High Court · 2025

Heard learned counsel for applicant, learned Additional Government Advocate appearing on behalf of State and Mr. Ram Kripal Yadav learned counsel for informant and perused the record. This first bail application has been filed with regard to Case Crime No. 462 of 2023 under Section 364 IPC Police Station Mehmudabad, District Sitapur. As per contents of FIR, the incident is said to have taken place on 5th November, 2023 at about 10.00 A.M. when applicant allegedly took away the minor son of informant but he has not been recovered since then. It is submitted that the applicant has been falsely implicated in the charges levelled against him and denies any role in the allegations levelled. It is submitted that the said minor boy has not been recovered and charge sheet has been filed against the applicant only on the basis of last seen evidence which even otherwise at best, is only circumstantial evidence requiring corroboration. It is submitted that applicant is under incarceration since 29th November, 2023 with evidence of only P.W.1 ongoing. Learned A.G.A. as well as learned counsel for informant have opposed bail application with submission that allegations levelled in the F.I.R. as well as statement of villagers clearly indicate complicity of applicant in the charges levelled against him. Learned A.G.A. however admits that neither the boy nor any body has been recovered. It is also submitted that there are two other co-accused who have not been arrested till date. It is however admitted that applicant does not have any previous criminal history. Upon consideration of submissions advanced by learned counsel for parties and upon perusal of material on record, prima facie subject to evidence led in trial, it appears that charge sheet has been filed against the applicant primarily on the basis of last seen evidence which is circumstantial evidence and would require corroboration during course of trial. The applicant is under incarceration since 29th November, 2023 with only evidence of P.W.1 ongoing with charge sheet indicating 17 other witnesses. As such there is no hope of early conclusion of trial. Hon'ble the Supreme Court in Sanjay Chandra v. Central Bureau of Investigation, reported in (2012) 1 SCC 40 has specifically held that bail is to be a norm and an under-trial is not required to be in jail for ever pending trial. Relevant paragraphs of the judgment are as under :- "21. In bail applications, generally, it has been laid down from the earliest times that the object of bail is to secure the appearance of the accused person at his trial by reasonable amount of bail. The object of bail is neither punitive nor preventative. Deprivation of liberty must be considered a punishment, unless it is required to ensure that an accused person will stand his trial when called upon. The courts owe more than verbal respect to the principle that punishment begins after conviction, and that every man is deemed to be innocent until duly tried and duly found guilty." "27. This Court, time and again, has stated that bail is the rule and committal to jail an exception. It has also observed that refusal of bail is a restriction on the personal liberty of the individual guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution." Looking to the nature of allegations levelled against the applicant and submission made in the bail application, without expressing any opinion on the merits of case and considering the nature of accusation and the severity of punishment in case of conviction and the nature of supporting evidence, particularly since no reasonable apprehension of tampering with the witnesses has been alleged, prima facie, this Court finds, the applicant is entitled to be released on bail in this case. Accordingly bail application is allowed. Let applicant Vikram @ Virendra involved in the aforesaid case 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 which are being imposed in the interest of justice:- (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. Order Date :- 25.4.2025 prabhat PRABHAT KUMAR High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, Lucknow Bench

Heard learned counsel for applicant, learned Additional Government Advocate appearing on behalf of State and Mr. Ram Kripal Yadav learned counsel for informant and perused the record. This first bail application has been filed with regard to Case Crime No. 462 of 2023 under Section 364 IPC Police Station Mehmudabad, District Sitapur. As per contents of FIR, the incident is said to have taken place on 5th November, 2023 at about 10.00 A.M. when applicant allegedly took away the minor son of informant but he has not been recovered since then. It is submitted that the applicant has been falsely implicated in the charges levelled against him and denies any role in the allegations levelled. It is submitted that the said minor boy has not been recovered and charge sheet has been filed against the applicant only on the basis of last seen evidence which even otherwise at best, is only circumstantial evidence requiring corroboration. It is submitted that applicant is under incarceration since 29th November, 2023 with evidence of only P.W.1 ongoing. Learned A.G.A. as well as learned counsel for informant have opposed bail application with submission that allegations levelled in the F.I.R. as well as statement of villagers clearly indicate complicity of applicant in the charges levelled against him. Learned A.G.A. however admits that neither the boy nor any body has been recovered. It is also submitted that there are two other co-accused who have not been arrested till date. It is however admitted that applicant does not have any previous criminal history. Upon consideration of submissions advanced by learned counsel for parties and upon perusal of material on record, prima facie subject to evidence led in trial, it appears that charge sheet has been filed against the applicant primarily on the basis of last seen evidence which is circumstantial evidence and would require corroboration during course of trial. The applicant is under incarceration since 29th November, 2023 with only evidence of P.W.1 ongoing with charge sheet indicating 17 other witnesses. As such there is no hope of early conclusion of trial. Hon'ble the Supreme Court in Sanjay Chandra v. Central Bureau of Investigation, reported in (2012) 1 SCC 40 has specifically held that bail is to be a norm and an under-trial is not required to be in jail for ever pending trial. Relevant paragraphs of the judgment are as under :- "21. In bail applications, generally, it has been laid down from the earliest times that the object of bail is to secure the appearance of the accused person at his trial by reasonable amount of bail. The object of bail is neither punitive nor preventative. Deprivation of liberty must be considered a punishment, unless it is required to ensure that an accused person will stand his trial when called upon. The courts owe more than verbal respect to the principle that punishment begins after conviction, and that every man is deemed to be innocent until duly tried and duly found guilty." "27. This Court, time and again, has stated that bail is the rule and committal to jail an exception. It has also observed that refusal of bail is a restriction on the personal liberty of the individual guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution." Looking to the nature of allegations levelled against the applicant and submission made in the bail application, without expressing any opinion on the merits of case and considering the nature of accusation and the severity of punishment in case of conviction and the nature of supporting evidence, particularly since no reasonable apprehension of tampering with the witnesses has been alleged, prima facie, this Court finds, the applicant is entitled to be released on bail in this case. Accordingly bail application is allowed. Let applicant Vikram @ Virendra involved in the aforesaid case 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 which are being imposed in the interest of justice:- (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. Order Date :- 25.4.2025 prabhat PRABHAT KUMAR High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, Lucknow Bench