Dr. Amit Kumar Singal v. Central Bureau of Investigation, Anti Corruption Branch

o CRM-M-42377-2025o(O&M)o o o o o o o 1o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHo o 293o o o o o o CRM-31794-2025oando o o o o o o CRM-30428-2025oin/&o o o o o o o CRM-M-42377-2025o(O&M)o o o o o o o Dateoofodecision:o18.08.2025o Dr.oAmitoKumaroSingalo o o o o o o o o o o o ....Petitionero V/so CentraloBureauoofoInvestigationoo o o o o o o o o o ....Respondento o CORAM:oo HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSUMEEToGOELo Present:oo Mr.oVikramoChaudhri,oSenioroAdvocateowithoo o o Ms.oDivyaoBhagwan,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioner.oo o o Mr.oRavioKamaloGupta,oRetainerocounseloforotheoCBI.oo o o Mr.oS.P.oJain,oSenioroAdvocateowithoo o o Ms.oMeghnaoMalik,oAdvocateoo o o Mr.oGagandeepoJammu,oAdvocateoforotheocomplainant.oo *****o SUMEEToGOEL,oJ.o(Oral)o CRM-31794-2025o o o ThisoisoanoapplicationounderoSectiono528oofoBNSS,o2023oforo placingoonorecordotheoreplyofiledoonobehalfooforespondent-CBI.oo o o Applicationo iso allowedo aso prayedo for,o subjecto too allo justo exceptions.ooReplyoisotakenoonorecord.ooRegistryotoopaginateotheopaper-booko accordingly.oo CRM-30428-2025o o o Asotheomainopetitionohasobeenoallowed,onooorderoisorequiredotoo beopassedoinotheoinstantoapplication.o o o CRMostandsodisposedoof.oo CRM-M-37123-2025o

1.o o Presento petitiono haso beeno filedo undero Sectiono 483o ofo BNSS,o Igattestgtogthegaccuracygand2023o foro granto ofo regularo bailo too theo petitionero ino caseo bearingo FIRo o CRM-M-42377-2025o(O&M)o o o o o o o 2o No.RC0052025A0011o datedo 31.05.2025,o registeredo foro theo offenceso punishableounderoSectionso61(2)oofoBNS,o2023oandoSectiono7oofoPreventiono ofoCorruptionoAct,o1988oasoalsooSectionso7-AoofoPreventionoofoCorruptiono Act,o 1988o ando Sectiono 308(2)o ofo BNS,o 2023o (addedo latero on)o ato Policeo StationoCBI,oACB,oChandigarh.oo

2.o o Theogravamenoofotheoallegations,oasosetooutoinotheoFIR,oisothato theopetitioner,oinoactiveocollusionowithoco-accusedoHarshoKotakoisoinvolvedoino ano FIR/regularo caseo registeredo byo theo CBIo undero theo Preventiono ofo CorruptionoAct,o1988oandoSectiono61(2)oofoBNSS,o2023.ooItoisoallegedothato bothotheoaccusedopersonsodemandedoillegalogratificationoofoRs.45.00olacsoforo resolvingo issueso pertainingo too ano incomeo taxo noticeo etc.o issuedo too theo complainant.ooConsequently,otheoinstantoFIRowasoregisteredoono31.05.2025.o AfteroregistrationoofotheoFIR,oaotrapowasolaidobyotheoCBIoteamoonotheosameo dayoi.e.o31.05.2025oduringowhichotrapoco-accusedoHarshoKotakowasoallegedlyo apprehendedo ato theo residenceo ofo accusedo Amito Kumaro Singalo (petitionero herein)o whileo acceptingo bribeo ofo Rs.25.00o lacso ono behalfo ofo accused-petitioneroAmitoKumaroSingalofromotheocomplainantoandorecoveryoofobribeo moneyoofoRs.25.00olacsowasoeffected.oAsoaccusedo-oAmitoKumaroSingalohado acceptedotheobribeofromotheocomplainantothroughoco-accusedoHarshoKotak,o consequently,obothotheoaccusedoi.e.oHarshoKotakoandoAmitoKumaroSingalo wereoarrestedobyotheoCBIoono31.05.2025oando01.06.2025orespectively.oo

3.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitioner;o ledo byo Sh.o R.S.o Cheema,o Senioro Advocate;o haso arguedo thato theo petitionero iso ino custodyo sinceo

01.06.2025.oLearnedoseniorocounselohasofurtheroiteratedothatotheopetitioneroiso aosenioroIncomeoTaxoOfficeroand,othus,othereoisonoochanceoofohisoabscondingo 2025.08.19g17:11 fromotheoprocessoofojustice.ooLearnedoseniorocounselohasofurtheroarguedothato o CRM-M-42377-2025o(O&M)o o o o o o o 3o theoinvestigationoinotheoFIRoinoquestionoisocompleteoandotrialowillotakeoitsoowno time.o o Furthermore,oitoiso emphasizedothato theotrial,oinvolvingo voluminouso documentaryoandoelectronicoevidence,oisolikelyotootakeoconsiderableotimeotoo conclude.ooItohasobeenofurtheroarguedothatotheopetitioneroisoaomanowithocleano antecedents.oLearnedoseniorocounselohasofurtherosubmittedothatoinoviewoofotheo pendencyo ofo CRWP-6297-2025,o institutedo byo theo petitioner,o beforeo thiso CourtoandothisoCourtobeingoalsooinoseisinoofobailopleaoofoco-accusedonamelyo HarshoKotako(CRM-M-37123-2025),otheopetitioneroseeksoentertainmentoofo theoinstantopetitionobyothisoCourt,owithoutohavingoavailedotheoremedyobeforeo theo concernedo Specialo Judge/trialo Court.o Ono theo strengtho ofo theseo submissions,otheograntooforegularobailoisoentreatedofor.oo

4.o o Respondent-CBIohasofiledoreplyodatedo12.08.2025oopposingotheo grantooforegularobailotootheopetitioner.ooRaisingosubmissionoinotandemowithotheo saidoreply,olearnedocounseloappearingoforotheoCBIohasostrenuouslyoarguedothato theo allegationso raisedo againsto theo petitionero areo seriouso ino natureo and,o therefore,otheopetitionerodoesonotodeserveotheoconcessionooforegularobail.oIto hasobeenofurtheroiteratedothatotheopetitioner,obeingoaosenioroIRSoofficer,oisotheo principalo accused,o whoo blatantlyo misusedo hiso officialo positiono ando orchestratedotheodemandoofoillegalogratificationothroughoco-accusedo(Harsho Kotak).o Accordingotoo learnedo counsel,o theo complicityo ofo theo petitionero iso primaofacieoestablishedoonotheobasisoofocogentoandocredibleomaterialocollectedo duringo investigation,o includingo corroboratedo audioo recordings,o digitalo evidenceoandostatementsoofoprosecutionowitnesses.ooItohasobeenocanvassedo thato theo petitionero haso noto eveno availedo theo remedyo ofo approachingo theo SpecialoCourt/trialoCourt,oatotheofirstoinstance,oforobailoandoentertainingosuchoao 2025.08.19g17:11 petitiono directlyo beforeo thiso Courto wouldo noto onlyo seto ano undesirableo o CRM-M-42377-2025o(O&M)o o o o o o o 4o precedento buto mayo alsoo encourageo similarlyo placedo accusedo personso too bypasso theo ordinaryo procedureo therebyo openingo theo floodgateso foro bailo petitionsodirectlyobeforeothisoCourt.ooThus,odismissaloofotheopresentopetitionoiso entreatedofor.ooo o o Learnedo Stateo counselo seekso too placeo ono recordo custodyo certificateodatedo11.08.2025oinoCourt,owhichoisotakenoonorecord.oo

5.o o Learnedocounseloappearingoforotheocomplainant;oledobyoSh.oS.P.o Jain,oSenioroAdvocate;ohasovehementlyoopposedotheograntooforegularobailotoo theopetitioner.ooItoisosubmittedothatotheocharge-sheetopresentedobyotheoCBIoiso supportedobyocogentoandocredibleomaterialowhichoclearlyoshowotheoculpabilityo ofo theo petitionero ino theo offenceo ino question.o o Learnedosenioro counselohaso furthero iteratedo thato ino theo presento case,o theo petitionero haso misusedo hiso positiono aso ao senioro IRSo Officero byo havingo notice(s)o issuedo too theo complainanto foro taxo defaultso ando haso eveno approachedo theo concernedo AssessingoOfficersosooasotooexertoundueopressureouponotheoFIR-complainant.oo Suchoconductoprimaofacieoestablishesoabuseoofoauthorityoandoreinforcesotheo roleoofotheopetitioneroasotheoprincipaloaccused.ooLearnedoseniorocounselohaso furthero iteratedo that,o ino caseo theo petitionero iso extendedo theo concessiono ofo regularobail,othereoisoeveryolikelihoodothatoheomayoinfluenceotheowitnesseso therebyo causingo obstructiono too theo trial.o o Ono theo strengtho ofo theseo submissions,odismissaloofotheopetitionoinohandoisocanvassedofor.oo

6.o o Iohaveoheardocounseloforotheorivalopartiesoandohaveogoneothrougho theoavailableorecordsoofotheocase.oo Primeoissueo o

7.oo o Theo seminalolegaloissueso thato ariseo foro cogitationo are;ofirstly,o 2025.08.19g17:11 whetheroanoaccusedoisoentitledotoostraightwayoapproachotheoHighoCourtoundero o CRM-M-42377-2025o(O&M)o o o o o o o 5o Sectiono439oofotheoCodeoofoCriminaloProcedure,o1973/oSectiono483oofotheo BharatiyaoNagarikoSurakshaoSanhita,o2023oforograntooforegularobail,owithouto approachingotheoSessionsoCourt,oinotheofirstoinstance;osecondly,oinocase,oitoiso soopermissibleoinolaw,owhetherotheoaccusedohasosuchoright,owhichoisoabsoluteo ino natureo oro whethero sucho righto standso circumscribedo byo certaino definingo factors.oo o o Theo analogouso issueo thato ariseso foro considerationo iso aso too whetherotheoplea-in-hand,opreferredostraightwayobeforeothisoCourt,oforogranto oforegularobail,ooughtotoobeoentertainedoandograntedoinoitsoownofactualomilieu.oo

