High Court · 2025

While pressing the instant application, learned counsel for the applicant submitted that the applicant is innocent and he has falsely been implicated in the present case. It is stated that the applicant was one of the directors in the Society, known as Timecity Multi State Cooperative Society Ltd. (in short "Society") and this 'Society' is registered under the State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002 and the main person of the 'Society' was C.P. Shukla and he continued on the post of Chairman till 15th September, 2017. Upon resignation of C.P. Shukla from the post of Chairman in the election, the applicant Pankaj Kumar Pathak was elected as Chairman on 02.01.2020 and prior to that applicant Pankaj Pathak was discharging duty as Incharge Chairman. It is also stated that according to the F.I.R. bearing No.0820, dated 01.12.2024 lodged at Police Station-Dewa, District- Barabanki, under Sections 406, 419, 420, 467, 468, 471 I.P.C. the basis of the pending criminal proceedings before the Court concerned, the informant deposited, Rs.3,50,000/- in the Society in a scheme which relates to providing land in lieu of the double of the amount deposited in the Society. It is also stated that the contents of the F.I.R. indicates that after various meetings with the officers of the 'Society' on the issue of availing of the benefit of the scheme of the 'Society' the informant being satisfied after taking note of the relevant documents of the land related to the said scheme, i.e. map, sale deeds, revenue entries (Khasra and Khatauni) and other documents, such as documents related to RERA and LDA deposited the amount in the 'Society'. The relevant portion of the F.I.R. referred to above is extracted herein under :- "उपररो्ሹ कम्पननियोሱ मम पቚኋरቕኍ दቚኋरቚኋ उनिककी इन्ववेस्टमवेन्ट यरोजनिቚኋ मम FD, RD, MIS, Daily Deposit तरቚኋ अन्य स्ककीमोሱ मम लगभग 3,50,000/-(ततीनि लቚኋख पचቚኋस हजቚኋर) जमቚኋ नकयवे गयवे रवे और उपररो्ሹ नवपनቌኌयोሱ दቚኋरቚኋ यह नवश्वቚኋस नदिलቚኋयቚኋ गयቚኋ रቚኋ नक जमቚኋ रुपयቚኋ ममैच्यरोररटती कቚኋ समय आनिवे पर ब्यቚኋज सनहत समय सवे भभुगतቚኋनि हरो जቚኋएगቚኋ यቚኋ जमቚኋ नकयवे गय धनि सवे दिभुगभुनिती ककीमत ककी जमतीनि कቚኋ बमैनिቚኋमቚኋ पቚኋरቕኍ कवे पቌኌ मम कर नदियቚኋ जቚኋयवेगቚኋ। नवपቌኌती दቚኋरቚኋ पቚኋरቕኍ करो नवश्वቚኋस मम लवेनिवे हवेतभु लखनिऊ हवेड ऑनफिस मम कई बቚኋर पቚኋरती करो बभुलቚኋकर एववं कई बቚኋर पቚኋरቕኍ कवे पቚኋस स्वयवं आकर मभुलቚኋकቚኋत नकयቚኋ गयቚኋ एववं अपनिवे सቚኋथरयोሱ कवे सቚኋर कई बቚኋर पቚኋरቕኍ सवे मतीनटवंग करकवे अपनिती कवं पननियोሱ मम सवंबवंथधत बहहत सቚኋरती दिस्तቚኋववेज नदिखቚኋकर तरቚኋ आरबतीआई सवे पቚኋ्቎ लቚኋइसमस नदिखቚኋकर व अपनिती जमतीनि , प्ललॉटोሱ कवे निक्शवे बमैनिቚኋमवे , खसरቚኋ , खततौनिती आनदि कቚኋगज और रवेरቚኋ एल डती ए दቚኋरቚኋ अपቚ኏व्ड प्लቚኋननिवंग कवे दिस्तቚኋववेज नदिखቚኋयवे गयवे। नदिनिቚኋवंक 21.11.2023 पቚኋरቕኍ निवे नहवंदिती दिमैननिक समቚኋचቚኋर प्ቔ अमर उजቚኋलቚኋ मम एक खबर पढती नक टቚኋइमथसटती गभुप अपनिवे ननिववेशकोሱ कቚኋ कररोडोሱ कवे हडप कर फिरቚኋर हरो गई हमै। खबर पढ कर पቚኋरቕኍ कम्पनिती कवे आनफिस सस्रत 2nd Floor, Janaki Plaza, Jankipuram, Ring Road, Lucknow पहह वंचቚኋ तरो बडती कቚኋफिकी भतीड जगቚኋ रती और आनफिस कवे दिरवቚኋजवे पर तቚኋलቚኋ पडቚኋ रቚኋ। आस पቚኋस कवे