionerosurfacedoduringoinvestigationoonotheobasiso ofomaterialocollectedosubsequently.oo

9.o o Furthermore,oitoisotrueothatotheopetitionerohasobeenolanguishingo inocustodyoforoaoconsiderableoperiodobutotheoseriousnessoofotheoallegationso andohisocriminaloantecedentsoweighoheavilyoagainstohim.oTheomaterialowhicho hasobeenoplacedoonorecordodoesonotoshowothatotheodelayoinotrialoisosolelyo attributableo too theo prosecution.o Ino sucho circumstances,o longo custody,o byo itself,ocannotobeotreatedoasoaogroundoforograntoofobail.ooAtothisostage,onoo accentuatingo circumstanceso haveo beeno madeo outo whicho mayo primao facieo constituteoaocompellingogroundoforotheograntooforegularobailotootheopetitioner,o especiallyo ino lighto ofo theo gravityo ofo theo allegationso ando theo evidenceo ono o o CRM-M-20143-2025o o o o o 10o o record.oItoisoalsootoobeoborneoinomindothatooffencesoofothisonatureostrikeoatotheo veryorootoofopublicoorderoandosocietaloconscience.oo

10.o o Consideringotheogravityoofotheooffence,otheostageoofotheotrialoando theooverallofactsoandocircumstancesoemergingofromotheorecord,othisoCourto findso noo merito ino theo presento petition.o Accordingly,o thiso Courto iso ofo theo consideredoopinionothatotheopetitionerodoesonotodeserveotheoconcessionoofo regularobailoinotheofactualomilieuoofotheocaseoinohand.ooo

11.o o Thereoisoyetoanotheroaspectonayovitaloaspectoofotheomatterowhicho cravesotheoattentionoofothisoCourt.ooo

11.1o o ThereoisonoogainsayingothatotheopowersoofotheoHighoCourtoundero Sectiono528oofoBNSS,o2023oareopowersowhichoareounbridled,ounfetteredoando plenaryoinonatureoaimedoatosecuringotheoendsoofojustice.ooTheoinherentopowerso ofoaoHighoCourtoareopowersowhichoareoincidentalorepleteopowers,owhichoifo didonotosooexist,otheoCourtowouldobeoobligedotoositostilloandohelplesslyoseeotheo processoofolawoandoCourtsobeingoabusedoforotheopurposesoofoinjustice.oIno otherowords;osuchopower(s)oisointrinsicotooaoHighoCourt,oitoisoitsoveryolife-blood,oitsoveryoessence,oitsoimmanentoattribute.oWithoutosuchopower(s),ooaoo HighooCourtoowouldoohaveooformoobutoolackootheoosubstance.ooTheseopowersoofo ao Higho Courto henceo deserveo too beo construedo witho theo widesto possibleo amplitude.oTheseoinherentopowersoareoinoconsonanceowithotheonatureoofoao HighoCourtowhichooughtotoobe,oandohasoinofactobeen,oinvestedowithopower(s)o too maintaino itso authorityo too prevento theo processo ofo law/Courtso beingo obstructedooroabused.oItoisoaotriteopositoofojurisprudenceothatothougholawso attempto too dealo witho allo caseso thato mayo arise,o theo infiniteo varietyo ofo o o CRM-M-20143-2025o o o o o 11o o circumstancesowhichoshapeoeventsoandotheoimperfectionsoofolanguageomakeo itoimpossibleotoolayodownoprovisionsocapableoofogoverningoeveryocase,owhicho inofactoarises.oAoHighoCourtowhichoexistsoforotheofurtheranceoofojusticeoinoano indefatigableo manner,o shouldo therefore,o haveo unfetteredo power(s)o too dealo withosituationsowhich,othoughonotoexpresslyoprovidedoforobyotheolaw,oneedotoo beodealtowith,otoopreventoinjusticeoorotheoabuseoofotheoprocessoofolawoando Courts.ooTheojuridicalobasisoofotheseoplenaryopower(s)oisotheoauthority;oinofacto theoseminalodutyoandoresponsibilityoofoaoHighoCourt;otoouphold,otooprotecto andotoofulfillotheojudicialofunctionoofoadministeringojustice,oinoaccordanceo witho law,o ino ao regular,o orderlyo ando effectiveo manner.o o Ino othero words;o Sectiono528oofoBNSS,o2023oreflectsopeerlessopowers,owhichoaoHighoCourto mayodrawouponoasonecessaryowheneveroitoisojustoandoequitableotoodooso,oino particularotooensureotheoobservanceoofotheodueoprocessoofolaw,otooprevento vexationooro oppression,o too doo justiceo nayo substantialo justiceobetweenotheo partiesoandotoosecureotheoendsoofojustice.oooooo