8.o o Relevantostatuteo I.o o TheoCodeoofoCriminaloProcedure,o1898o(hereinafteroreferredoo o o tooaso'Cr.oP.C.,o1898')o o o o o "497.oo (1)oo Whenoanyopersonoaccusedoofoanyonon-bailableooffenceoiso arrestedoorodetainedowithoutowarrantobyoanoofficeroinochargeoofoaopolice-station,ooroappearsooroisobroughtobeforeoaoCourt,oheomayobeoreleasedoono bail,obutoheoshallonotobeosooreleasedoifothereoappearoreasonableogroundso forobelievingothatoheohasobeenoguiltyoofotheooffenceoofowhichoheoisoaccused.o o (2)oo IfoitoappearsotoosuchoofficerooroCourtoatoanyostageoofotheo investigation,o inquiryo oro trial,o aso theo caseo mayo be,o thato thereo areo noto reasonableogroundsoforobelievingothatotheoaccusedohaso committedosucho offence,obutothatothereoareosufficientogroundsoforofurtheroinquiryointoohiso guilt,otheoaccusedoshall,opendingosuchoinquiry,obeoreleasedoonobail,oor,oato theodiscretionoofosuchoofficerooroCourt,oonotheoexecutionobyohimoofoaobondo withoutosuretiesoforohisoappearanceoasohereinafteroprovided.o o (3)oo AnyoCourtomay,oatoanyosubsequentostageoofoanyoproceedingo undero thiso Code,o causeo anyo persono whoo haso beeno releasedo undero thiso sectionotoobeoarrested,oandomayocommitohimotoocustody.o o 498.oo TheoamountoofoeveryobondoexecutedounderothisoChapteroshallobeo fixedowithodueoregardotootheocircumstancesoofotheocase,oandoshallonotobeo excessive;o ando theo Higho Courto oro Courto ofo Sessiono may,o ino anyo case,o whetherothereobeoanoappealoonoconvictionooronot,odirectothatoanyopersonobeo admittedotoobail,oorothatotheobailorequiredobyoaopolice-officerooroMagistrateo beoreduced."o o CRM-M-42377-2025o(O&M)o o o o o o o 6o II.o o TheoCodeoofoCriminaloProcedure,o1973o(hereinafteroreferredoo o o tooaso'Cr.oP.C.,o1973')o o o "439.oo Specialo powerso ofo Higho Courto oro Courto ofo Sessiono regardingobail.—(1)oAoHighoCourtooroCourtoofoSessionomayodirect,—oo o o (a)o thato anyo persono accusedo ofo ano offenceo ando ino custodyo beo releasedoonobail,oandoifotheooffenceoisoofotheonatureospecifiedoinosub-sectiono

(3)oofosectiono437,omayoimposeoanyoconditionowhichoitoconsidersonecessaryo forotheopurposesomentionedoinothatosub-section;oo o (b)othatoanyoconditionoimposedobyoaoMagistrateowhenoreleasingoanyo personoonobailobeosetoasideooromodified:oo Providedo thato theo Higho Courto oro theo Courto ofo Sessiono shall,o beforeo grantingobailotooaopersonowhooisoaccusedoofoanooffenceowhichoisotriableo exclusivelyobyotheoCourtoofoSessionoorowhich,othoughonotosootriable,oiso punishableowithoimprisonmentoforolife,ogiveonoticeoofotheoapplicationoforo bailotootheoPublicoProsecutorounlessoitois,ofororeasonsotoobeorecordedoino writingoofoopinionothatoitoisonotopracticableotoogiveosuchonotice.oo o o [Providedo furthero thato theo Higho Courto oro theo Courto ofo Sessiono shall,obeforeograntingobailotooaopersonowhooisoaccusedoofoanooffenceotriableo underosub-sectiono(3)oofosectiono376oorosectiono376ABoorosectiono376DAo orosectiono376DBoofotheoIndianoPenaloCodeo(45oofo1860),ogiveonoticeoofotheo applicationoforobailotootheoPublicoProsecutorowithinoaoperiodoofofifteeno daysofromotheodateooforeceiptoofotheonoticeoofosuchoapplication.]oo o [(1A)oTheopresenceoofotheoinformantooroanyopersonoauthorisedobyo himoshallobeoobligatoryoatotheotimeoofohearingoofotheoapplicationoforobailotoo theo persono undero sub-sectiono (3)o ofo sectiono 376o oro sectiono 376ABo oro sectiono376DAoorosectionoDBoofotheoIndianoPenaloCodeo(45oofo1860).]oo o (2)oAoHighoCourtooroCourtoofoSessionomayodirectothatoanyopersono whoohasobeenoreleasedoonobailounderothisoChapterobeoarrestedoandocommito himotoocustody."o o III.o o TheoBharatiyaoNagarikoSurakshaoSanhita,o2023o(hereinafteroo o o referredotooaso'BNSS')o o "483.o Specialo powerso ofo Higho Courto oro Courto ofo Sessiono regardingo bail.—(1)oAoHighoCourtooroCourtoofoSessionomayodirect,—oo o (a)o thato anyo persono accusedo ofo ano offenceo ando ino custodyo beo releasedoonobail,oandoifotheooffenceoisoofotheonatureospecifiedoinosub-sectiono

(3)oofosectiono480,omayoimposeoanyoconditionowhichoitoconsidersonecessaryo 2025.08.19g17:11 forotheopurposesomentionedoinothatosub-section;oo o CRM-M-42377-2025o(O&M)o o o o o o o 7o o (b)othatoanyoconditionoimposedobyoaoMagistrateowhenoreleasingoanyo personoonobailobeosetoasideooromodified:oo o ProvidedothatotheoHighoCourtoorotheoCourtoofoSessionoshall,obeforeo grantingobailotooaopersonowhooisoaccusedoofoanooffenceowhichoisotriableo exclusivelyobyotheoCourtoofoSessionoorowhich,othoughonotosootriable,oiso punishableowithoimprisonmentoforolife,ogiveonoticeoofotheoapplicationoforo bailotootheoPublicoProsecutorounlessoitois,ofororeasonsotoobeorecordedoino writing,oofoopinionothatoitoisonotopracticableotoogiveosuchonotice:oo o ProvidedofurtherothatotheoHighoCourtoorotheoCourtoofoSessionoshall,o beforeograntingobailotooaopersonowhooisoaccusedoofoanooffenceotriableoundero sectiono65oorosub-sectiono(2)oofosectiono70oofotheoBharatiyaoNyayaoSanhita,o 2023,o giveo noticeo ofo theo applicationo foro bailo too theo Publico Prosecutoro withinoaoperiodoofofifteenodaysofromotheodateooforeceiptoofotheonoticeoofosucho application.oo o (2)oTheopresenceoofotheoinformantooroanyopersonoauthorisedobyohimo shallobeoobligatoryoatotheotimeoofohearingoofotheoapplicationoforobailotootheo personounderosectiono65oorosub-sectiono(2)oofosectiono70oofotheoBharatiyao NyayaoSanhita,o2023.oo o (3)oAoHighoCourtooroCourtoofoSessionomayodirectothatoanyopersono whoohasobeenoreleasedoonobailounderothisoChapterobeoarrestedoandocommito himotoocustody."o o RelevantoCaseoLawo

9.o o Theoprecedentsogermaneotootheomatter(s)oinoissueoare,othus:oo I.o o Re:oRealmoofoaccusedostraightwayoapproachingotheoHighoCourtoo o o forograntooforegularobailounderoCr.P.C.,o1898.ooo o o TheoHon'bleoKeralaoHighoCourtoinoaoDivisionoBenchojudgmento titledoasoMathewoZacharishoversusoStateoofoKeralaoandoothers,oCriminalo Misc.oPetn.oNo.1049oofo1973,odecidedoono19.12.1973;ohasoheldoasounder:o "3.o Theopetitionohasoappearedotoousoratherocuriousoandoextraordinary.o Asoanoapplicationoforobail,otheopetitionerowouldorestoitoonoSectiono497,o CriminaloProcedureoCode,o1973oonotheogroundothatotheoSectionocoverso eveno theo caseo ofo ao "persono accusedo oro suspectedo ofo anyo non-bailableo offences",owho,o"appearsooroisobroughtobeforeoaocourto.....".oWeodoonoto thinkothatoanooptionoofoappearingoinoanyoofotheohierarchyoofocourtsoisoleftotoo AJAYgKUMAR theosweetowilloandopleasureoofotheoaccused;oandoweoareoquiteounableotooseeo o CRM-M-42377-2025o(O&M)o o o o o o o 8o anyogroundotooallowotheopetitionerotoofrog-leapotheoMagistrateoandothe;o SessionsoJudgeoandomakeoaodirectoapproachotoousoforobail.oOnothatoground,o weowouldodismissotheoapplicationoinosoofaroasoitorelatesotoobail."o o IIo o Re:oRealmoofoaccusedostraightwayoapproachingotheoHighoCourtoo o o forograntooforegularobailounderoCr.P.C.,o1973.ooo

(i)o o AoDivisionoBenchoofotheoHon'bleoKeralaoHighoCourtoinoaocaseo titledoasoBalanoversusoStateoofoKerala,o2003(4)oRCRo(Criminal)o733;ohaso heldoasounder:o "12.o Inothisocontext,oitomayoalsoobeonoticedothatoevenounderoSectiono439,o theoLegislatureohasoconferredopowerotoograntobailoonotheoHighoCourtoaso welloasotheoCourtoofoSessions.oTheotwooprovisionsodoonotoevenoremotelyo suggestothatotheopetitionohasotoobeofiledobeforeotheoSessionsoCourtofirstoando thenobeforeotheoHighoCourt.oTheopowerotoograntobailohasobeenoconferredo equallyoonobothotheoCourts.oItoisoclearlyoconcurrent.oTheocitizenohasotheo opportunityotooapproachotheoCourtoofoSessionsoandothenotheoHighoCourt.oIto givesohimoaosecondochanceotooseekobail.oHowever,oinoaocaseowhereoheo chooseso too comeo directlyo too theo Higho Court,o heo cannoto beo throwno outo merelyoonotheogroundothatoheohasofailedotooapproachotheoSessionsoCourt.o Theopetitionoisoclearlyomaintainable.oEqually,oitocannotoalsoobeosaidothatoheo mustomakeooutoano'exceptionalocaseobeforeohisopetitionoforobailocanobeo entertained.oAcceptanceoofotheoviewoasolaidodownobyotheoCourtoinoUsman'so caseomayoresultoinodefeatingotheorightotoolibertyoasoguaranteedounderotheo Constitution.o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo

17.o Inoviewoofotheoabove,oweoareoofotheoopinionothatotheoprovisionsoofo Sectionso438oando439odoonotocalloforoaorestrictedointerpretation.oTheocitizeno hasotheorightotoochoose.oHisoapplicationoshouldobeoconsidered.oEachocaseo shouldobeoexaminedoonoitsoownomerits.oIfoitoisofoundothatotheogroundoforo grantoofobailoisonotomadeoout,otheoCourtohasotheofullojurisdictionotoodenyo relief.oEqually,oifoaocaseoisomadeoout,otheocitizen'solibertyoshouldonotobeo allowedotoobeocurtailed.oHowever,oweodoonotofindoanyogroundotoodenyotheo citizen'sorightotoochooseotheoforumotooapproachotheoCourtoandotoomakeoao prayer.oThisoisonotowarrantedobyotheoprovision."o AJAYgKUMAR o o CRM-M-42377-2025o(O&M)o o o o o o o 9o