रहनिवे वቚኋलरो निवे बतቚኋयቚኋ नक आनफिस लगभग दिरो ढቚኋई महतीनिवे सवे बन्दि हमै और यहቚኋ ररोज ऐसवे हती भतीड लगतती हमै। यह सभुनिकर पቚኋरቕኍ अपनिवे खቚ኏नि पसतीनिवे ककी कमቚኋई डቚ኏ ब जቚኋनिवे ककी बቚኋत सरोच कर अत्यत आहत हहआ। पቚኋरቕኍ दቚኋरቚኋ जब नवपቌኌती दቚኋरቚኋ सवंचቚኋथलत कम्पननियोሱ कवे बቚኋरवे मम पतቚኋ नकयቚኋ गयቚኋ तरो पतቚኋ चलቚኋ नक नवपቌኌती व उसकवे अन्य सቚኋरती दቚኋरቚኋ फिजቕኍ कम्पननियቚኋवं बनिቚኋकर कपटपቚ኏वरक बवेईमቚኋनिती पቚ኏रर आशय रखतवे हहए षडवं्ቔ दቚኋरቚኋ कቚ኏ टरनचत दिस्तቚኋववेजोሱ करो नदिखቚኋकर जमतीनि दिवेनिवे कवे निቚኋम पर एववं अन्य यरोजनिቚኋओवं मम इन्ववेस्ट कर कवे ज्यቚኋदिቚኋ सवे ज्यቚኋदिቚኋ लቚኋभ दिवेनिवे कቚኋ झቚኋवंसቚኋ दिवेकर FD, RD, MIS, डवेलती नडपቚኋथजट तरቚኋ अन्य स्ककीमम बनिቚኋकर लरोगोሱ करो झቚኋवंसवे मम लवेकर पቚኋरቕኍ व अन्य हजቚኋररो लरोगोሱ सवे अपनिती नवनभ्ቐ कवं पननियोሱ मम कररोडोሱ रुपयቚኋ जमቚኋ करቚኋयቚኋ गयቚኋ। जबनक इससवे सवंबवंथधत नवपनቌኌयोሱ कवे पቚኋस करोई भती आरबतीआई कवे दቚኋरቚኋ नदियቚኋ गयቚኋ लቚኋइसमस निहीሻ रቚኋ और निቚኋ हती प्लቚኋनटवंग सवे सवंबवंथधत नकसती भती अरररटती कवे दቚኋरቚኋ अपቚ኏व्ड प्लቚኋनि रቚኋ। नफिर भती पቚኋरती सवे नवश्वቚኋसघቚኋत फिजቕኍवቚኋडቚኋ , धरोखቚኋधडती कर पडयवं्ቔ रचकर कቚ኏ टरनचत झቚ኏ठवे व फिजቕኍ दिस्तቚኋववेज नदिखቚኋ कर कररोडरो रुपयቚኋ ठग थलयवे। नवनदित हरो नक नवपቌኌतीगर जरो नक शቚኋनतर अपरቚኋधती हमै जरो गगग बनिቚኋ कर बडवे पमैमቚኋनिवे पर कई पदिवेशोሱ मम कቚ኏ टरनचत दिस्तቚኋववेज बनिቚኋनिቚኋ, धरोखቚኋधडती व फिजቕኍवቚኋडቚኋ कर षडयवं्ቔ रचकर भरोलवे भቚኋलवे लरोगोሱ करो झቚ኏ठवे व फिजቕኍ दिस्तቚኋववेज नदिखቚኋ कर नवश्वቚኋस नदिलቚኋ कर , झቚኋवंसቚኋ दिवेकर ठगती कቚኋ धवंधቚኋ चलቚኋ रहवे हग। शतीमቚኋनि जती पቚኋरቕኍ कवे अरक पररशम व खቚ኏नि पसतीनिቚኋ बहቚኋकर अथजरत जतीवनि भर ककी जमቚኋ पቚ኏ वंजती नवपቌኌतीगर दቚኋरቚኋ ठग थलयवे जቚኋनिवे सवे वह पቚ኏रर रूप सवे बबቚኋरदि हरो चभुकቚኋ हमै और उसकवे घቚኋस अपनिती व अपनिवे पररवቚኋर ककी अजतीनवकቚኋ हवेतभु उसकवे पቚኋस कभु छ शवेष निहीሻ हमै।" It is further stated that the dispute related to Management of the 'Society' occurred and C.P. Shukla, the Chairman of the 'Society' after submitting his resignation claimed his rights over the 'Society' and also carried out business activities of the 'Society', therefore one of the directors of the 'Society' Shri Santosh Kumar Singh lodged an F.I.R. on 09.06.2024 against the said C.P. Shukla and other persons related to the said C.P. Shukla including wife, son, daughter and brothers. It is also stated that the dispute related to rights over the company is pending consideration before the Central Registrar, Cooperative Societies, New Delhi. It is next stated that on account of the dispute related to Management of the Society the promise to provide land as per the Scheme could not be fulfilled, nor the amount deposited could be provided to the investors and therefore, various F.I.R.s were lodged by the investors including the F.I.R. which was registered as Case Crime No.820/2024, interalia under Sections 409, 420 I.P.C., Police Station-Dewa, District-Barabanki, by the informant/opposite party No.2. Further submission of the learned counsel for the applicant is that to attract the offence under Sections 406, 409, 420 I.P.C. one of the essential ingredients is 'mens rea', meaning thereby the intention to defraud must exist from the inception when the promise was