High Court
Case Details
Neutral Citation No. - 2025:AHC:135959 Court No. - 67 Case :- CRIMINAL MISC. BAIL APPLICATION No. - 21467 of 2025 Applicant :- Umashankar Opposite Party :- State of U.P. Counsel for Applicant :- Girja Shanker Sen,Krishna Dutt Awasthi Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A. Hon'ble Sanjay Kumar Singh,J. (1) Heard learned counsel for the applicant, learned Additional Government Advocate representing the State. (2) By means of this bail application, applicant Umashankar, who is involved in Case Crime No. 55 of 2025, under Sections 127(2), 142 BNS, police station Bhojipura, district Bareilly, seeks enlargement on bail during the pendency of trial. (3) Brief facts of the case, which are required to be stated are as under:- (i) Harish Katiyar had gone missing since the night of 17/18.01.2025, regarding which a missing report was lodged by his family members on 18.01.2025, which was registered at case crime no. 56 of 2025, under Section 140(2) BNS, police station Baradari, district Bareilly. (ii) Later, a first information report was also got lodged by Ranish Katiyar on 19.01.2025 at case crime no. 57 of 2025, under Section 140(2) BNS, police station Kotwali City, district Banda against unknown person stating inter alia that his brother-in-law (jija) Harish Katiyar is missing since the night of 17/18.01.2025, regarding which missing report was lodged on 18.01.2025. Now it is revealed that Anoop Katiyar is also with Harish. Today on 19.01.2025, Harish Katiyar's wife Jyoti Katiyar was called from Harish Katiyar's phone at about 12.08 O'clock and money was demanded. From Anoop Katiyar's phone, his wife Kiran Katiyar was called and money was demanded. Due to which, he suspects that Harish Katiyar has been abducted for money. (iii) Thereafter Dhananjay Kumar Panday, Incharge Inspector of Police Station Baradari, District Bareilly, got an F.I.R. lodged on 21.01.2025 for the offence under Sections 109, 318(4), 338, 336(3), 340(2) BNS, 2023 and Sections 3, 25, 27 of Arms Act at police 2 BAIL No. 21467 of 2025 station Bhojipura, district Bareilly against Anoop Katiyar, Ankit @ Vineet Katiyar, Shahid, Khemendra, Akash, Lalit, Rajat @ Umesh, Veeru @ Veerpal, Umashankar (applicant), Udit and Lali alleging inter alia that:- (iv) On 20.01.2025, he along with his police team were on patrolling and were in search of the abductee of Case Crime No. 56 of 2025. They reached near the place where the abductee's mobile was switched off and searched about him but they got no information. (v) When they were returning towards Bareilly, informer gave information that one person is made hostage in a house situated on the outskirt of Village Miyanpur for the last two-three days and they are not permitting him to go outside and some persons including one woman are keeping eyes upon him. On treating the information of the informer as gospel truth, the complainant made the Incharge Inspector of Police Station Bhojipura aware and asked him to provide police force. (vi) The informer signalled the house where the abductee was kept hostage. On reaching there, they surrounded the house from all corners and on opening the gate, they found two men and one women there and on asking their names, one person told his name Udit and another person Umashankar and the woman told her name Lali. There exists a room which was locked from outside and on hearing the noise, they asked for key of the room, then Udit gave the key. On opening the room, it was found that one person was lying covering himself with blanket. On