(ii)o o AoDivisionoBenchoofothisoCourtoinoaocaseotitledoasoBaldevoSingho Vs.oStateoofoPunjabo&oOthers,o2002(2)oILRo(PunjaboandoHaryana)o618;ohaso heldoasounder:o "9.oTheolanguageoofoSectionso438oando439oofotheoCodeoisopariomateria.o However,o provisionso ofo Sectiono 438o operateo pre-arrest,o whileo thato theo Sectiono439opost-arrest,obutotheopowersoofotheoHighoCourtoandotheoCourtoofo SessionsounderobothotheseoSectionsoareoconcurrent.oTheolegislatureoinoitso wisdomohasovestedotheopoweroinobothotheoCourtsoconcurrently.oTheopowero exercisableobyoeitheroofotheoCourtsoisonotocircumscribedobyoanyospecifiedo limitations.oItoisowideopowerovestedoinotheoCourtsowhichoisorequiredotoobeo exercisedowithodueoregardotootheosettledocanonsoofolawoandoinoconsonanceo withotheojudicialodiscipline.oTheocautionoinoexercisingosuchodiscretionaryo poweroisoinbuiltoinotheospiritoofolaw.oXxxxo o xxxxo o xxxxo

10.oUnderotheoCode,opowerohasobeenovestedoinotheoHighoCourtotoograntobailo keepingoinoviewotheofactsoandocircumstancesoofoaocase.oThisopowerocannoto beonegatedoonoanyoinferenceoorobyoimplication.oItoisotrueothatonormallyo whereoaopersonohasobeenoarrested,oitowillobeomoreoappropriateothatotheo accusedoshouldoapproachotheoCourtoofoSessions/theocompetentoCourt,oforo grantooforegularobailoandouponorejectionothereofocouldoapproachotheoHigho Court.oButothisocannotobeostatedoasoaohardoandofastorule.oEachocaseowouldo haveotoobeodealtowith,oandoappropriateoordersopassedoonoitsoownomerit.oIto wouldoneitherobeoproperonoropermissibleotoocircumventotheopowersoofotheo CourtowhenotheoLegislatureohasodeclinedotooimposeoanyosuchorestriction.o Xxxo xxx"o o

(iii)o o AoDivisionoBenchoofotheoHon'bleoAndhraoPradeshoHighoCourto inoaocaseotitledoasoY.oChendrasekharaoRaooandoothersoversusoY.V.oKamalao Kumarioandoothers,o1993oSCCoOnLineoAPo243;ohasoheldoasounder:o "29.o Theo Publico Prosecutoro iso correcto ino hiso submissiono thato undero Sectiono439obothotheoHighoCourtoandotheoCourtoofoSessionoareoempoweredo toograntobailotooaopersonoinocustody.oHeocontendsothat,obecauseoundero Sectiono439otheoHighoCourtoisonotoentertainingoapplications,oinotheofirsto instance,o theo sameo practiceo musto beo upheldo ino respecto ofo applicationso undero Sectiono 438.o Weo areo unableo too agree.o Theo questiono whethero ano applicationounderoSectiono439ocanobeofiled,oinotheofirstoinstance,oinotheo AJAYgKUMAR HighoCourtoisonotobeforeousoforoadjudication.oWe,otherefore,odoonotowantotoo o CRM-M-42377-2025o(O&M)o o o o o o o 10o goointoothisoaspectowhichodoesonotoariseobeforeousoandosooweocannotoaccepto theo suppositiono thato theo presento practiceo aso regardso entertainingo applicationso undero Sectiono 439o iso soundo ando valid.o Aso ando wheno thato questionoarisesothisoCourtowillogoointooit.oBut,oinotheopresentoreference,oweo areonotoinclinedotoodecideothatoquestion.oApartofromotheofactothatopowero underoSectiono439oisoexercisedoforodirectingotheoreleaseoonobailoofoaopersono inocustody,oweomayonoticeocertainootheroimportantofeaturesoofoSectiono439.o InorespectoofoaopersonoinocustodyoalreadyotheoappropriateoMagistrateohaso passedoanoorderounderoSectiono167oauthorisingohisocustodyo(eitherojudicialo oropoliceocustody)oafteroapplyingohisomindobyoexaminingocopiesoofoentrieso inotheodiaryosubmittedobyotheoconcernedopoliceoofficer.oHeohasogoneointoo theoquestionowhetherothereoareoadequateogroundsoforoauthorisingodetentiono inocustodyoforototaloperiodoofonotoexceedingosixtyodaysooroninetyodays,oaso theocaseomayobe,oasoenjoinedoinoProvisoo(a)otoosub-sectiono(2)oofoSectiono 167oofotheoCode.oViewedoinothisolight,othereoisoaodiscernibleodegreeoofo differenceoasotootheoimmediacyoinomovingotheoapplicationsounderoSectionso 438oando439:oComparedotooSectiono438,otheosenseoofourgencyoinoSectiono 439oisoless."oo

(iv)o o TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoaoJudgmentotitledoasoSandeepo Kumaro Bafnao versuso Stateo ofo Maharashtrao ando another,o (2014)o 16o SupremeoCourtoCaseso623;ohasoheldoasounder:o "33.o Inoconclusion,otherefore,oweoareoofotheoopinionothatotheolearnedo SingleoJudgeoerredoinolawoinoholdingothatoheowasodevoidoofojurisdictionosoo faroasotheoapplicationopresentedotoohimobyotheoappellantobeforeousowaso concerned.oConceptually,oheocouldohaveodeclinedotooacceptotheoprayerotoo surrenderotootheoCourt'socustody,oalthough,oweoareopresentlyonotoawareoofo anyoreasonoforothisooptionotoobeoexercised.oOnceotheoprayeroforosurrendero isoaccepted,otheoappellantobeforeousowouldocomeointootheocustodyoofotheo CourtowithinotheocontemplationoofoSectiono439oCrPC.oTheoSessionsoCourto asowelloasotheoHighoCourt,obothoofowhichoexercisedoconcurrentopowerso underoSectiono439,owouldothenohaveotooventureotootheomeritsoofotheomattero soo aso too decideo whethero theo applicant-appellanto hado showno sufficiento reasonoorogroundsoforobeingoenlargedoonobail"o o

(v)o o Ino ao judgmento renderedo byo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino Kanumurio Raghuramao Krishnamo Rajuo vs.o Stateo ofo A.P.o 2021(13)o SCCo Igattestgtogthegaccurac8yg2an2d,oitohasobeenoheldoasounder:o o CRM-M-42377-2025o(O&M)o o o o o o o 11o o "14.o TheojurisdictionoofotheotrialocourtoasowelloasotheoHighoCourtoundero Sectiono439oofotheoCodeoofoCriminaloProcedure,o1973oisoconcurrentoando merelyobecauseotheoHighoCourtowasoapproachedobyotheoappellantowithouto approachingotheotrialocourtowouldonotomeanothatotheoHighoCourtocouldonoto haveoconsideredotheobailoapplicationoofotheoappellant.ooAsosuch,oinoouro view,otheoHighoCourtooughtotoohaveoconsideredotheobailoapplicationoofotheo appellantoonomeritsoandodecidedotheosame."o

(vi)o o Moreo recently,o theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino ao recento caseo titledo aso Arvindo Kejriwalo versuso Centralo Bureauo ofo Investigation,o 2024o SCCoOnLineoSCo2550;ohasoheldoasounder:o o o PeroHon'bleoSuryaoKant,oJ.o o "44.o Ano undertrialo thuso should,o ordinarily,o firsto approacho theo TrialoCourtoforobail,oasothisoprocessonotoonlyo providesotheoaccusedoano opportunityoforoinitialoreliefobutoalsooallowsotheoHighoCourtotooserveoasoao secondaryoavenueoifotheoTrialoCourtodeniesobailoforoinadequateoreasons.o Thisoapproachoisobeneficialoforobothotheoaccusedoandotheoprosecution;oifo bailoisograntedowithoutoproperoconsideration,otheoprosecutionotooocanoseeko correctiveomeasuresofromotheoHighoCourt.o o 45.o However,osuperiorocourtsoshouldoadhereotoothisoproceduralo recourseo fromo theo outset.o Ifo ano accusedo approacheso theo Higho Courto directlyowithoutofirstoseekingoreliefofromotheoTrialoCourt,oitoisogenerallyo appropriateoforotheoHighoCourtotooredirectothemotootheoTrialoCourtoatotheo threshold.oNevertheless,oifothereoareosignificantodelaysofollowingonotice,oito mayonotobeoprudentotoorelegateotheomatterotootheoTrialoCourtoatoaolatero stage.oBailobeingocloselyotiedotoopersonaloliberty,osuchoclaimsoshouldobeo adjudicatedo promptlyo ono theiro merits,o rathero thano oscillatingo betweeno courtsoonomereoproceduralotechnicalities."o o o PeroHon'bleoUjjaloBhuyan,oJ.o o "36.o Inosomewhatosimilarocircumstances,othisoCourtoinoKanumurio Raghuramao Krishnamo Rajuo v.o Stateo ofo A.P.,o aftero observingo thato jurisdictionoofotheotrialocourtoasowelloasoofotheoHighoCourtounderoSectiono 439oCr.oP.C.oisoconcurrent,oheldothatomerelyobecauseotheoHighoCourtowaso approachedobyotheoappellantowithoutoapproachingotheotrialocourtowouldo noto meano thato theo Higho Courto couldo noto haveo consideredo theo bailo applicationoofotheoappellant."o Igattestgtogthegaccuracygand o o CRM-M-42377-2025o(O&M)o o o o o o o 12o III.o o Re:oRealmoofoaccusedostraightwayoapproachingotheoHighoCourto o forograntoofoanticipatoryobailounderoSectiono438oCr.P.C./482o o BNSS.o

(i)o o AoThreeoJudgeoBenchoofotheoHon'bleoHimachaloPradeshoHigho Courtoino ao caseo titledo aso Mohano Laloando Others.o Vs.o Premo Chandoando Others,o1980oAIRoHimachaloPradesho36oobservedoasounder:o "Powersooforevisionoandoofograntingoanticipatoryobailohaveobeenoconferredo ono theo Higho Courto aso wello aso theo Courto ofo Sessiono byo Sectionso397oando438oofotheoCriminaloProcedureoCode,o1973o(referredotoo asotheo"newoCode").oIsoitoincumbentouponoanoapplicantotooapproachotheo CourtoofoSessionobeforeomovingotheoHighoCourt?oThisoquestionohasobeeno referredotootheoFulloBench.o xxxo o o o xxxo o o o xxxo xxxo o o o xxxo o o o xxxo o