made and unless it is shown that the accused had dishonest and fraudulent intention at the time of complainant/informant parted with the monies, it would not constitute an offence and from the contents of the F.I.R. it is apparent that this aspect is missing. It is also stated that in the similar circumstances, in Case Crime No.461/2023, under Sections 420, 409 I.P.C., Police Station- Gudamba, District-Lucknow, the applicant has been granted bail by the trial court in Bail Application No.453 of 2025, vide order dated 05.02.2025. It is further stated that investigation has already been completed and as such there is no need to custodial interrogation of the applicant. The applicant during investigation never tried to influence the witness of the prosecution, nor tried to tamper the evidence. Learned A.G.A. as well as learned counsel for the informant, however, vehemently opposed the prayer for grant of bail but could not able to dispute the above contention made by the learned counsel for the accused-applicant. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, perusing the record and also considering the nature of allegations and the essential ingredients of Section 409 and 420 I.P.C. as also the criminal history as explained in paragraph 21 of the affidavit filed in support of the application seeking bail and the arguments advanced by the learned counsel for the parties and, without expressing any opinion on the merit of the case, I find it to be a fit case for granting bail. Let applicant (Pankaj Kumar Pathak) be released on bail in the aforesaid case crime number on his furnishing personal bond and two reliable sureties each of the like amount to the satisfaction of the court concerned subject to following conditions :- (i) The applicant will cooperate with the prosecution during trial. (ii) The applicant will not tamper with the evidence during trial. (iii) The applicant will not pressurize/intimidate the prosecution witness(es). (iv) The applicant shall not commit similar offence. (v) The applicant shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the court or to any police officer or tamper with the evidence. (vi) The applicant shall remain present before the trial court on each date fixed, either personally or through counsel. (vii) The applicant will not seek any adjournment on the dates fixed for evidence when the witnesses are present in court. (viii) The applicant shall remain present, in person, before the trial court on the dates fixed for recording of statement under Section 313 Cr.P.C. In case of default of above conditions it shall be open for the trial court to treat it as abuse of liberty of bail and pass orders in accordance with law. As this order relates to enlargement of the applicant on bail, it is clarified that observations made in this order shall have no bearing on the merits of the case and the trial court shall not be influenced by any observation made in this order. Order Date :- 14.2.2025 ML/- MUNNA LAL High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, Lucknow Bench

