Raja v. State of U.P

Heard Sri Bharat Singh, learned counsel for the applicant and Sri Sanjay Singh, learned A.G.A.-I appearing for the State. This is the second bail application moved on behalf of the applicant. The first bail application moved on behalf of the applicant was rejected by this Court vide order dated 3.8.2021. It has been contended by the learned counsel for the applicant that the applicant has been falsely implicated in the present case due to ulterior motive. The ground which has been argued by learned counsel for the applicant is that while rejecting the first bail application moved on behalf of the applicant this Court vide order dated 3.8.2021 had directed the trial Court to conclude the trial of the case expeditiously preferably within a period of six months from the date of production of certified copy of this order, but till date not even a single witness has been examined by the trial Court, therefore, there is no liklihood of early conclusion of trial.

The circumstances which, according to the counsel, led to the false implication of the accused has also been touched upon at length. It has been assured on behalf of the applicant that he is ready to cooperate with the process of law and shall faithfully make himself available before the court whenever required. It has also been submitted that the applicant is languishing in jail since 25.2.2021. It has been pointed out that the applicant has no criminal history. Learned A.G.A. opposed the prayer for bail. Having heard the submissions of learned counsel of both sides, nature of accusation and the severity of punishment in case of conviction and the nature of supporting evidence, prima facie satisfaction of the Court in support of the charge, reformative theory of punishment, and larger mandate of the Article 21 of the Constitution of India, the dictum of Apex Court in the case of Dataram Singh v.

State of U.P. and another, reported in (2018) 2 SCC 22 and without expressing any opinion on the merit of the case, I find it to be a case of bail. Let the applicant Raja involved in Case Crime No.73 of 2021, under Sections 399, 402 I.P.C., Police Station Ujhani, District Budaun be released on bail on his furnishing a personal bond with two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the court concerned with the following conditions. (i) The applicant shall file an undertaking to the effect that he shall not seek any adjournment on the dates fixed for evidence when the witnesses are present in court. In case of default of this condition, it shall be open for the trial court to treat it as abuse of liberty of bail and pass orders in accordance with law. (ii) The applicant shall remain present before the trial court on each date fixed, either personally or through his counsel. In case of his absence, without sufficient cause, the trial court may proceed against him under Section 229-A of the Indian Penal Code.

(iii) In case, the applicant misuses the liberty of bail during trial and in order to secure his presence proclamation under Section 82 Cr.P.C. is issued and the applicant fails to appear before the court on the date fixed in such proclamation, then, the trial court shall initiate proceedings against him, in accordance with law, under Section 174-A of the Indian Penal Code. (iv) The applicant shall remain present, in person, before the trial court on the dates fixed for (i) opening of the case, (ii) framing of charge and (iii) recording of statement under Section 313 Cr.P.C. If in the opinion of the trial court absence of the applicant is deliberate or without sufficient cause, then it shall be open for the trial court to treat such default as abuse of liberty of bail and proceed against him in accordance with law. In case of breach of any of the above conditions, the trial court will be at liberty to cancel the bail. It is clarified that the observations, if any, made in this order are strictly confined to the disposal of this bail application and must not be construed to have any reflection on the ultimate merits of the case. Order Date :- 31.8.2022 Dev/- Reason: Location: High Court of Judicature at Allahabad