asking his name, he told that his name is Harish Katiyar and further told that Ankit Katiyar, Veeru, Rajat and Anoop on the point of a country-made pistol kidnapped him and made him hostage and they used to give food and water in the room only. The kidnappers used to lock him in a box in the day time. The kidnappers were talking with each other that if the ransom is not given by his family members, then they will throw him in the box after killing him. (vii) On making strict inquiry from the aforesaid three persons, they told that on 18.01.2025, Ankit @ Vineet Katiyar, Shahid, Khemendra, Anoop, Akash, Lalit, Rajat @ Umesh brought him and kept him here under their supervision, of which they had also given money. All those people come and go at night. (viii) From the spot, a mobile phone with SIM belonging to kidnapped person-Harish was also recovered. Mobile phones of Udit and Umashankar were also taken in custody. 3 BAIL No. 21467 of 2025
Legal Reasoning
(ix) Thereafter in follow up action, police personnel started waiting near Gursampur and Ghoratanda with the aim of catching the other accused. After some time two four wheeler vehicles were seen coming on Ghoratanda road. The accused persons seeing them surrounded from both sides, got down from both the vehicles and started running. They also fired at police party. Police party in their defence also fired, in which Senior Sub-Inspector Rohit Sharma and Head Constable Aslam received injuries. (x) After some time, when firing was stopped, search operation was carried out and both the vehicles were found at the spot. A person sitting crouched on the driving seat disclosed his name Anoop Katiyar. Thereafter Shahid, Ankit @ Vineet Katiyar, Veeru alias Veerpal and Akash were apprehended along with country made pistols, cartridges etc. On asking about the persons who had fled away, they told their names as Lalit, Khemendra and Umesh. (xi) They also disclosed that at the behest of Anoop Singh Katiyar, they had brought Harish from his rented house on the gun point and made him hostage in the house of Udit and left him in custody of Udit, Umashankar, Lali and Ankit @ Vineet Katiyar. They also disclosed that Anoop switched on Harish's mobile and made Ankit to talk Harish's wife from his phone and after demanding a ransom of Rs. 15 lakhs, switched off the phone. (4) It is contended by learned counsel for the applicant that the applicant has been falsely implicated in this case. Victim and co- accused Anoop Katiyar are cousins and there was dispute between them. Co-accused Akash has been granted bail in Case Crime No. 57 of 2025 vide order dated 06.06.2025 of the coordinate Bench of this Court in Criminal Misc. Bail Application No.17807 of 2025. The applicant does not have any criminal history to his credit. Lastly, it is submitted that there is no chance of the applicant fleeing away from the judicial process or tampering with the prosecution evidence. The applicant is languishing in jail since 21.01.2025 and in case, the applicant is released on bail, he will not misuse the liberty of bail and cooperate with the trial. (5) Per contra, learned A.G.A. for the State as well as learned counsel for the informant opposed the prayer for bail of the applicant reiterating the prosecution case as mentioned in F.I.R. by contending that after abduction of victim-Harish, he was kept in the house of Udit under the supervision of Udit, Umashankar (applicant) and Lali and they were arrested at the spot, when victim was recovered by the police. Lastly, it is submitted that bail application of the applicant is liable to be rejected. 