While pressing the instant application, learned counsel for the applicant submitted that the applicant is innocent and he has falsely been implicated in the present case. It is stated that the applicant was one of the directors in the Society, known as Timecity Multi State Cooperative Society Ltd. (in short "Society") and this 'Society' is registered under the State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002 and the main person of the 'Society' was C.P. Shukla and he continued on the post of Chairman till 15th September, 2017. Upon resignation of C.P. Shukla from the post of Chairman in the election, the applicant Pankaj Kumar Pathak was elected as Chairman on 02.01.2020 and prior to that applicant Pankaj Pathak was discharging duty as Incharge Chairman. It is also stated that according to the F.I.R. bearing No.0820, dated 01.12.2024 lodged at Police Station-Dewa, District- Barabanki, under Sections 406, 419, 420, 467, 468, 471 I.P.C. the basis of the pending criminal proceedings before the Court concerned, the informant deposited, Rs.3,50,000/- in the Society in a scheme which relates to providing land in lieu of the double of the amount deposited in the Society. It is also stated that the contents of the F.I.R. indicates that after various meetings with the officers of the 'Society' on the issue of availing of the benefit of the scheme of the 'Society' the informant being satisfied after taking note of the relevant documents of the land related to the said scheme, i.e. map, sale deeds, revenue entries (Khasra and Khatauni) and other documents, such as documents related to RERA and LDA deposited the amount in the 'Society'. The relevant portion of the F.I.R. referred to above is extracted herein under :- "उपररो्ሹ कम्पननियोሱ मम पቚኋरቕኍ दቚኋरቚኋ उनिककी इन्ववेस्टमवेन्ट यरोजनिቚኋ मम FD, RD, MIS, Daily Deposit तरቚኋ अन्य स्ककीमोሱ मम लगभग 3,50,000/-(ततीनि लቚኋख पचቚኋस हजቚኋर) जमቚኋ नकयवे गयवे रवे और उपररो्ሹ नवपनቌኌयोሱ दቚኋरቚኋ यह नवश्वቚኋस नदिलቚኋयቚኋ गयቚኋ रቚኋ नक जमቚኋ रुपयቚኋ ममैच्यरोररटती कቚኋ समय आनिवे पर ब्यቚኋज सनहत समय सवे भभुगतቚኋनि हरो जቚኋएगቚኋ यቚኋ जमቚኋ नकयवे गय धनि सवे दिभुगभुनिती ककीमत ककी जमतीनि कቚኋ बमैनिቚኋमቚኋ पቚኋरቕኍ कवे पቌኌ मम कर नदियቚኋ जቚኋयवेगቚኋ। नवपቌኌती दቚኋरቚኋ पቚኋरቕኍ करो नवश्वቚኋस मम लवेनिवे हवेतभु लखनिऊ हवेड ऑनफिस मम कई बቚኋर पቚኋरती करो बभुलቚኋकर एववं कई बቚኋर पቚኋरቕኍ कवे पቚኋस स्वयवं आकर मभुलቚኋकቚኋत नकयቚኋ गयቚኋ एववं अपनिवे सቚኋथरयोሱ कवे सቚኋर कई बቚኋर पቚኋरቕኍ सवे मतीनटवंग करकवे अपनिती कवं पननियोሱ मम सवंबवंथधत बहहत सቚኋरती दिस्तቚኋववेज नदिखቚኋकर तरቚኋ आरबतीआई सवे पቚኋ्቎ लቚኋइसमस नदिखቚኋकर व अपनिती जमतीनि , प्ललॉटोሱ कवे निक्शवे बमैनिቚኋमवे , खसरቚኋ , खततौनिती आनदि कቚኋगज और रवेरቚኋ एल डती ए दቚኋरቚኋ अपቚ኏व्ड प्लቚኋननिवंग कवे दिस्तቚኋववेज नदिखቚኋयवे गयवे। नदिनिቚኋवंक 21.11.2023 पቚኋरቕኍ निवे नहवंदिती दिमैननिक समቚኋचቚኋर प्ቔ अमर उजቚኋलቚኋ मम एक खबर पढती नक टቚኋइमथसटती गभुप अपनिवे ननिववेशकोሱ कቚኋ कररोडोሱ कवे हडप कर फिरቚኋर हरो गई हमै। खबर पढ कर पቚኋरቕኍ कम्पनिती कवे आनफिस सस्रत 2nd Floor, Janaki Plaza, Jankipuram, Ring Road, Lucknow पहह वंचቚኋ तरो बडती कቚኋफिकी भतीड जगቚኋ रती और आनफिस कवे दिरवቚኋजवे पर तቚኋलቚኋ पडቚኋ रቚኋ। आस पቚኋस कवे रहनिवे