15.o Ouro answerso too theo questionso referredo too theo Fullo Bencho areo thato personso cano applyo foro revisiono oro anticipatoryo bailo too theo Higho Courto directowithoutofirstoinvokingotheojurisdictionoofotheoSessionsoJudge."o o

(ii)o o AoFiveoJudgeoBenchoofotheoHon'bleoAllahabadoHighoCourtoinoao caseotitledoasoAnkitoBhartio&oOthersoVs.oStateoofoUttaroPradesho&oOthers,o 2020oSCCoOnlineoAllo1949,oheldoasounder:o "2.oAolearnedoJudgeoofotheoCourtowhileoconsideringoaopetitiono foro anticipatoryo bailo haso deemedo ito appropriateo too refero theo followingoquestionsoforotheoconsiderationoofothisoFulloBench:o-o "(i)o Whethero theo Courto wouldo haveo noo jurisdictiono too rejecto theo anticipatoryo bailo aftero consideringo theo groundso ofo compellingo reasonso mentionedoinotheoaffidavitobeingofoundonotoappealing,owhichowouldoamounto nothingobutotooapproachothisoCourtodirectly;o

(ii)o Whethero amongsto theo groundso whicho haveo beeno enumeratedo ino theo judgmentoinotheocaseoofoVinodoKumaro(supra),otheogroundoatoSerialo(A)o requireso anyo reconsiderationo soo aso too precludeo theo co-accusedo approachingo thisoCourto directlyo ino caseo theo othero co-accused'so regularo bail/anticipatoryobailoisorejectedobyotheoCourtoofoSessionsoandowhetheroheo beo alsoo subjectedo too filingo sucho ano affidavit,o showingo thereino theo o CRM-M-42377-2025o(O&M)o o o o o o o 13o circumstancesoinowhichoheohadotoofeelocompelledotooapproachothisoCourto directly;o

(iii)oWhetheroamongstotheogroundsowhichohaveobeenoenumeratedoinotheo judgmentoinotheocaseoofoVinodoKumaro(supra),otheogroundoatoSerialo(B)o requireso anyo reconsiderationo aso too whethero ano accused,o whoo iso noto residingowithinotheojurisdictionoofotheoSessionsoCourtoconcerned,ofacesoao threatoofoarrest,oshouldobeoallowedotooapproachotheoHighoCourtodirectly,otoo moveoanoanticipatoryobailoapplicationobyotheologicogivenoaboveoinoParao6o ofothisojudgment;oando

(iv)oWhetherosuchoanticipatoryobailoapplicationsowhichodoonotocontainoanyo compellingoreasonotooapproachothisoCourtodirectly,oshouldobeoentertained.o xxxxo o xxxxo o xxxxo o xxxxo o xxxxo

21.oInolightoofotheoaforesaid,oweoanswerotheoReferenceoaso follows:o Questiono(i)oando(iv)oclearlyodoonotomeritoanyoelucidationoforoitoisoforotheo concernedoJudgeotooassessowhetherospecialocircumstancesodooexistoinoao particularo caseo warrantingo theo jurisdictiono ofo theo Higho Courto beingo invokedodirectly.oWeoansweroQuestionso(ii)oando(iii)oinotheonegativeoando holdo thato Vinodo Kumaro doeso noto merito anyo reconsiderationo oro furthero explanation.oItowouldobeoforotheoconcernedoJudgeotooformoanoopinionoinotheo factsoofoeachoparticularocaseowhetherospecialocircumstancesodooexistoando standodulyoestablished."o

(iii)o o AoDivisionoBenchoofotheoHon'bleoChhattisgarhoHighoCourtoinoao caseo titledo aso Hareo Ramo Sharmao Vs.o Stateo ofo Chhattisgarh,o 2020o SCCo OnlineoChh639,ohasoheldoasounder:o "16.oThus,otheocatenaoofojudgmentsoreferredotooaboveowouldofollowotheo commono threado thato albeito sectiono438oofo theo Cr.P.C.,o 1973o conferso concurrento jurisdictiono ono theo Higho Courto ando theo Sessionso Court,o ano applicationoshouldoordinarilyobeofiledobeforeotheoSessionsoCourtoatotheofirsto instanceoandonotodirectlyobeforeotheoHighoCourt.oForofilingoanoapplicationo directlyo beforeo theo Higho Courto theo applicanto haso too demonstrateo ando satisfyo theo Higho Courto thato thereo existso exceptional,o rareo oro unusualo reasonsoforotheoapplicantotooapproachotheoHighoCourtodirectly.o

17.oMerelyoforotheoreasonothatotheoaccusedohasoaogoodocaseoonomeritso cannotobeoaogroundoforomovingotheobailoapplicationodirectlyobeforeotheo HighoCourtoforotheoreasonothatoifotheoaccusedohasoaogoodocaseoonomeritso AJAYgKUMAR andothereoisonoomaterialoavailableowithotheopoliceotooimplicateotheoaccused,o o CRM-M-42377-2025o(O&M)o o o o o o o 14o thereo iso noo reasono whyo theo learnedo Sessionso Judgeo wouldo noto beo ino ao positionotooappreciateotheofactsoandocircumstancesoofotheocaseoandoapplyo hisojudicialomind."o o

(iv)oo o Veryorecently,oinoaocaseotitledoasoManjeetoSinghoVs.oStateoofo UttaroPradesh,oSLPo(Crl.)oNo.o11667oofo2025o(pronouncedoono07.08.2025),o theoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoobservedoasounder:o "TheoimpugnedoordersoreflectothatotheoHighoCourtodidonototakeonoteoofotheo factothatoitoexercisesoconcurrentojurisdictionoalongowithotheoSessionsoCourto insofaroasograntoofoanticipatoryobail,ounderoSectiono482oofotheoBharatiyao NagarikoSurakshaoSanhita,o2023,oisoconcerned.o ThisoCourt'sodecisionsoino"KanumurioRaghuramaoKrishnamoRajuoVs.oStateo ofoA.P"oando"ArvindoKejriwalovs.oDirectorateoofoEnforcement"omadeothiso positionoclearoandodeclaredothatoitowouldonotobeonecessaryoforoanoaccusedo too approacho theo Sessionso Courto ino theo firsto instance,o aso ao rule,obeforeo approachingotheoHighoCourt.oo Further,o weo areo informedo thato ao largero Bencho ofo theo Higho Court,o comprisingofiveoJudges,odealtowithotheoissueoasotooinowhatocircumstancesoano accusedocouldoseekoanticipatoryobailodirectlyofromotheoHighoCourt.o TheolargeroBenchoansweredotheoreferenceoasofollows:o xxxo o o oxxxo oo o o xxxoo xxxo o o oxxxo oo o o xxxo "Questiono(i)oando(iv)oclearlyodoonotomeritoanyoelucidationoforoitoiso forotheoconcernedoJudgeotooassessowhetherospecialocircumstanceso dooexistoinoaoparticularocaseowarrantingotheojurisdictionoofotheoHigho Courtobeingoinvokedodirectly.oWeoansweroQuestionso(ii)oando(iii)oino theo negativeo ando holdo thato Vinodo Kumaro doeso noto merito anyo reconsiderationo oro furthero explanation.o Ito wouldo beo foro theo concernedoJudgeotooformoanoopinionoinotheofactsoofoeachoparticularo caseo whethero specialo circumstanceso doo existo ando stando dulyo established."oo xxxoo o o xxxoo o o xxxo Inotheolightoofotheoaforestatedolegaloposition,otheoHighoCourtooughtotoohaveo appliedoitsomindotoodetermineoasotoowhetherotheocasesoonohandowarrantedo exerciseoofojurisdictionobyoitoinotheofirstoinstanceowithoutorelegatingotheo accusedotootheoSessionsoCourt.oAsotheoHighoCourtofailedotooundertakeosucho exercise,oweoareoconstrainedotoosetoasideotheoimpugnedoordersoandoremito o CRM-M-42377-2025o(O&M)o o o o o o o 15o theomattersotootheoHighoCourtoforoconsiderationoofotheobailoapplicationso afreshoonofactsoandoinoaccordanceowitholaw."o IV.oo o Re:oGoldenoRuleoofoInterpretation/LiteraloRuleoofoInterpretationo

(i)o o Ao Fiveo Judgeso Bencho ofo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino ao judgmentotitledoasoChiefoJusticeoofoA.P.ovs.oL.V.A.oDikshitulu,o1979(2)oSCCo 34ohasoheldoasounder:-o o "63.oTheoprimaryoprincipleoofointerpretationoisothatoaoconstitutionalooro statutoryoprovisionoshouldobeoconstruedoaccordingotootheointentoofotheyothato madeoit"(Coke).ooNormally,osuchointentoisogatheredofromotheolanguageoofo theo provision.o o Ifo theo languageo oro theo phraseologyo employedo byo theo legislationoisopreciseoandoplainoandothusobyoitself,oproclaimsotheolegislativeo intentoinounequivocaloterms,otheosameomustobeogivenoeffectoto,oregardlessoofo theoconsequencesothatomayofollow.ooButoifotheowordsousedoinotheoprovisiono areo imprecise,o protean,o oro evocativeo oro cano reasonablyo bearo meaningo moreothanoone,otheoruleoofostrictogrammaticaloconstructionoceasesotoobeoao sureoguideotooreachoatotheorealolegislativeointent.ooInosuchoaocase,oinoordero tooascertainotheotrueomeaningoofotheotermsoandophrasesoemployed,oitoiso legitimateo foro theo Courto too goo beyondo theo arido literalo confineso ofo theo provisionoandotoocalloinoaidootherowell-recognizedorulesoofoconstruction,o sucho aso itso legislativeo history,o theo basiso schemeo ando frameworko ofo theo statuteoasoaowhole,oeachoportionothrowingolightoonotheorest,otheopurposeoofo theolegislation,otheoobjectosoughtotoobeoachieved,oandotheoconsequenceso thatomayoflowofromotheoadoptionoofooneoinopreferenceotootheootheropossibleo interpretation."o

(ii)o o Ino ao judgmento renderedo byo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino NationaloInsuranceoCo.oLtd.ovs.oLaxmioNarainoDhut,o2007(3)oSCCo700,oito hasobeenoheldoasounder:o o "29.o"GoldenoRule"oofointerpretationoofostatutesoisothatostatutesoareotoobeo interpretedoaccordingotoogrammaticaloandoordinaryosenseoofotheowordoino grammaticalo oro liberalo meaningo unmindfulo ofo consequenceo ofo sucho interpretation.ooItowasotheopredominantomethodooforeadingostatutes.ooMoreo oftenothanonot,osuchogrammaticaloandoliteralointerpretationoleadsotoounjusto resultsowhichotheoLegislatureoneverointended.ooTheogoldenoruleoofogivingo undueoimportanceotoogrammaticaloandoliteralomeaningoofolateogaveoplaceo Igattestgtogthegaccuracygand too 'ruleo ofo legislativeo intent'.o Theo worldo over,o theo principleo ofo o CRM-M-42377-2025o(O&M)o o o o o o o 16o interpretationoaccordingotootheolegislativeointentoisoacceptedotoobeomoreo logical."o V.oo Re:oUToRESoMAGISoVALEAToQUAMoPEREATo(i.e.oaothingomayo ratherohaveoeffectothanobeodestroyed)ooo o o