11.2.oo Ato thiso juncture,o ito wouldo beo appositeo too refero hereino too ao judgmento passedo byo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino theo caseo ofo Sanjayo Dubeyovs.oTheoStateoofoMadhyaoPradeshoandoanother,o2023oAIRoSupremeo Courto3263,orelevantowhereoforeadsothus:o "10.o oHavingo giveno theo mattero ouro anxiouso ando thoughtfulo consideration,othoughotheoappellantomayohaveoaopointothat,ostrictoosensu,o inoaopetitionounderoSectiono439oofotheoCode,otheoconcernedoCourtooughto nototootravelobeyondoconsideringotheospecificoissueoviz.owhetherotoogranto bailoororejectobailotooanoaccusedoinocustody,oitocannotobeolostosightoofothato theoCourtoconcernedohereinowasonotoao'CourtoofoSession'obutotheoHigho CourtoforotheoStateoofoMadhyaoPradesh,oestablishedounderoArticleo214oofo AJAYgKUMAR theoConstitutionoofoIndiao(hereinafteroreferredotooasotheo"Constitution").o o o CRM-M-20143-2025o o o o o 12o o

11.oo Thisosingularofact,ofororeasonsoelaboratedohereinafter,oleadsousotoo declineointerferingowithotheoImpugnedoJudgment,obutoforodifferentoreasons.o WeohaveonoohesitationoinostatingothatohadotheoImpugnedoJudgmentobeeno renderedobyoaoCourtoofoSession,otheofactorsothatowouldohaveoweighedowitho usowouldobeostarklyodifferent.o

12.oo Ao littleo digressiono iso necessitated.o Theo Higho Courto iso ao ConstitutionaloCourt,opossessingoaowideorepertoireoofopowers.oTheoHigho Courto haso original,o appellateo ando suoo motuo powerso underoArticleso 226oando227oofo theo Constitution.o Theo powerso underoArticleso 226oando227oofotheoConstitutionoareomeantoforotakingocareoofosituationso whereotheoHighoCourtofeelsothatosomeodirection(s)/order(s)oareorequiredoino theo interesto ofo justice.o Recently,o inoBo So Hario Commandanto vo Uniono ofo India,o2023oSCCoOnLineoSCo413,otheopresentocoramohadotheooccasionotoo holdoasounder:o o "50.oArticleo 226oofo theo Constitutiono iso ao succouro too remedyo injustice,oandoanyolimitoonoexerciseoofosuchopower,oisoonlyoself-imposed.oGainfulorefer-oenceocanobeomadeoto,oamongstoothers,oAoVo Venkateswaranov.oRamchandoSobhrajoWadhwani,o(1962)o1oSCRo 573o ando Uo Po Stateo Sugaro Corporationo Ltd.o v.o Kamalo Swaroopo Tandon,o (2008)o 2o SCCo 41.o Theo Higho Courts,o undero theo Constitutionalo scheme,o areo endowedo witho theo abilityo too issueo prerogativeowritsotoosafeguardorightsoofocitizens.oForoex-oactlyothiso reason,othisoCourtohasoneverolaidodownoanyostrait-jacketoprincipleso thato cano beo saido toohaveo "cribbed,o cabinedo ando confined"o [too borrowotheotermoemployedobyotheoHon.oBhagwati,oJ.o(asoheotheno was)oinoEoPoRoyappaov.oStateoofoTamiloNadu,o(1974)o4oSCCo3o:oAIRo 1974oSCo555]otheoextraordinaryopowersovestedounderoArticleso226o oro 227o ofo theo Constitution.oAdjudgedo ono theo anvilo ofo Nawabo ShaqafathoAlioKhano(supra),othisowasoaofitocaseoforotheoHighoCourto toohaveoexaminedotheomatterothreadbare,omoreoso,owhenoitodidonoto involveonavigatingoaofactualominefield.")o

13.oReturningotootheopresentocase,othoughousuallyotheoproperocourseoofo actiono ofo theo Higho Courto oughto too haveo beeno too confineo itselfo too theo acceptance/rejectionoofotheoprayeroforobailomadeobyotheoaccusedoundero Sectiono439oofotheoCode;ohoweverotheoHighoCourt,obeingosatisfiedothato thereo were,o ino itso opinion,o graveo lapseso ono theo parto ofo theo police/investigativeomachinery,owhichomayohaveofataloconsequencesoonotheo 2026.03.09g10:37 justiceodeliveryosystem,ocouldonotohaveosimplyoshutoitsoeyes."o o o o CRM-M-(01)*-(0(5o o o o o 13o o