वቚኋलरो निवे बतቚኋयቚኋ नक आनफिस लगभग दिरो ढቚኋई महतीनिवे सवे बन्दि हमै और यहቚኋ ररोज ऐसवे हती भतीड लगतती हमै। यह सभुनिकर पቚኋरቕኍ अपनिवे खቚ኏नि पसतीनिवे ककी कमቚኋई डቚ኏ ब जቚኋनिवे ककी बቚኋत सरोच कर अत्यत आहत हहआ। पቚኋरቕኍ दቚኋरቚኋ जब नवपቌኌती दቚኋरቚኋ सवंचቚኋथलत कम्पननियोሱ कवे बቚኋरवे मम पतቚኋ नकयቚኋ गयቚኋ तरो पतቚኋ चलቚኋ नक नवपቌኌती व उसकवे अन्य सቚኋरती दቚኋरቚኋ फिजቕኍ कम्पननियቚኋवं बनिቚኋकर कपटपቚ኏वरक बवेईमቚኋनिती पቚ኏रर आशय रखतवे हहए षडवं्ቔ दቚኋरቚኋ कቚ኏ टरनचत दिस्तቚኋववेजोሱ करो नदिखቚኋकर जमतीनि दिवेनिवे कवे निቚኋम पर एववं अन्य यरोजनिቚኋओवं मम इन्ववेस्ट कर कवे ज्यቚኋदिቚኋ सवे ज्यቚኋदिቚኋ लቚኋभ दिवेनिवे कቚኋ झቚኋवंसቚኋ दिवेकर FD, RD, MIS, डवेलती नडपቚኋथजट तरቚኋ अन्य स्ककीमम बनिቚኋकर लरोगोሱ करो झቚኋवंसवे मम लवेकर पቚኋरቕኍ व अन्य हजቚኋररो लरोगोሱ सवे अपनिती नवनभ्ቐ कवं पननियोሱ मम कररोडोሱ रुपयቚኋ जमቚኋ करቚኋयቚኋ गयቚኋ। जबनक इससवे सवंबवंथधत नवपनቌኌयोሱ कवे पቚኋस करोई भती आरबतीआई कवे दቚኋरቚኋ नदियቚኋ गयቚኋ लቚኋइसमस निहीሻ रቚኋ और निቚኋ हती प्लቚኋनटवंग सवे सवंबवंथधत नकसती भती अरररटती कवे दቚኋरቚኋ अपቚ኏व्ड प्लቚኋनि रቚኋ। नफिर भती पቚኋरती सवे नवश्वቚኋसघቚኋत फिजቕኍवቚኋडቚኋ , धरोखቚኋधडती कर पडयवं्ቔ रचकर कቚ኏ टरनचत झቚ኏ठवे व फिजቕኍ दिस्तቚኋववेज नदिखቚኋ कर कररोडरो रुपयቚኋ ठग थलयवे। नवनदित हरो नक नवपቌኌतीगर जरो नक शቚኋनतर अपरቚኋधती हमै जरो गगग बनिቚኋ कर बडवे पमैमቚኋनिवे पर कई पदिवेशोሱ मम कቚ኏ टरनचत दिस्तቚኋववेज बनिቚኋनिቚኋ, धरोखቚኋधडती व फिजቕኍवቚኋडቚኋ कर षडयवं्ቔ रचकर भरोलवे भቚኋलवे लरोगोሱ करो झቚ኏ठवे व फिजቕኍ दिस्तቚኋववेज नदिखቚኋ कर नवश्वቚኋस नदिलቚኋ कर , झቚኋवंसቚኋ दिवेकर ठगती कቚኋ धवंधቚኋ चलቚኋ रहवे हग। शतीमቚኋनि जती पቚኋरቕኍ कवे अरक पररशम व खቚ኏नि पसतीनिቚኋ बहቚኋकर अथजरत जतीवनि भर ककी जमቚኋ पቚ኏ वंजती नवपቌኌतीगर दቚኋरቚኋ ठग थलयवे जቚኋनिवे सवे वह पቚ኏रर रूप सवे बबቚኋरदि हरो चभुकቚኋ हमै और उसकवे घቚኋस अपनिती व अपनिवे पररवቚኋर ककी अजतीनवकቚኋ हवेतभु उसकवे पቚኋस कभु छ शवेष निहीሻ हमै।" It is further stated that the dispute related to Management of the 'Society' occurred and C.P. Shukla, the Chairman of the 'Society' after submitting his resignation claimed his rights over the 'Society' and also carried out business activities of the 'Society', therefore one of the directors of the 'Society' Shri Santosh Kumar Singh lodged an F.I.R. on 09.06.2024 against the said C.P. Shukla and other persons related to the said C.P. Shukla including wife, son, daughter and brothers. It is also stated that the dispute related to rights over the company is pending consideration before the Central Registrar, Cooperative Societies, New Delhi. It is next stated that on account of the dispute related to Management of the Society the promise to provide land as per the Scheme could not be fulfilled, nor the amount deposited could be provided to the investors and therefore, various F.I.R.s were lodged by the investors including the F.I.R. which was registered as Case Crime No.820/2024, interalia under Sections 409, 420 I.P.C., Police Station-Dewa, District-Barabanki, by the informant/opposite party No.2. Further submission of the learned counsel for the applicant is that to attract the offence under Sections 406, 409, 420 I.P.C. one of the essential ingredients is 'mens rea', meaning thereby the intention to defraud must exist from the inception when the promise was made and