Parveen Rana v. State of Haryana

o o CRM-M-61319-2025o o o o o 1o o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHo o 101-2oo o o o o ooooooo ooooooCRM-M-61319-2025o o ParveenoRanaoo 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.oSandeepoSaini,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioner.oo o o Mr.oGurmeetoSingh,oAAGoHaryana.oo *****o SUMEEToGOEL,oJ.o(Oral)oo

1.o o PresentopetitionohasobeenofiledounderoSectiono483oofotheoBNSS,o 2023oforograntooforegularobailotootheopetitioneroinocaseobearingoFIRoNo.387o datedo10.11.2023,oregisteredoforotheooffencesopunishableounderoSectionso328,o 302,o120-B,o201oofoIPCoandoSectiono72-AoofotheoPunjaboExciseoAct,o1914o (aso amendedo byo theo Haryanao Amendmento Bill,o 2020)o ando subsequentlyo deletedoSectiono304oofoIPCoandoSectionso120-B/302/201/307oofoIPCohaveo beenoadded)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-61319-2025o 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 petitionerohasobeenofalselyoimplicatedointootheoFIRoinoquestion.ooLearnedo counselohasofurtheroiteratedothatotheopetitionerohasoneitherobeenonamedoinotheo FIRonorohasoheoanyoconcernowhatsoeverowithotheoallegedobusinessoofoillicito liquor.o Ito haso beeno contendedo thato theo petitionero iso merelyo ao labourero employedoinotheofactoryopremisesotootakeocareoofotheopremisesoandoperformo menialoduties.oItohasobeenofurtherocontendedothatotheopetitionerohasonooroleoino o o CRM-M-61319-2025o o o o o 3o o theomanufacturing,opreparationoorodistributionoofotheoallegedoillicitoliquoroando wasonotoawareoaboutotheonatureoofotheochemicalsoallegedlyousedoinotheosaido factory.o Accordingo too learnedo counsel,o nothingo incriminatingo haso beeno recoveredofromotheopetitioneroandonoospecificoroleohasobeenoattributedotoohimo inotheoallegedooccurrence.oItohasobeenofurtherosubmittedothatotheopetitionero haso beeno nominatedo ino theo presento caseo onlyo ono theo basiso ofo theo disclosure/confessionalostatementoofoaoco-accusedopersonoandothereoisonoo independentoorodirectoevidenceotooconnectotheopetitionerowithotheoallegedo offence.oLearnedocounselohasoemphasizedothatosuchodisclosureostatementohaso limitedoevidentiaryovalueoandocannotobyoitselfoformotheobasisoforocontinuedo incarcerationoofotheopetitioner.oItohasobeenofurtherocontendedothatoneitheroanyo recoveryowhatsoeverohasobeenoeffectedofromotheopetitioneronorothereoisoanyo documentaryoevidenceoagainstohim.oAccordingotoolearnedocounsel,otheoentireo prosecutionocaseoagainstotheopetitionerorestsosolelyouponocustodialodisclosureo statementso whicho byo themselveso cannoto constituteo legallyo admissibleo evidenceoinoviewoofotheosettledopositionoofolaw.oLearnedocounselohasopointedo outothatotheopetitionerowasoalreadyoconfinedoinoanotheroFIRoandowasoarrestedo ino theo saido caseo ono 14.11.2023.o Thereafter,o theo petitionero haso beeno implicatedoinotheopresentocaseoandowasotakenointoocustodyoonoproductiono warrantoono29.02.2024.ooFurthermore,otheochallanoandosupplementaryochallano haveo alreadyo beeno presentedo beforeo theo competento Courto ofo jurisdiction.o Learnedocounselohasoassertedothatooutoofo107oprosecutionowitnessesocitedonoto evenoaosingleowitnessohasobeenoexaminedosoofaroandotheotrialoisolikelyotootakeo aoconsiderableoperiodoofotimeotooconclude.oItohasobeenofurtherosubmittedothato o o CRM-M-61319-2025o o o o o 4o o theo continuedo incarcerationo ofo theo petitioner,o ino theo absenceo ofo anyo substantiveo evidence,o wouldo serveo noo purpose.o Theo petitionero shallo undertakeotooabideobyoalloconditionsothatomayobeoimposedobyothisoCourt,o includingo noto tamperingo witho theo prosecutiono evidenceo oro influencingo witnessesoandonotoleavingotheocountryowithoutoprioropermissionoofotheoCourt.o Onotheostrengthoofoaforesaidosubmissions,otheograntoofopetitionoinohandoiso entreatedofor.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 o o CRM-M-61319-2025o o o o o 5o o theogravityoofotheooffenceoandotheospecificoroleoattributedotootheopetitioner,o learnedoStateocounselohasoprayedoforotheodismissaloofotheoinstantopetition.oo