11.3o o :heo HonF!#eo S%*re eo Co%rto ino ao 4%dg ento tit#edo aso Theo CentraloBureauoo5oInvestigationovs.o2irotismano6oArao6o2irotismanoAli,o 202*oINSCo **ohasohe#doaso%nder:o o "*>.o %heo practiceo ofo conductin!o trialso ono ao dayo too dayo basiso moreo particularlyoinoimportantoorosensitiveocasesoasowasotheotraditionoabouto thirtyoyearsoa!oohasobeeno!ivenoaocompleteo!otiby.o$eosincerelyobelieveo thatoitoisohi!hotimeothatotheocourtsorevertotoothatopractice.oDorotheopurposeo oforevertin!otootheooldopractice,oitoisonecessaryotoounderstandotheocurrento social,opoliticaloandoadministrativeoscenariooincludin!otheowayotheoPoliceo areofunctionin!.o/llotheo-i!ho)ourtsoneedotooconstituteoao)ommitteeotoo discussothisoissueoveryoseriouslyoforotheobenefitoofotheirorespectiveodistricto #udiciaries.1o

11.4 The chronic protraction of criminal proceedings serves as a systemic blight that transcends the individual interest of the accused, inflicting a highly deleterious impact upon the collective conscience of the society. While legal discourse frequently centers on the hardship of the incarcerated, it is a grave juridical error to overlook the active suffering and anguish visited upon the victim. For the aggrieved; an interminable trial is not merely a procedural delay but a form of secondary victimization leading to a state of perpetual emotional purgatory where the wounds of offense are kept raw by the lack of finality. A Three Judge Bench of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Rattiram and Others Vs. State of M.P. through Inspector of Police; 2012 AIR Supreme Court 1485 while appreciating the observation in Mangal Singh and Another Vs. Kishan Singh and Others; 2009 AIR Supreme Court 1535; observed as under: "47. While delineating on the facets of speedy trial, it cannot be regarded as an exclusive right of the accused. The right of a victim has o o CRM-M-(01)*-(0(5o o o o o 1'o o been given recognition in Mangal Singh and Anr. v. Kishan Singh and ors., AIR 2009 Supreme Court 1535 wherein it has been observed thus :- "Any inordinate delay in conclusion of a criminal trial undoubtedly has highly deleterious effect on the society generally and particularly on the two sides of the case. But it will be a grave mistake to assume that delay in trial does not cause acute suffering and anguish to the victim of the offence. In many cases the victim may suffer even more than the accused. There is, therefore no reason to give all the benefits on account of the delay in trial to the accused and to completely deny all justice to the victim of the offence." The fundamental principle of an ever-evolving liberty jurisprudence dictates that prolonged incarceration, absent any realistic prospect of a near-term conclusion of trial, renders continued pre-conviction detention constitutionally impermissible. Under the umbrella of Article 21 of the Constitution, the right to a speedy trial is recognized as an indispensable facet of the guarantee of life and personal liberty. The pre-trial incarceration must not, by mere flux of time, be permitted to assume the character of punishment, as the state cannot be allowed to achieve through procedural delay what it has not yet achieved through a verdict of guilt. However, this Constitutional promise is not an absolute or unregulated license, rather it ensures that deprivations of liberty are neither arbitrary, unconscionable nor unfair.

11.5 Where relief is being sought, solely upon the ground of procedural delay, the Court must adopt a golden mean approach, where the rights of the accused/incarcerated person are protected without reducing the criminal justice system to a state of toothlessness. Ergo, the Constitutional inquiry into delay must be a contextual assessment of whether the continued AJAY KUMAR 2026.03.09 10:37 detention remains constitutionally permissible under the specific penumbra o o CRM-M-20143-2025o o o o o 15o o ofo theo case.o Unlessotheodelayo iso soo inordinateo thatoito shockso theojudicialo conscience,oitocannotobeotreatedoasoaosolitaryodeterminantoforoenlargement.oAo pleao ofo delayo cannoto beo examinedo ino ao legalo vacuumo oro ano abstraction;o insteadoitomustobeoweighedoagainstotheogravamenoofoallegations;ospecificoroleo attributedo too theo applicant;o trajectoryo ofo theo trial;o riskso involvedo ino enlargemento ofo theo applicanto ono bail,o etc.o Ao profitableo referenceo ino thiso regardocanobeomadeotootheodictaopassedobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoino Gulfishao Fatimao vs.o Stateo (Govt.o ofo Delhi),o SLPo (Crl.)o No.13988-2025,o relevantowhereoforeadsothus:oo "26.oo Asotheohearingoprogressed,ohowever,oitobecameoevidentothatotheopleaoofo delayo couldo noto beo examinedo ino abstraction.o Ino theo courseo ofo submissionso ando rejoinder,o referenceo waso necessarilyo madeo too theo natureo ofo theo allegations,o theo statutoryoframeworkoinvoked,oandotheoroleoattributedotooindividualoappellants.oThiso wasonotoaodepartureofromotheooriginalosubmission,obutoaoreflectionoofotheolegalo realityothato theo constitutionalo questiono ofo delayo doeso noto ariseo ino ao vacuum.xxxooooooo xxx.o