unless it is shown that the accused had dishonest and fraudulent intention at the time of complainant/informant parted with the monies, it would not constitute an offence and from the contents of the F.I.R. it is apparent that this aspect is missing. It is also stated that in the similar circumstances, in Case Crime No.461/2023, under Sections 420, 409 I.P.C., Police Station- Gudamba, District-Lucknow, the applicant has been granted bail by the trial court in Bail Application No.453 of 2025, vide order dated 05.02.2025. It is further stated that investigation has already been completed and as such there is no need to custodial interrogation of the applicant. The applicant during investigation never tried to influence the witness of the prosecution, nor tried to tamper the evidence. Learned A.G.A. as well as learned counsel for the informant, however, vehemently opposed the prayer for grant of bail but could not able to dispute the above contention made by the learned counsel for the accused-applicant. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, perusing the record and also considering the nature of allegations and the essential ingredients of Section 409 and 420 I.P.C. as also the criminal history as explained in paragraph 21 of the affidavit filed in support of the application seeking bail and the arguments advanced by the learned counsel for the parties and, without expressing any opinion on the merit of the case, I find it to be a fit case for granting bail. Let applicant (Pankaj Kumar Pathak) be released on bail in the aforesaid case crime number on his furnishing personal bond and two reliable sureties each of the like amount to the satisfaction of the court concerned subject to following conditions :- (i) The applicant will cooperate with the prosecution during trial. (ii) The applicant will not tamper with the evidence during trial. (iii) The applicant will not pressurize/intimidate the prosecution witness(es). (iv) The applicant shall not commit similar offence. (v) The applicant shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the court or to any police officer or tamper with the evidence. (vi) The applicant shall remain present before the trial court on each date fixed, either personally or through counsel. (vii) The applicant will not seek any adjournment on the dates fixed for evidence when the witnesses are present in court. (viii) The applicant shall remain present, in person, before the trial court on the dates fixed for recording of statement under Section 313 Cr.P.C. In case of default of above conditions it shall be open for the trial court to treat it as abuse of liberty of bail and pass orders in accordance with law. As this order relates to enlargement of the applicant on bail, it is clarified that observations made in this order shall have no bearing on the merits of the case and the trial court shall not be influenced by any observation made in this order. Order Date :- 14.2.2025 ML/- MUNNA LAL High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, Lucknow Bench