(i)o o InoaojudgmentotitledoasoCommissioneroofoIncome-tax,oDelhiovs.o S.o Tejao Singh,o 1958o SCCo Onlineo SCo 30,o ao Threeo Judgeo Bencho ofo theo Hon'bleoSupremeoCourtohasoheldoasounder:-o o "9.o xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.ooAoconstructionowhicholeadsotoosuchoaoresulto must,oifothatoisopossible,obeoavoided,oonotheoprincipleoexpressedoinotheo maxim,o"utoresomagisovaleatoquamopereat".oVideoCurtisov.oStovin,o(1889)o 22oQBDo513oandoinoparticularotheofollowingoobservationsoofoFry,oL.oJ.,oato pageo519o:o o "Theoonlyoalternativeoconstructionoofferedotoousowouldoleadotoothiso result,othatotheoplainointentionoofotheolegislatureohasoentirelyofailedo byoreasonoofoaoslightoinexactitudeoinotheolanguageoofotheosection.oIfo weowereotooadoptothisoconstruction,oweoshouldobeoconstruingotheo Actoinoorderotoodefeatoitsoobjectoratherothanowithoaoviewotoocarryoitso objectointooeffect."o o o(ii)o o InoaojudgmentotitledoasoManagementoofoAdvanceoInsuranceoCo.o Ltd.o Vs.o Shrio Gurudasmalo ando otherso 1970(1)o SCCo 633,o ao Fiveo Judgeo BenchoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtohasoheldoasounder:-o o "21.o o Itoisonoodoubtotrueothatotheowordsoareosusceptibleoofotheo otheromeaningoalsoobutosoolongoasotheowordsoareocapableoofobearingotheo meaningoweohaveogivenoitoisonotonecessaryotoodiscoveroanotheromeaningo underowhichotheowholeoschemeowouldobecomeovoid.oProvisionsoofolawomusto beoreadoasofaroasoisopossibleowithoaoviewotootheirovalidityoandonototoorendero themoinvalid.oInoourojudgmentotheoexpressiono'belongingoto'oonlyoconveyso theomeaningothatoitoisoaopoliceoforceoconstitutedoandofunctioningoinooneo areaowhichomayobeoauthorisedotoofunctionoinoanotheroarea.oTheochangeo fromo'for'otoo'in'omakesonoodifferenceobecauseobothoexpressionsofitoinowitho theomeaningoofotheophraseo'belongingoto'oinotheoEntry.oWeoseeonooforceoino thisoargumentoalso."oo o CRM-M-42377-2025o(O&M)o o o o o o o 17o

(iii)o o InoaojudgmentotitledoasoTinsukhiaoElectricoSupplyoCo.oLtd.oVs.o Stateo ofo Assam,o 1989(3)o SCCo 709,o ao Fiveo Judgeo Bencho ofo theo Hon'bleo SupremeoCourtohasoheldoasounder:-o o "49.o TheoCourtsostronglyoleanoagainstoanyoconstructionowhichotendsotoo reduceo ao Statuteo too ao futility.o Theo provisiono ofo ao Statuteo musto beo soo construedoasotoomakeoitoeffectiveoandooperative,oonotheoprincipleo"utoreso majiso valeato quamo periat".o Ito is,o noo doubt,o trueo thato ifo ao Statuteo iso absolutelyo vagueo ando itso languageo whollyo intractableo ando absolutelyo meaningless,otheoStatuteocouldobeodeclaredovoidoforovagueness.oThisoisonoto inojudicial-reviewobyotestingotheolawoforoarbitrarinessoorounreasonablenesso underoArticleo 14;obuto whato ao Courto ofo construction,o dealingo witho theo languageoofoaoStatute,odoesoinoorderotooascertainofrom,oandoaccordoto,otheo Statuteotheomeaningoandopurposeowhichotheolegislatureointendedoforoit.oIno ManchesteroShipoCanaloCo.ov.oManchesteroRacecourseoCo.,o[1900]o2oCh.o 352oFarwelloJ.osaid:o o "UnlessotheowordsowereosooabsolutelyosenselessothatoIocouldodoo nothingoatoallowithothem,oIoshouldobeoboundotoofindosomeomeaningo andonototoodeclareothemovoidoforouncertainty."o(Seeopageo360oando 361)oo o InoFawcettoPropertiesov.oBuckinghamoCountryoCouncil,o[1960]o3oAlloERo 503,oLordoDenningoapprovingotheodictumoofoFarwell,oJ.osaid:o o "ButowhenoaoStatuteohasosomeomeaning,oevenothoughoitoisoobscure,o oro severalo meanings,o eveno thougho ito iso littleo too chooseo betweeno them,otheoCourtsohaveotoosayowhatomeaningotheoStatuteohasotoobearo ratherothanorejectoitoasoaonullity."o(Videopageo516)oo o Ito is,o therefore,o theo Court'so dutyo too makeo whato ito cano ofo theo Statute,o knowingothatotheoStatutesoareomeantotoobeooperativeoandonotoineptoandothato nothingoshortoofoimpossibilityoshouldoallowoaoCourtotoodeclareoaoStatuteo unworkable.oInoWhitneyov.oInlandoRevenueoCommissioners,o[1926]oACo37o LordoDunedinosaid:oo o "Ao Statuteo iso designedo too beo workable,o ando theo interpretationo thereofobyoaoCourtoshouldobeotoosecureothatoobject,ounlessocrucialo omissionooroclearodirectionomakesothatoendounattainable."o(video pageo52).o o CRM-M-42377-2025o(O&M)o o o o o o o 18o

(iv)o o Ino ao judgmento titledo aso Commissionero ofo Incomeo Taxo vs.o HindustanoBulkoCarriers,o2003(3)oSCCo57,oaoThreeoJudgeoBenchoofotheo Hon'bleoSupremeoCourtohasoheldoasounder:-o o "14.o Ao constructiono whicho reduceso theo statuteo too ao futilityo haso too beo avoided.oAostatuteooroanyoenactingoprovisionothereinomustobeosooconstruedo asotoomakeoitoeffectiveoandooperativeoonotheoprincipleoexpressedoinomaximo utoresomagisovaleatoquamopereatoi.e.oaoliberaloconstructionoshouldobeoputo uponowrittenoinstruments,osooasotooupholdothem,oifopossible,oandocarryointoo effecto theo intentiono ofo theo parties.o (Seeo Broom'so Legalo Maximso (10tho Edition),opageo361,oCraiesoonoStatuteso(7thoEdition)opageo95oandoMaxwello onoStatuteso(11thoEdition)opageo221.)o Analysiso(reolaw)o

10.o o Theoprincipleoofoindividualoliberty,oenshrinedoinoArticleo21oofo theoConstitutionoofoIndia,oisoaocornerstoneoofoourolegalosystem,oholdingoao positionoofoparamountoimportance.oThisofundamentalorightodictatesothatonoo personoshallobeodeprivedoofolifeooropersonalolibertyoexceptoaccordingotootheo procedureoestablishedobyotheolaw.oHowever,otheocriminalojusticeosystem,owitho itsoproceduralosafeguardsocodifiedoinostatutes,ohasolaidooutoaocongruentolegalo frameworkoforopermissibleocurtailmentoofothisoliberty.oSuchorestrictionsoareo deemedonecessaryotooaddressoanyoanti-socialoandoanti-nationaloelementsoando tooupholdotheobroaderointerestsoofotheosociety.oInothisocontext,otheograntoofo regularo bailo iso ao criticalo mechanismo foro balancingo theo State'so interesto ino prosecutionowithoanoindividual'sorightotooliberty.oThroughoutotheoevolutionoofo India'socriminaloprocedure,otheoHighoCourtohasoconsistentlyobeenoaffordedo theostatusoofohighestostatutoryoforum,oasoperoCr.P.C./BNSS,oforotheograntoofo bail.oTheostatutoryoprovisionsogoverningotheoHighoCourt'sopowerotoograntobailo underoCr.P.C.,o1898,oCr.oP.C.,o1973o&oBNSS,o2023,oareosubstantiallyopario materia.oThisoconsistentolegislativeostanceounderscoresotheoenduringoroleoofo o CRM-M-42377-2025o(O&M)o o o o o o o 19o theoHighoCourtoasotheoapexostatutoryoforum,oasoperotheoCr.P.C.,oasowelloasotheo BNSS,oforoconsiderationoofoaopleaoforograntoofobail.oo

11.o o Theo clearo ando unambiguouso languageo employedo byo theo legislatureo ino Sectiono 439o Cr.P.C./Sectiono 483o BNSS,o unequivocallyo demonstratesotheolegislativeointentotoovestotheoconcurrentojurisdictionoinobotho theoHighoCourtoandotheoCourtoofoSessionoforotheograntoofobail.oThisoisoevidento throughotheoapplicationoofoGoldenoRuleoofoStatutoryoInterpretationo(Literalo Ruleo ofo Statutoryo Interpretation)o aso enunciatedo byo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo CourtoinoDikshituluo(supra)oandoLaxmioNarainoDhuto(supra),owhichodictateso thatowhereotheotextoofoaostatuteoisoplainoandofreeofromoambiguity,oitomustobeo accordedowithoitsoliteralo&onaturalomeaning.oConsequently,othereoisonooscopeo foroaorestrictiveoorostrainedointerpretationoofotheseoprovisions,oasoobservedobyo theo Divisiono Bencho ofo thiso Courto ino Baldevo Singho (supra).o Theo Hon'bleo SupremeoCourtoinotheocaseoofoSandeepoKumaroBafnaocaseo(supra)ohasoheldo thatotheoSessionsoCourt,oasoalsootheoHighoCourt,ohaveoconcurrentopowerso underoSectiono439oofoCr.P.C.oforograntooforegularobail.ooTootheosimilaroeffecto isotheodictaoofotheojudgmentoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoKanumurio Raghuramao Krishnamo Rajuo caseo (supra)o whicho waso furthero ratifiedo byo Hon'bleoMr.oJusticeoUjjaloBhuyanoinohisoverdictoinoArvindoKejriwalo(supra).o TheoHon'bleoDivisionoBenchoofoKeralaoHighoCourtoinotheocaseoofoBalano (supra)opostulatedothatothereowasonoogroundoavailableotootheoCourtotoodenyo theocitizen'sorightotoochooseotheoforum.oooAokeyoindicatoroofothisoconcurrento poweroisotheodeliberateouseoofotheodisjunctiveowordo"or"owithinotheostatutoryo text,otherebyograntingobothotheoHighoCourtoandotheoSessionsoCourt,oaodistincto andoindependentoauthorityotooentertaino&odecideouponotheoapplicationsoforo 2025.08.19g17:11 regularo bails.o Thiso constructiono avoidso anyo hierarchicalo oro sequentialo o CRM-M-42377-2025o(O&M)o o o o o o o 20o requirement,oallowingoanoaccused-applicantotooapproachoeitheroofotheoCourto directly.ooErgo,oaobareoreadingoofotheostatutoryoprovisionocontainedoinoSectiono 439oofoCr.P.C./Sectiono483oofoBNSSodoesoreflectothatoanoaccusedoisoentitledo toomakeoaopleaoforograntooforegularobailobeforeotheoSessionsoCourtoasowelloaso theo Higho Court.o Inoothero words,o thereo iso noostatutoryo impedimento foro ano accusedotooexerciseoaochoiceoinostraightaway/directlyofilingoaopleaoforotheo regularobailobeforeotheoHighoCourtoandonotoapproachingotheoSessionsoCourt,o inotheofirstoinstance.ooo