5.o o Io haveo heardo learnedo counselo foro theo rivalo partieso ando haveo perusedotheoavailableorecord.oo

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 AJAYgKUMAR conviction;o(iv)odangeroofoaccusedoabscondingoorofleeingoiforeleasedoono o o CRM-M-61319-2025o o o o o 6o o 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),oAIRo1978o 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 2026.03.09g10:37 concludingoinotheonearofutureoasogroundsosufficientotooenlargeotheoaccusedo o o CRM-M-61319-2025o o o o o 7o o onobail,oinospiteoofotheofactothatotheoaccusedostandsochargedoofooffenceso punishableowitholifeoimprisonmentooroevenodeathopenalty.oInosuchocases,oino ouroopinion,otheomereofactothatotheoaccusedohasoundergoneocertainoperiodo ofoincarcerationo(threeoyearsoinothisocase)obyoitselfowouldonotoentitleotheo accusedotoobeingoenlargedoonobail,onorotheofactothatotheotrialoisonotolikelyo toobeoconcludedoinotheonearofutureoeitherobyoitselfoorocoupledowithotheo 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 suggestsothatotheopetitionerohasobeenofoundoinvolvedoinotheoillegaloactivityo beingo carriedo outo ato theo premiseso whereo theo spuriouso liquoro haso beeno prepared.o Theo gravameno ofo theo allegationso ino theo FIRo discloseso thato theo deceasedoJagmalohasoallegedlyoconsumedoillicitoandopoisonousoliquor,owhicho resultedoinohisodeath.oOnotheobasisoofotheostatementoofotheocomplainant,otheo FIRowasoregisteredoagainstocertainopersonsowhoowereoallegedlyoinvolvedoino theosaleoofosucholiquor.oDuringotheocourseoofoinvestigation,oseveraloaccusedo o o CRM-M-61319-2025o o o o o 8o o 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-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 o o CRM-M-61319-2025o o o o o 9o o subsequentlyonominatedodoesonot,obyoitself,ocreateoaogroundoforograntoofo regularobail,oasoitoisowellosettledothatoanoaccusedocanobeoarrayedoduringotheo courseoofoinvestigationoifosufficientomaterialosurfacesoagainstohim.oMoreover,o sucho submissionso wouldo requireo deepero appreciationo ofo evidence,o whicho cannotoappropriatelyobeoundertakenoatotheostageoofoconsiderationoofoaobailo 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.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 o o CRM-M-61319-2025o o o o o 10o o constituteoaocompellingogroundoforotheograntooforegularobailotootheopetitioner,o especiallyo ino lighto ofo theo gravityo ofo theo allegationso ando theo evidenceo ono 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 o o CRM-M-61319-2025o o o o o 11o o obstructedooroabused.oItoisoaotriteopositoofojurisprudenceothatothougholawso attempto too dealo witho allo caseso thato mayo arise,o theo infiniteo varietyo ofo 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 AJAYgKUMAR bailoororejectobailotooanoaccusedoinocustody,oitocannotobeolostosightoofothato o o CRM-M-61319-2025o o o o o 12o o theoCourtoconcernedohereinowasonotoao'CourtoofoSession'obutotheoHigho CourtoforotheoStateoofoMadhyaoPradesh,oestablishedounderoArticleo214oofo theoConstitutionoofoIndiao(hereinafteroreferredotooasotheo"Constitution").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 2026.03.09g10:37 Sectiono439oofotheoCode;ohoweverotheoHighoCourt,obeingosatisfiedothato o o CRM-M-(1)1*-202+o o o o o 13o o thereo were,o ino itso opinion,o graveo lapseso ono theo parto ofo theo police;investigativeomachinery,owhichomayohaveofataloconse+uencesoonotheo "usticeodeliveryosystem,ocouldonotohaveosimplyoshutoitsoeyes.1o o