4 BAIL No. 21467 of 2025 (6) Here it would be relevant to mention the statement of the victim/abductee recorded under Section 180 BNSS, which reads thus:- "बयान अपहृत ... अपहृत ्िि्व हरीश किटयार पु्ऴ गंगासरन िन० पाण्डेपुर थाना पाली िजला हरदोई उ्ा 36 वषर् ने पूछने पर बताया िक वह मुल रूप से ्षाम पाण्डेपुर थाना पाली हरदोई का रहने वाला है तथा वतर्मान में जनपद बांदा में रहकर अण्डाचौक के पास िकराये के मकान में रहकर अण्डे का थोक ्िापार करता है। मेरी पत्नी जो सरकारी टीचर है वतर्मान में जनपद सीतापुर में िनयु्व है एवं मेरी जुड़वाँ लड़िकयाँ मेरी माँ के साथ कानपुर में रहकर पढ़ती है। मेरे ही गांव के रहने वाले मेरे चचेरे अनुप किटयार पु्ऴ अमरिसह जो अपने िपता के साथ पवन िबहार कालोनी बरेली में रहते हैं। गांव पर भी आते जाते रहते हैं। एवं गांव से मेरे पास बांदा में भी कई बार आये गये हैं। पूवर् में इनकी आिथक िद्वत थी तो मुझसे पैसे की माँग िकये थे तो मैंने एक बार इन्हे 01 लाख 20 हजार रुपये एवं एक बार 50 हजार रुपये देकर इनकी मदद की थी। लगभग 01 माह पहले यह मुझसे तीन लाख रुपया माँग िकये थे िकन्तु मैने उस समय पैसा न होने के कारण एवं पहले का ही उधार िलया पैसा न देने के कारण मना कर िदया था। िदनांक 17/01/25 को अनुप मेरे कमरे पर बांदा आये िफर खाना खाकर आराम िकये और हमसे कहे िक चलो िच्ऴकु ट चलकर घुमकर आते हैं। िकन्तु मेरा अण्डे के ्िापार का सीजन चल रहा है तो मैंने कहा िक अभी मैं नहीं जा सकता और िफर शाम को मैंने खाना बनाया और हम दोनों लोग खाये िक समय करीब 9-10 बजे रात मेरे अण्डे का एक ्िक मण्डी में आ गया मैं उ्व ्िक को देखने मण्डी तक गया और िफर कु छ देर बाद वापस आ गया। मेरे पास रहने के दौरान अनुप पर कई फोन आये िजससे यह बातचीत में अंिकत नाम ले रहा था। जब मैं पुछा िकसका फोन है तो बताया िक बरेली से कु छ लड़के िच्ऴकु ट दशर्न करने आये हैं। वापस लोट रहे हैं। और िफर कु छ देर बाद ही उन लड़को से िमलने की बात कहकर पैदल ही चला गया था और मा्ऴ 10 िमनट के अन्दर ही वापस आ गया था तो मैंने पुछा िक इतना जल्दी कै से तुम्हारे दोस्त िच्ऴकु ट से आ गये। और तुम िमल भी आये तो. बताया िक चौराहे तक आ गये थे मैं बस हाल चाल िकया और चला आया। इसके बाद अन्दर से दरवाजा बन्द कर कु छ देर तक मोबाईल चलाकर हम दोनों सो गये। राि्ऴ में अचानक ही मुझपर तीन चार लोग कं बल डालकर सोये हुए कपड़ों में ही उठाकर जबरदस्ती ले जाने लगे जब मैं िचल्लाने का ्ऺयास िकया तो मेरे िसर पर तमंचा लगा िदये और िफर जबरदस्ती मुझे एक चारपिहया गाड़ी में डाल िदया और लेकर चल िदये। मेरा फोन भी छीन िलया। कु छ दूर चलने के बाद जब मेरे िसर से कम्बल हटा तो देखा िक मैं िपछली सीट पर बैठा हूँ और मेरे अगल बगल दो लोग बैठे हैं। िजसमें एक ्िि्व ने मेरे उपर तमंचा लगा रखा था आगे की सीट पर बाये तरफ एक ्िि्व बैठा था और गाड़ी अनुप किटयार चला रहा था। तथा यह गाडी भी अनुप की ही थी। जब मैं पुछने का ्ऺयास िकया तो तीनों लोगों ने कहा िक तुम्हारे और गाड़ी चला रहे ्िि्व का अपरहण कर िलया गया है बोलोगे तो गोली मार दी जायेगी। डर के मारे मैं कु छ नहीं बोल पाया। लेिकन मौका पाकर मैं ्ऱाईवर के आगे लगे सीसे से इशारा से 5 BAIL No. 21467 of 2025 अनुप को गाड़ी कहीं थाने पर ले जाने के िलए िकया िकन्तु उसने गाड़ी कहीं नहीं रोकी रात भर व िदनभर लेकर मुझे चलते रहे जब मुझे प्यास लगी तो मुझे पानी न देकर शराब िपलाते रहे। िजससे मुझे खुब नशा होने लगा िकन्तु मुझे इतना आभास हो रहा था िक यह लोग मुझे गाड़ी में लेकर शाहॅजापुर एवं अन्य स्थानों पर लेकर घुमते रहे। तथा िफर मुझे एक अन्धकार कोठरी में डालकर बन्धक बना िदये और यह कहे िक तुम्हे इस कोठरी में एवं तुम्हारे साथी को बगल वाली कोठरी में में बन्द िकये हैं। िपसाब कराने भी बाहर नहीं ले जा रहे थे बिल्क उसी कोठरी में ही िपशाब कराते थे। और िदन के समय लोहे के बड़े बक्शे में बन्द कर देते थे तािक बाहर में आवाज लगाकर िकसी की मदद न ले सकू । पानी माँगने पर शराब िपलाते थे। मैं िबल्कु ल लाचार हो गया था िक आप लोगों ने मुझे इनके चु ंगल से छु ड़ा िलया। साहब मुझे एक बात नहीं