Union of India v. K.A. Najeeb reported in AIR
Case Details
Neutral Citation No. - 2025:AHC:74154 Court No. - 47 Case :- CRIMINAL MISC. BAIL APPLICATION No. - 14257 of 2024 Applicant :- Ajay Kumar Opposite Party :- State of U.P. Hon'ble Siddharth,J.
Legal Reasoning
Heard learned counsel for the applicant; Mr. Ansar Ahmad, learned counsel for informant, as well as the learned AGA for the State and perused the material placed on record. The instant bail application has been filed on behalf of the applicant, Ajay Kumar, with a prayer to release him on bail in Case Crime No. 853 of 2023, under Sections 394, 364, 302, 404, 201, 411 of IPC, and section 3(2)(V) of SC/ST Act, Police Station- Kotwali Auraiya, District- Auraiya, during pendency of trial. There are allegations in the F.I.R. against the applicant and co- accused, namely, Shivam and Vikash Saxena, of committing the offence of murder of the deceased. Learned counsel for the applicant has submitted that the dead body of the deceased was recovered from Kannauj. Information of recovery of dead body of the deceased was entered in G.D. on 18.09.2023 at 23:39 hours. However, F.I.R. has been lodged on the same day at 23:08 hours. Learned counsel for the applicant has further submitted that the prosecution case is not reliable, since F.I.R. is clearly anti-timed. The missing report with regard to the dead body of the deceased was recorded by the police on 17.09.2023. Co-accused, Shivam, has already been enlarged on bail by this Court vide Criminal Misc. Bail Application No. 4252 of 2024. The applicant has been falsely implicated in this case. He has no criminal history to his credit and is languishing in jail since 19.09.2023. The trial in the aforesaid case is not likely to be concluded in near future. Per contra learned A.G.A. has opposed the prayer for bail of the applicant by contending that the innocence of the applicant cannot be adjudged at pre-trial stage, therefore, he does not deserves any indulgence. In case the applicant is released on bail, he will again indulge in similar activities and will misuse the liberty of bail. Regarding long incarceration of under trials prisoners in jail due to delay in conclusion of trial, the Hon'ble Apex Court in re: Union of India vs. K.A. Najeeb reported in AIR 2021 Supreme Court 712 has held in Para 16 of the judgment being reproduced herein below as follows :- "This Court has clarified in numerous judgments that the liberty guaranteed by Part III of the Constitution would cover within its protective ambit not only due procedure and fairness but also access to justice and a speedy trial. In Supreme Court Legal Aid Committee Representing Undertrial Prisoners v. Union of India, it was held that undertrials cannot indefinitely be detained pending trial. Ideally, no person ought to suffer adverse consequences of his acts unless the same is established before a neutral arbiter. However, owing to the practicalities of real life where to secure an effective trial and to ameliorate the risk to society in case a potential criminal is left at large pending trial, Courts are tasked with deciding whether an individual ought to be released pending trial or not. Once it is obvious that a timely trial would not be possible and the accused has suffered incarceration for a significant period of time, Courts would ordinarily be obligated to enlarge them on bail." Having considered the submissions of the parties noted above, finding force in the submissions made by the learned counsel for the applicant, keeping in view the uncertainty regarding conclusion of trial; one sided investigation by police, ignoring the case of accused side; applicant being under-trial having fundamental right to speedy trial; larger mandate of the Article 21 of the Constitution of India, considering the paragraph no.53 of Apex Court in the 2024, case of Manish Sisodia Vs. Directorate of Enforcement (SC)LawSuit 677 and considering 5-6 times overcrowding in jails over and above their capacity by under trials and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, let the applicant involved in the aforesaid crime be released on bail on his furnishing a personal bond and two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the court concerned with the following conditions that :- (i) The applicant shall not tamper with the evidence or threaten the witnesses. (ii) 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. (iii) The applicant shall remain present before the Trial Court on each date fixed, either personally or as directed by the Court. In case of his absence, without sufficient cause, the Trial Court may proceed against him under Section 229-A of the Indian Penal Code. (iv) In case the applicant misuse the liberty of bail during trial and in order to secure his presence, proclamation under Section 82 Cr.P.C. is issued and the applicants fail 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. (v) 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, it shall be a ground for cancellation of bail. Identity and residence proof of the applicant and sureties be verified by the court concerned before the bonds are accepted. Order Date :- 7.5.2025 Abhishek Digitally signed by :- ABHISHEK YADAV High Court of Judicature at Allahabad