11.3o o 7heo HonFb!eo S#+remeo (o#rto no ao 3#dgmento t t!edo aso Theo Centra!oBureauoo5oInvestigationovs.o2iro-smano6oArao6o2iro-smanoA!i,o 2025oINSCo""55ohasohe!doaso#nder:o o ")>.o $heo practiceo ofo conductingo trialso ono ao dayo too dayo basiso moreo particularlyoinoimportantoorosensitiveocasesoasowasotheotraditionoabouto thirtyoyearsoagoohasobeenogivenoaocompleteogotiby.o#eosincerelyobelieveo thatoitoisohighotimeothatotheocourtsorevertotoothatopractice.oDorotheopurposeo oforevertingotootheooldopractice,oitoisonecessaryotoounderstandotheocurrento social,opoliticaloandoadministrativeoscenariooincludingotheowayotheoPoliceo areofunctioning.o/llotheo-igho(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; AJAY KUMAR 2009 AIR Supreme Court 1535; observed as under: o o CRM-M-(1)1*-202+o o o o o 1&o o "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 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 o o CRM-M-61319-2025o o o o o 15o o inquiryointoodelayomustobeoaocontextualoassessmentoofowhetherotheocontinuedo detentionoremainsoconstitutionallyopermissibleounderotheospecificopenumbrao 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 realityothatotheoconstitutionaloquestionoofodelayodoesonotoariseoinoaovacuum.oooxxxooooooo xxx.o

30.oo o Articleo21ooccupiesoaocentraloplaceoinotheoconstitutionaloscheme.o Theorightotoolifeoandopersonaloliberty,oandotheoinsistenceothatoanyodeprivationomusto 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.oo o Ato theo sameo time,o Articleo 21o haso nevero beeno understoodo aso operatingoinoisolationofromolaw.oTheoconstitutionalopromiseoisonotothatolibertyowillo beo unregulated,o buto thato deprivationso ofo libertyo willo noto beo arbitrary,o unconscionable,oorounfair.oTheoexpressiono"procedureoestablishedobyolaw"oreflectso thatobalance.ooooxxxoxxx."o o o Aojusticeodeliveryosystemorestsoonoaosimpleopromise;ofairnesso deliveredoinoreasonableotime.oAnyoproceduraloprotractionodoesonotomerelyo 2026.03.09g10:37 delayotheoverdict;oitoactivelyoerodesotheoedificeoofopublicoconfidenceoinotheo o o CRM-M-(1)1*-202+o o o o o 1Co o judiciary. When a trial is allowed to languish, it transcends the aphorism that 'justice delayed is justice denied' and enters the more perilous territory 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: "9).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,ofurtheroensuringotheorightoofospeedyotrialoguaranteedobyo /rticleo91oofotheo(onstitution.1o

11.2.o o Frgo o notheofa%t#a!omilieuoofotheo%aseo nohando8h %hotendsotoo ref!e%tothatotr a!o so+ro%rast nat ngoando8 tness(s"oareonotobe ngoe)am nedoforo oneo%a#seoorotheootherDo to soaof to%aseo8h %ho8arrantsod re%t on(s"ofromoth so (o#rtoforoe)+ed t o#s*t me-bo#ndotr a!.oo

12.o o 'nov e8oofotheo+reven entorat o% nat on,o to soorda nedoth#s:o o o CRM-M-61319-2025o 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'bleotrialoCourtoinocaseoofoMiroUsmano@oArao@o MiroUsmanoAliocaseo(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 o o oooooo(SUMEEToGOEL)o o oooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooo ooo oooJUDGEo Marcho06,o2026o Ajayo o o o o Whetherospeaking/reasoned:o o Yes/Noo o Whetheroreportable:o o Yes/Noo