12.o o Thereoisonoogainsayingothatothereoisoaodifferenceobetweenotheo "maintainabilityoofoaopetition"oando"desirabilityotooentertainoaopetition".oo Theodifferenceoisoantithetical,odivergerento&oasostarkoasothatobetweenochalko ando cheese.o Whileo theo plaino languageo ofo ao statuteo mayo noto baro theo maintainabilityoofoaoplea,oitodoesonotoautomaticallyorenderotheopleaodesirableo foroconsideration.oThisoprincipleoholdsoparticularosignificanceoinosituationso whereo theo law,o aso ino theo presento caseo scenarioo i.e.,o Sectiono 439o Cr.P.C./Sectiono 483o BNSS,o grantso concurrento jurisdictiono too ao Sessionso CourtoandotheoHighoCourt.oAolitigantowhoobypassesotheoSessionsoCourto&o directlyoapproachesoaohigheroCourt,oinotheopresentocaseotheoHighoCourt,otestso theolimitsoofothisostatutoryogrant.oAoDivisionoBenchoofotheoHon'bleoKeralao HighoCourtoinotheocaseoofoMathewoZacharishocaseo(supra),owhileodealingo withotheoprovisionoofoSectiono497o&oSectiono498oofoCr.P.C.1898,oheldothato theooptionsoofoappearingoinoanyoofotheohierarchyoofoCourtsocannotobeoleftotoo theosoleochoiceoofosuchoaopetitioner.ooTheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseo ofoArvindoKejriwalocaseo(supra),oinotheoverdictoofoSuryaKant.oJ,ohasoheldothato ano undertrialo oughto too ordinarilyo firsto approacho theo trialo Courto (Sessionso 2025.08.19g17:11 Courtoinotheopresentoscenario)oandothereafterotheoHighoCourt,oinocaseosuchoao o CRM-M-42377-2025o(O&M)o o o o o o o 21o pleao foro granto ofo theo regularo bailo iso declined.o o Theo doctrineo ofo judicialo proprietyo mandateso thato ao litiganto oughto too exhausto remedieso beforeo theo lowesto availableo forum.o Permittingo otherwiseo would,o essentially,o allowo ao litigantotoocircumventotheoinitialoprocessoandoproceduresoofotheosubordinateo court,otherebyotreatingoconcurrentojurisdictionoasoaolicenseoofoconvenienceo ratherothanoasoaoproceduralosafeguard.oo o o Anyostatutoryoprovisionooughtotoobeointerpretedoinoaowayothato ensureso itso workability.o o Ito iso ao foundationalo ando immutableo principleo ofo statutoryo constructiono thato theo Courto musto resolutelyo leano againsto anyo interpretiveo paradigmo whicho would,o byo itso operation,o rendero ao legislativeo enactmentootiose,ounworkable,oororeduceoitotooaostateoofoutterofutility.oTheo provisionsoofoaostatuteobeojudiciouslyoconstruedoinoaomannerothatoensuresotheiro efficacy,o operability,o ando practicalo utility,o ino faithfulo adherenceo too theo venerableolegalomaxim,o"utoresomagisovaleatoquamopereat"o(i.e.othatotheothingo mayoratherohaveoeffectothanobeodestroyed).oAnyointerpretativeoapproachothato conspicuouslyo divergeso fromo theo discernibleolegislativeo intent,o aso evincedo throughotheoplainotext,omustobeoscrupulouslyoeschewedoasohasobeenoobservedo byotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoS.oTejaoSingho(supra),oShrioGurudasmalo (supra),oTinsukhiaoElectricoSupplyo(supra)oandoHindustanoBulkoCarrierso caseo (supra).o o Vide;o Craieso ono Statuteo Law,o p.o 90o ando Maxwello ono Theo InterpretationoofoStatutes,oTenthoEdition,opageso236-237;o o "Ao statuteo iso designed",o observedo Lordo Dunedino ino Whitneyo v.o Commissionerso ofo Inlando Revenueo (2),o "too beo workable,o ando theo interpretationothereofobyoaocourtoshouldobeotoosecureothatoobject,ounlesso crucialoomissionooroclearodirectionomakesothatoendounattainable".o o o Itois,othus,oindubitableothatotheostatutoryomandate,ocontainedoino 2025.08.19g17:11 Sectiono 439o Cr.PC./Sectiono 483o BNSS,o oughto noto too beo interpretedo ino ao o CRM-M-42377-2025o(O&M)o o o o o o o 22o mannero ono accounto whereofo theo remedyo ofo seekingo regularo bailo beforeo SessionsoCourtopalesointoooblivion.oooo

12.1.ooo Theo principleo ofo judicialo disciplineo dictateso that,o notwithstandingotheoexistenceoofoconcurrentojurisdiction,otheoSessionsoCourto oughtotoobeoapproachedoasoaoforumoofofirstoinstanceoinotheogeneralocourseoofo events.oThisopracticeoisonotomerelyoaomatteroofoconventionobutoisounderpinnedo byo severalo practicalo &o jurisprudentialo considerations.o Theo geographicalo accessibilityoofotheoSessionsoCourtoprovidesoaodistinctoadvantage.oPlacedoato theolocalolevel;oitooffersoaomoreoconvenientoforumoforotheoapplicanto(and/oro hiso Pairavi/persono whoo iso persuingo ono hiso behalf,o sinceo applicanto iso ino custody),otheoInvestigatingoOfficero(IO)oandootherorequisiteoofficials;owhoseo presenceo iso ofteno requiredo foro propero adjudicationo ofo theo matter.o Thiso proximityofacilitatesotimelyoproductionooforecordsoofotheocase.oTheoSessionso Courtohasoreadyoaccessotootheorelevantorecords,oincludingotheoCaseoDiary,otheo charge-sheeto&ootheropertinentodocuments.oThisodirectoaccessoenablesoaomoreo thorougho&oinformedoconsiderationoofotheoapplicationowithoutotheologisticalo delaysoassociatedowithoproducingotheorecordsobeforeotheoHighoCourt.oo o o Moreover,o thiso hierarchicalo approacho serveso ao vitalo jurisprudentialopurpose.oWhenoanoapplicationoforobailoisofirstoadjudicatedobyo theo Sessionso Court,o theo Higho Court,o ifo subsequentlyo approached,o haso theo benefitoofoaoconsideredoandoobservantojudicialoopinion.oo

12.2.o o Theoaboveoratiocination,oinotheolightoofotheoratioodecidendioofo theoaboveocaseolaw,opellucidlyoreflectsothatoaopleaoforograntooforegularobail,o filedostraightawayobeforeotheoHighoCourtoinotheofirstoinstance,ooughtotoobeo entertainedoonlyoifothereoareoexceptionalocircumstancesomadeooutotherein.oo o CRM-M-42377-2025o(O&M)o o o o o o o 23o

13.oo o AsofaroasotheoaspectoofoconcurrentojurisdictionoofotheoHighoCourto ando theo Sessionso Courto regardingo bailo matterso iso concerned,o Sectiono 438o Cr.P.C./Sectiono482oBNSSoandoSectiono439oCr.P.C./Sectiono483oBNSSoareo identicallyo worded.o Whileo botho theseo provisionso confero concurrento jurisdictiono upono theo Higho Courto aso wello aso theo Sessionso Court,o theiro applicationo&oconditionsoforotheiroexerciseoinothisoregardodiffer,osignificantlyo reflectingotheodistinctonatureoofolibertiesotheyoseekotooprotect.oSectiono438o Cr.P.C./Sectiono482oBNSSoisointendedotoosafeguardoanoindividual'solibertyo againstoanoimpendingothreatoofoarrest,owhereas,oSectiono439oCr.P.C./Sectiono 483oBNSSopertainsotooregularobailoafteroanoarrestohasobeenomade.oAsoobservedo inoMohanoLalo(supra);oAnkitoBhartio(supra);oHareoRamoSharmao(supra);o Manjeeto Singho (supra),o ino matterso pertainingo too anticipatoryo bailo also,o ao directopleaotootheoHighoCourtocanobeomadeowithoutoadvertingotootheoSessionso Courto ino firsto instance,o albeit,o ino 'exceptionalo circumstance(s)'.o Theo exceptionality,oinothisocontext,oisooftenolinkedotootheourgencyoofotheomattero arisingooutoofoanoimpendingothreatoofoarrest.oTheodirectointerventionoofotheo Higho Courto ino matter(s)o pertainingo too regularo bailo iso warrantedo ino circumstancesoofohigherodegreeoofoexpediencyooroexceptionalityothanothoseo requiredoforoanticipatoryobailoasohasobeenoheldobyotheoHon'bleoAndraoPradesho HighoCourtoinoitsoDivisionoBenchojudgmentoinocaseoofoY.oChendrasekharao Raoo(supra).oInoessence,owhileounderobothoSectiono438oCr.P.C./Sectiono482o BNSSo&oSectiono439oCr.P.C./Sectiono483oBNSS,otheoHighoCourtocouldobeo approachedodirectly,otheojudicialoapproachotootheiroinvocationoisodifferent.o Theo 'exceptionalo circumstance(s)'o requiredo too invokeo theo Higho Court'so jurisdictionoareonotoidentical;otheyoareotailoredotootheospecificonatureoofotheo o CRM-M-42377-2025o(O&M)o o o o o o o 24o threato too libertyo ―o eithero impendingo oro existing―thato eacho provisiono iso designedotooaddress.o