30.oo Articleo21ooccupiesoaocentraloplaceoinotheoconstitutionaloscheme.oTheo righto too lifeo ando personalo liberty,o ando theo insistenceo thato anyo deprivationo musto conformotooprocedureoestablishedobyolaw,oareofoundationaloguarantees.oTheorightotoo ao speedyo trialo haso beeno recognisedo aso ano importanto faceto ofo thiso guarantee.o Ito followso thato pre-trialo incarcerationo cannot,o byo theo mereo passageo ofo time,o beo permittedotooassumeotheocharacteroofopunishment.o

31.oAtotheosameotime,oArticleo21ohasoneverobeenounderstoodoasooperatingoinoisolationo fromolaw.oTheoconstitutionalopromiseoisonotothatolibertyowillobeounregulated,obutothato deprivationso ofo libertyo willo noto beo arbitrary,o unconscionable,o oro unfair.o Theo expressiono"procedureoestablishedobyolaw"oreflectsothatobalance.ooooxxxo xxx."o o o Aojusticeodeliveryosystemorestsoonoaosimpleopromise;ofairnesso deliveredoinoreasonableotime.oAnyoproceduraloprotractionodoesonotomerelyo delayotheoverdict;oitoactivelyoerodesotheoedificeoofopublicoconfidenceoinotheo judiciary.oWhenoaotrialoisoallowedotoolanguish,oitotranscendsotheoaphorismo AJAYgKUMAR thato'justiceodelayedoisojusticeodenied'oandoentersotheomoreoperilousoterritoryo o o CRM-M-(01)*-(0(5o o o o o 1Co o of 'justice doubted'. In the constitutional scheme of Article 21, the Right to a Speedy trial is not a unilateral concession to the accused, but a collective entitlement shared by the victim & the State, ensuring that Scales of justice do not rust through inaction.

11.6 Ergo, in cases where, notwithstanding the lapse of time, the Court in its judicious wisdom finds that other factors preclude grant of bail, a proactive approach to prevent travesty of justice must be adopted. In such cases, the refusal to grant on bail must be coupled with a peremptory mandate of expeditious conclusion of trial (or in appropriate cases a time-bound conclusion of trial). A profitable reference in this regard can be made to the dicta passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Tarun Kumar Vs. Assistant Director, Directorate of Enforcement; SLP (Crl.) No. 9431 of 2023, relevant whereof reads thus: "8*.o &&&&o o o &&&&o o o &&&&o o o o $heno theo detentiono ofo theo accusedo iso continuedo byo theo )ourt,o theo courtso areo alsoo e&pectedo too concludeo theo trialso withino ao reasonableotime,ofurtheroensurin!otheori!htoofospeedyotrialo!uaranteedobyo /rticleo81oofotheo)onstitution.1o

11.7o o Gr!o oinotheofact%a#omilieuoofotheocaseoinohando;hichotendsotoo ref#ectothatotria#oiso*rocrastinatingoando;itness7s$oareonoto!eingoe(a inedoforo oneoca%seoorotheootherDoitoisoaofitocaseo;hicho;arrantsodirection7s$ofro othiso Co%rtoforoe(*editio%s)ti e-!o%ndotria#.oo o

12.o o Ino.ie;oofotheo*re.enientoratiocination,oitoisoordainedoth%s:o o o CRM-M-20143-2025o o o o o 17o o

(i)o o Theo petitiono ino hando iso devoido ofo meritso ando iso herebyo dismissed.oo

(ii)o o TheoCourtobelowoisodirectedotoomakeoanoearnestoendeavourotoo expediteo theo trialo ando concludeo theo sameo aso expeditiouslyo aso possible,o preferablyowithinoaoperiodoofooneoyear,oinoaccordanceowitholaw.ooIfoneedobe,o theolearnedotrialoCourtoisoatolibertyotooadoptotheoprocedureoofoday-to-dayotrialo asoenunciatedobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinocaseoofoMiroUsmano@oArao @oMiroUsmanoAliocaseo(supra).oo

(iii)o o Anyoobservationsomadeoand/orosubmissionsonotedohereinaboveo shallonotohaveoanyoeffectoonomeritsoofotheocaseoandotheoinvestigatingoagencyo asoalsootheotrialoCourtoshalloproceedofurther,oinoaccordanceowitholaw,owithouto beingoinfluencedowithothisoorder.oo

(iv)oo o Pendingoapplication(s),oifoany,oshalloalsoostandodisposedoof.o o o o o o o o o oooooo(SUMEEToGOEL)o o oooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooo ooo oooJUDGEo o Marcho06,o2026o Ajayo o o o o Whetherospeaking/reasoned:o o Yes/Noo o Whetheroreportable:o o Yes/Noo o o