समझ आ रही है िक अगर मेरे साथ अनुप का अपहरण हुआ है तो रास्ते भर इतनी लम्बी या्ऴा करने के बावजूद तथा गाड़ी से कई जगह उतरने के बाद एवं रास्ते में कई थाना चोिकयों को पास करने के बाद भी अनुप ने गाड़ी थाने के अन्दर क्यों नहीं ले गया और न ही िकसी पुिलस वालों के पास रोका और मैं इसिलए मदद नहीं माँग सका क्योिक इन लोगों ने मेरे उपर तमंचा लगा रखा था। एवं अनुप से वह लड़के कई बार गाड़ी के पीछे ले जाकर क्या बात कर रहे थे। और मेरा अपहरण हुआ तो घर का दरवाजा िकसने खोला जबिक कु ं डी मैंने खुद भीतर से बन्द की थी। साहब अब मुझे समझ में आया िक अनुप ने अपने सािथयों के साथ िमलकर मेरा अपहरण अनुप किटयार ने अपने सािथयों के साथ िमलकर मेरा अपहरण िकया है। जबिक मैंने इसकी पहले भी पैसे देकर मदद की थी और 3 लाख रुपये मदद के िलए 15 िदन बाद देने के िलए कहा था। पैसे के लालच में आकर अनुप ने अपने दोस्तों के साथ िमलकर मेरा अपहरण करकर िफरौती बसुलने की योजना बनाई है और अनुप ने मुझे यह िदखाने के िलए िक उसका भी अपहरण हुआ है। झुठा नाटक िकया है। मैं तो अनुप को अपना भाई से भी ज्यादा मानता था। उसकी छोटी मोटी आवश्यकता भी पुणर् करता था। उसे मेरे अण्डे के कारोबार से कमाई की भी जानकारी थी। साहब मैं चाहता हूँ िक अनुप एवं उसके सभी साथी िजनका नाम अब स्प्ि हो गया है उनके िखलाफ कड़ी कानुनी कायर्वाही की जाये। इस ्ऺकार पुछताछ करने पर अपहृत ्षारा जानकारी दी जा रही है।" I it in find that is not in dispute its entirety, (7) Having heard learned counsel for the parties and examined the matter that abductee/victim-Harish was recovered from the house of Udit by the police, who was kept hostage under the supervision of Udit, Umashankar (applicant) and Lali. All the three persons were also arrested at the spot. Key of the room, in which abductee was kept was given by Udit to police. After interrogation, Udit, Umashankar (applicant) and Lali have disclosed the names of other co-accused as well as modus-operandi adopted by them. Thereafter in follow-up action, other co-accused have also arrested in the manner as mentioned in F.I.R. Victim has also made allegation against the applicant along with other co-accused. So far as submission of learned counsel for the applicant that co-accused Akash has been 6 BAIL No. 21467 of 2025 granted bail in Case Crime No. 57 of 2025 vide order dated 06.06.2025 is concerned, it is relevant to mention that he has been granted bail considering the fact that victim in his statement has not named him, whereas the applicant was arrested at the spot and the allegation against the applicant is that victim was kept hostage under the supervision of the applicant as well as Udit and Lali, hence case of Akash is distinguishable from the case of the applicant, therefore, benefit of order dated 06.06.2025 cannot be extended to the applicant. (8) Considering the overall facts and circumstances of the case as well as keeping in view the submissions advanced on behalf of parties, gravity of offence, role assigned to applicant, severity of punishment, statement of the victim and manner in which crime has been committed as mentioned above, I do not find any good ground to release the applicant on bail. (9) Accordingly, the bail application is rejected. (10) It is made clear that the observations contained in the instant order are confined to the issue of bail and shall not affect the merit of the trial. (11) However, it is open for the applicant to move second bail application after recording the statement of the victim/abductee before the trial Court. (12) A copy of this order be sent to the victim/ abductee for information at the earliest. Order Date :- 11.8.2025 Shubham Digitally signed by :- SHUBHAM KUMAR AGRAHARI High Court of Judicature at Allahabad