14.o o Ano attempto haso beeno madeo ato theo bar,o byo ao referenceo too theo principlesogoverningorevisionalojurisdictionounderoSectionso397/Sectiono438o BNSSo &o 401o Cr.P.C/Sectiono 442o BNSS,o too contendo thato ino instanceo ofo concurrento jurisdiction,o ao litiganto iso affordedo theo unfetteredo discretiono too selecto theiro forumo ofo choice.o Thiso Courto findso theo relianceo ono revisionalo jurisdictiono undero Sectiono 397/Sectiono 438o BNSSo &o Sectiono 401o Cr.P.C/Sectiono442oBNSSoasomisplacedoandoinappositeotootheoquestionoato hand.oRevisionalojurisdiction,oasodelineatedounderoSectiono397/Sectiono438o BNSSo&oSectiono401oCr.P.C/Sectiono442oBNSS,ooperatesoonotheoprincipleoofo aosingle,ofinaloreview/remedy.oAolitigantowhooavailsotheorevisionaloremedyo before,oeitherotheoHighoCourtoorotheoSessionsoCourt,oisobyovirtueoofoSectiono 397(3)oCr.P.C./Sectiono438(3)oBNSS,ostatutorilyoprecludedofromoseekingotheo sameoreliefobeforeotheootheroCourt.oInostarkocontrast,otheobailojurisdictiono undero Sectiono 439o Cr.P.C./Sectiono 483o BNSS,o thougho concurrent,o iso noto mutuallyo exclusive.o Ao litiganto whoo haso beeno unsuccessfulo ino theiro bailo applicationobeforeotheoSessionsoCourtoisonotobarredofromoapproachingoHigho Courto undero itso originalo jurisdictiono undero theo veryo sameo provisiono i.e.o Sectiono439oCr.P.C./Sectiono483oBNSS.oTheoHighoCourt'sopowerotooentertaino aosubsequentobailoapplication,oevenoafteroaorejectionobyotheoSessionsoCourt,oiso aowell-establishedoandosettledoprinciple.o

15.oo o Theo termo "exceptionalo circumstances"o bringso fortho ao conundrum,oasotheoterm,obyoitsoinherentonature,oisoincapableoofoconclusiveo definition.oItogoesowithoutosayingothatothereocanobeonoodeterminativeonayo 2025.08.19g17:11 exhaustiveo definitiono ofo theo expressiono "exceptionalo circumstances"―foro o CRM-M-42377-2025o(O&M)o o o o o o o 25o thisoconceptobyoitselfoisoincapableoofoaorigidodefinition.oItsoveryoessenceoiso imbuedo witho ineluctableo contextualo fluidityo ––o renderingo ao universallyo prescriptiveodefinitionoanoexerciseoinojurisprudentialofutility.ooTheonuancedo contourso ofo "exceptionalo circumstances"o areo inextricablyo woveno intoo theo singularofactualomatrixoofoeachoindividualocase,otheoprevailingosocial-legalo milieu,oandoindeed,otheoconscientiousoandoobjectivelyoinformedodiscernmento ofo theo Court.o o Consequently,o theo formidableo tasko ofo ascertainingo whato preciselyo constituteso "exceptionalo circumstances"o ino anyo giveno instanceo devolvesounequivocallyouponotheosagacityoandojudiciousoapplicationoofomindo ofo theo Court.o o Borrowing,o witho impunity,o fromo wisdomo ofo Benjamino N.o Cardozo,o––o'AfteroalloanoarbitratoroasoaoJudge,ohasotooexerciseoaodiscretiono informedobyotradition,omethodizedobyoanalogy,odisciplinedobyosystem,oando subordinatedotoo"theoprimordialonecessityoofoorderoinosocialolife.'oo o o Thereo mayo beo multitudeo ofo factorso whicho mayo resulto ino exceptionalocircumstance(s)oenablingoanoaccusedotoofile,omaintainoandopursueo hiso regularo pleao beforeo theo Higho Courto straightaway.o o Foro instance;o theo incident/crimeoinvolvedomayohaveocausedotangibleocircumstances,oadverseotoo theo petitioner-accusedo ino approachingo theo Sessionso Court;o thereo mayo beo perceptibleo difficultyo foro theo petitioner-accusedo too approacho theo Sessionso Courto vis.-a-vis.o theo Higho Court;o theo pleao mayo beo involvingo complicatedo question(s)o ofo lawo etc.o Needlesso too sayo thato theseo factorso areo merelyo illustrativeoinonatureoandonotoexhaustive.oo o o Ito iso neithero conceivableo noro desirableo too layo downo anyo exhaustiveo seto ofo guideline(s)o too governo theo exerciseo ofo thiso jurisdiction,o howevero alluringo thiso aspecto mayo be.o Sucho exerciseo ofo powero wouldo 2025.08.19g17:11 definitelyobeodependentouponotheofactualomatrixoofotheocaseowhichotheoHigho o CRM-M-42377-2025o(O&M)o o o o o o o 26o Courtoisoseisinoof.oItowasosaidobyoLordoDenning,oanoobservationowhichometo withoapprovalobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourt,othat:o o "…..Eachocaseodependsoonoitsoownofacts,oandoaocloseosimilarityobetweeno oneocaseoandoanotheroisonotoenough,obecauseoevenoaosingleosignificanto detailomayoalterotheoentireoaspect.ooInodecidingosuchocase,ooneoshouldoavoido theo temptationo too decideo caseso (Aso saido byo Cardozo)o byo matchingo theo colouroofooneocaseoagainstotheocolouroofoanother.ooToodecide,otherefore,oono whichoslidoofotheolineoaocaseofalls,oitsobroadoresemblanceotooanotherocaseoiso notoatoallodecisive."o o o Thereo iso noo gainsayingo that,o sucho discretiono oughto too beo exercisedo byo ao Court,o ino accordanceo witho theo wello settledo principleso ofo justice,oequityoandogoodoconscience.ooAnoageooldoadageobyoLordoHalsbury,o whichometowithoapprovalobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourt,oreadsothus:o o "Discretion,oinogeneral,oisotheodiscernmentoofowhatoisorightoandoproper.ooIto denotesoknowledgeoandoprudence,othatodiscrementowhichoenableoaopersono toojudgeocriticallyoofowhatoisocorrectoandoproperounitedowithocaution;oniceo discrement,o ando judgmento directedo byo circumspection;o deliberateo judgment;osoundnessoofojudgment;oaoscienceoorounderstandingotoodiscerno betweenofalsityoandotruth,obetweenowrongoandoright,obetweenoshadowoando substance,obetweenoequityoandocolourableoglossesoandopretences,oandonoto toodooaccordingotootheowilloandoprivateoaffectionsoofopersons.ooWhenoitoiso saidothatosomethingoisotoobeodoneowithinotheodiscretionoofotheoauthorities,o thatosomethingoisotoobeodoneoaccordingotootheorulesooforeasonoandojustice,o notoaccordingotooprivateoopinion;oaccordingotoolawoandonotohumour.ooItoiso toobeonotoarbitrary,ovagueoandofanciful,obutolegaloandoregular.ooAndoitomusto beoexercisedowithinotheolimit,otoowhichoanohonestoman,ocompetentotootheo dischargeoofohisoofficeooughtotooconfineohimself."o

16.o o Asoaosequiturotooprevenientorumination,otheofollowingopostulateso emerge:o I.oo o Sectiono439oCr.P.C./Sectiono483oBNSS,oonoitsoplainoterms,odoeso noto mandateo oro requireo thato ano accusedo musto firsto approacho theo Sessionso CourtobeforeoapplyingotootheoHighoCourtoforograntoofoRegularoBail.o o CRM-M-42377-2025o(O&M)o o o o o o o 27o II.o o Notwithstandingotheoexistenceoofoconcurrentojurisdictionowitho theo Higho Courto ando theo Sessionso Courto foro granto ofo Regularo bailo undero Sectiono439oCr.P.C./Sectiono483oBNSS,othereoisonooindefeasibleorightovestedo inotheoaccusedotooapproachotheoHighoCourtodirectly/straightawayoforograntoofo regularobailobypassingotheoforumoofoSessionsoCourt.ooAnoaccusedooughtotoo ordinarilyoapproachoSessionsoCourt,oinotheofirstoinstance,owhenomakingoaopleao fororegularobail.oExceptionalocircumstancesomustonecessarilyobeoshownotoo existo ino justificationo ofo theo Higho Courto beingo approachedo directly/straightaway,owithoutotheoavenueoasoavailableobeforeotheoSessionso Court,obeingoexhausted.o III.o o Whethero ao particularo caseo involveso sucho exceptionalo circumstancesooronot,odependsouponotheodeterminationoofotheofactualomatrixo ofoanoindividualocase,owhichoisoreceivingoconsiderationobyotheoHighoCourt,oino accordanceowithoitsojudicialodiscretion.oItoisoneitheroaxiomaticonorofathomableo too chronicleo exceptionalo circumstanceso oro compendiouslyo postulateo anyo exhaustiveo seto ofo guidelineso foro exerciseo ofo sucho discretiono byo theo Higho Court,oforoeveryocaseohasoitsoownopeculiarofactualomatrix.oo Analysisore:ofactsoofotheopresentocaseo

17.o o Byowayoofotheoinstantopetition,otheopetitionerohasostraightawayo invokedotheojurisdictionoofothisoCourtowithoutofirstoexhaustingotheoremedyo availableobeforeotheoconcernedoSpecialoJudge/trialoCourt.ooHowever,oinotheo peculiaro factso ofo theo instanto case,o thiso Courto iso persuadedo too exerciseo itso discretionoinofavouroofoentertainingotheoinstantopetition.ooItoisonotowithouto significanceothatoaoCriminaloWritoPetitiono(CRWP-6297-2025)oinstitutedobyo theopetitioner,oarisingofromosameoFIR/registeredocase,owhereinoaodeclarationo 2025.08.19g17:11 haso beeno soughto regardingo theo allegedo illegalityo ofo hiso arrest,o iso alreadyo o CRM-M-42377-2025o(O&M)o o o o o o o 28o pendingoadjudicationobeforeothisoCourt.ooFurthermore,otheopetitionoforogranto oforegularobailobyoco-accused,onamelyoHarshoKotako(CRM-M-37123-2025)oiso alsoosub-judiceobeforeothisoCourt.ooMoreoso,otheopetitionoinohandohasobeeno pendingoadjudicationobeforeothisoCourtoforomoreothanotwooweeksoandothus,oino viewoofodictaoinoArvindoKejriwalo(supra),otoorelegateotheopetitionerotooSpecialo Judge/trialoCourtowouldonotoonlyoresultoinoprocrastinationoofoproceedingsobuto mayoalsoooccasionoanoanomalousooroinconsistentoapproachoquaoco-accused.oo Itois,otherefore,oinoviewoofotheosingularocircumstances,othatothisoCourtodeemsoito appropriateotooentertainotheoinstantopetition,onotwithstandingonon-availingoofo theo remedyo beforeo theo Specialo Judge/trialo Court.o Lest,o thereo beo anyo ambiguity,o ito iso clarifiedo thato theo entertainmento ofo theo instanto petitiono iso occasionedosolelyobyotheopeculiarofactualomatrixoofotheocaseoinohand.oo

18.o o Ato thiso juncture,o ito wouldo beo appositeo too refero hereino too ao judgmentoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtotitledoasoGudikantioNarasimhuluo ando otherso vs.o Publico Prosecutor,o Higho Courto ofo Andhrao Pradesho AIRo 1978oSUPREMEoCOURTo429,orelevantowhereoforeadsoasounder:o o "10.o TheosignificanceoandosweepoofoArticleo21oomakeotheodeprivationoofo libertyo ao mattero ofo graveo concerno ando permissibleo onlyo wheno theo lawo authorisingo ito iso reasonable,o even-handedo ando gearedo too theo goalso ofo communityogoodoandoStateonecessityospeltooutoinoArticleo19.oIndeed,otheo considerationsoIohaveosetooutoasocriteriaoareogermaneotootheoconstitutionalo propositiono Io haveo deduced.o Reasonablenesso postulateso intelligento careo andopredicatesothatodeprivationoofofreedom-obyorefusaloofobailoisonotoforo punitiveopurposeobutoforotheobi-focalointerestsoofojustice-tootheoindividualo involvedoandosocietyoaffected.o o 11.o Weo musto weigho theo contraryo factorso too answero theo testo ofo reasonableness,osubjectotootheoneedoforosecuringotheopresence,oofotheobailo applicant.oItomakesosenseotooassumeothatoaomanoonobailohasoaobetterochanceo tooprepareooropresentohisocaseothanooneoremandedoinocustody.oAndoifopublico justiceoisotoobeopromoted,omechanicalodetentionoshouldobeocloseotooours,o 2025.08.19g17:11 theo functiono ofo bailo iso limited,o 'communityo roots'o ofo the,o applicanto areo o CRM-M-42377-2025o(O&M)o o o o o o o 29o stressedo and,o aftero theo Verao Foundation'so Manhattano Bailo Project,o monetaryosuretyoshipoisolosingoground.oTheoconsiderableopublicoexpenseoino keepingoinocustodyowhereonoodangeroofodisappearanceoorodisturbanceocano arise,o iso noto ao negligibleo consideration.o Equallyo importanto iso theo deplorableocondition,overgingoon.otheoinhuman,oofoourosub-jails,othatotheo unrewardingo crueltyo ando expensiveo custodyo ofo avoidableo incarcerationo makesorefusaloofobailounreasonableoandoaoPolicyofavouringoreleaseojustlyo sensible.o o 12.o Aofewootheroweightyofactorsodeserveoreference.oAllodeprivationoofo libertyoisovalidatedobyosocialodefenceoandoindividualocorrectionoalongoano anti-criminalodirection.oPublicojusticeoisocentralotootheowholeoschemeoofo bailolaw.oFleeingojusticeomustobeoforbiddenobutopunitiveoharshnessoshouldo beo minimised.o Restorativeo deviceso too redeemo theo man,o even,o througho communityo service,o meditativeo drill,o studyo classeso oro othero resourceso shouldobeoinnovated,oandoplayingofoulowithopublicopeaceobyotamperingowitho evidence,ointimidatingowitnessesoorocommittingooffenceowhileoonojudiciallyo sanctionedo 'freeo enterprise,'o shouldo beo providedo against.o Noo seekero ofo justiceo shallo playo confidenceo trickso ono theo courto oro community.o Thus,o conditionsomayobeohungoaroundobailoorders,onototoocrippleobutotooprotect.o Suchoisotheoholisticojurisdictionoandohumanisticoorientationoinvokedobyotheo judicialodiscretionocorrelatedotootheovaluesoofoouroconstitution."o

18.1.o o Further,o theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino ao judgmento titledo aso GurcharanoSinghovs.oStateo(UToofoDelhi)o1978o(1)oSCCo118,ohasoheldoaso under:-o o "Whereotheograntingoofobailoliesowithinotheodiscretionoofotheocourt,otheo grantingo oro denialo iso regulated,o too ao largeo extent,o byo theo factso ando circumstancesoofoeachoparticularocase.ooSinceotheoobjectoofotheodetentionooro imprisonmentoofotheoaccusedoisotoosecureohisoappearanceoandosubmissiono tootheojurisdictionoandotheojudgmentoofotheocourt,otheoprimaryoinquiryoiso whetheroaorecognizanceoorobondowouldoeffectothatoend."o

18.2.o o Furthermore,otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoaojudgmentotitledoaso SanjayoChandraovs.oCBIo(2012)o1oSCCo40,ohasoheldoasounder:o o "21.o oInobailoapplications,ogenerally,oitohasobeenolaidodownofromotheo earliestotimesothatotheoobjectoofobailoisotoosecureotheoappearanceoofotheo accusedopersonoatohisotrialobyoreasonableoamountoofobail.oTheoobjectoofo 2025.08.19g17:11 bailoisoneitheropunitiveonoropreventative.oDeprivationoofolibertyomustobeo o CRM-M-42377-2025o(O&M)o o o o o o o 30o consideredo ao punishment,o unlesso ito cano beo requiredo too ensureo thato ano accusedopersonowillostandohisotrialowhenocalledoupon.oTheocourtsooweomoreo thano verbalo respecto too theo principleo thato punishmento beginso aftero conviction,oandothatoeveryomanoisodeemedotoobeoinnocentountilodulyotriedo andodulyofoundoguilty.oo o 22.o Fromo theo earliesto times,o ito waso appreciatedo thato detentiono ino custodyopendingocompletionoofotrialocouldobeoaocauseoofogreatohardship.o Fromo timeo too time,o necessityo demandso thato someo un-convictedo personso shouldobeoheldoinocustodyopendingotrialotoosecureotheiroattendanceoatotheo trialobutoinosuchocases,o"necessity"oisotheooperativeotest.Inothisocountry,oito wouldobeoquiteocontraryotootheoconceptoofopersonalolibertyoenshrinedoinotheo Constitutionothatoanyopersonoshouldobeopunishedoinorespectoofoanyomatter,o uponowhich,oheohasonotobeenoconvictedoorothatoinoanyocircumstances,oheo shouldobeodeprivedoofohisolibertyouponoonlyotheobeliefothatoheowillotampero witho theo witnesseso ifolefto ato liberty,o saveo ino theo mosto extraordinaryo circumstances."o o

19.o o Theo petitionero waso arrestedo ono 01.06.2025o whereinaftero investigationoinotheocaseohasobeenocompletedoandocharge-sheet/challanohaso beenofiledobyotheoCBIoono30.07.2025.ooTotalo19oprosecutionowitnessesohaveo beenocitedoandononeohasobeenoexaminedotillodate.ooItois,othus,oindubitableothato theoculminationoofotheotrialowillotakeoitsoownotimeoinoviewoofotheovoluminouso evidenceoandonumberoofowitnessesoandothus,okeepingotheopetitionerobehindo theobarsoforoanoindefiniteoperiodowouldonotoserveoanyosubstantialopurposeo onceotheoinvestigationoisocomplete.oThisoCourtodoesonotodeemoitoappropriateo toodelveodeepointootheorivalocontentionsoraisedoatotheoinstanceoofotheorivalo partiesolestoitomayoprejudiceotheotrial.ooNothingotangibleohasobeenobroughto forwardo too indicateo theo likelihoodo ofo theo petitionero abscondingo fromo theo processoofojusticeoorointerferingowithotheoprosecutionoevidence.oMoreover,oino theo presento case,o theo evidenceo alsoo compriseso documentaryo records,o electronicodata,oandorecoveryomemosowhichoareoalreadyoinotheocustodyoofotheo AJAYgKUMAR investigatingoagency.oAsoperocustodyocertificateodatedo11.08.2025ofiledobyo o CRM-M-42377-2025o(O&M)o o o o o o o 31o learnedoCBIocounsel,otheopetitionerohasoalreadyosufferedoincarcerationoforoao periodoofomoreothano02omonths.ooFurther,oasoperotheocustodyocertificateotheo petitioneroisonotostatedotoobeoinvolvedoinootheroFIR.ooo o o Sufficeotoosay,ofurtherodetentionoofotheopetitioneroasoanoundertrialo isonotowarrantedoinotheofactualomilieuoofotheocaseoinohand.oooo

20.o o Inoviewoofoabove,otheopresentopetitionoisoallowed.oPetitioneroiso orderedotoobeoreleasedoonoregularobailoonohisofurnishingobail/suretyobondsotoo theo satisfactiono ofo theo Ld.o concernedo Specialo Judge/Dutyo Magistrate.o However,oinoadditionotooconditionsothatomayobeoimposedobyotheoconcernedo Specialo Judge/Dutyo Magistrate,o theo petitionero shallo remaino boundo byo theo followingoconditions:-o o (i)oo Theopetitioneroshallonotomis-useotheolibertyogranted.oo o (ii)oo Theopetitioneroshallonototamperowithoanyoevidence,oralo o orodocumentary,oduringotheotrial.oo o (iii)oo Theo petitionero shallo noto absento himselfo ono anyo dateo o beforeotheotrial.oo o (iv)oo Theo petitionero shallo noto commito anyo offenceo whileo o onobail.oo o (v)oo Theopetitioneroshallodepositohisopassport,oifoany,oowitho o theotrialoCourt.oo o (vi)oo Theo petitionero shallo giveo hiso cellphoneo numbero too o theoInvestigatingoOfficeroandoshallonotochangeohisocell-o phoneo numbero withouto prioro permissiono ofo theo Ld.o o SpecialoCourt.o o (vii)oo Theo petitionero shallo noto ino anyo mannero tryo too delayo o theotrial.oo

21.o o Inocaseoofobreachoofoanyoofotheoaforesaidoconditionsoandothoseo whicho mayo beo imposedo byo concernedo Specialo Judge/Dutyo Magistrateo aso directedo hereinaboveo oro upono showingo anyo othero sufficiento cause,o theo o CRM-M-42377-2025o(O&M)o o o o o o o 32o CBI/complainanto shallo beo ato libertyo too moveo cancellationo ofo bailo ofo theo petitioner.oo

22.oo o Orderedoaccordingly.oo

23.o o Nothingosaidohereinaboveoshallobeoconstruedoasoanoexpressionoofo opinionoonotheomeritsoofotheocase.oo

24.oo o Sinceotheomainocaseohasobeenodecided,opendingomiscellaneouso application,oifoany,oshalloalsoostandsodisposedooff.o o o o o o o o o o o o o oooooo(SUMEEToGOEL)o o o o o o o o o o oooooJUDGEo o Augusto18,o2025o Ajayo o o o o Whetherospeaking/reasoned:o o Yes/Noo o o Whetheroreportable:o o o Yes/Noo o