Allahabad High Court
Dharmendra @ Chhotu vs State Of U.P. And Anther on 13 January, 2023
Bench: Siddharth
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
?Court No. - 73
Case :- CRIMINAL MISC. BAIL APPLICATION No. - 4621 of 2022
Applicant :- Dharmendra @ Chhotu
Opposite Party :- State Of U.P. And Anther
Counsel for Applicant :- Ajatshatru Pandey
Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A.
Hon'ble Siddharth,J.
Heard learned counsel for the applicant and learned A.G.A for the State.
Counter affidavit filed by learned A.G.A is taken on record.
Rejoinder affidavit filed by counsel for the applicant is also taken on record.
There is allegation against the applicant of causing dowry death of his wife in the FIR.
Counsel for the applicant submits that the deceased committed suicide by way of hanging on 20.06.2021 and the father of the deceased informed the police station on 21.06.2021 that his daughter has committed suicide by way of hanging. Thereafter, inquest on the body of the deceased was conducted and after six days of the incident, FIR was lodged on 26.06.2021 by the father of the deceased making allegations of dowry death against the applicant and other co-accused persons.
Counsel for the applicant has also submitted that initially there was no complaint against the applicant and other family members of her matrimonial home. Subsequently, it appears that on account of some legal advice / ulterior motive, FIR was lodged in this case. There was no other injury has been found on the person of the deceased except the ligature mark. The applicant is in jail since 29.07.2021 and has no criminal history to his credit.
On the other hand learned A.G.A has opposed the prayer for bail.
Keeping in view the nature of the offence, evidence, complicity of the accused, submissions of the learned counsel for the parties noted above, finding force in the submissions made by the learned counsel for the applicant, larger mandate of the Article 21 of the Constitution of India, considering the dictum of Apex Court in the case of Dataram Singh Vs. State of U.P. and another reported in (2018) 3 SCC 22 and recent judgment dated 11.07.2022 of the Apex Court in the case of Satendra Kumar Antil vs. C.B.I., passed in S.L.P (Crl.) No. 5191 of 2021 and considering 5-6 times overcrowding in jails over and above their capacity by the under trials and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, the Court is of the view that the applicant has made out a case for bail. The bail application is allowed.
Let the applicant, Dharmendra @ Chhotu, involved in Case Crime No. 66 of 2021, under Sections- 498-A, 304-B IPC Section 3/4 of D.P. Act, Police Station- Lalpura, District- Hamirpur, 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 subject to following conditions. Further, before issuing the release order, the sureties be verified.
(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 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.
(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, status and residence proof of the applicant and sureties be verified by the court concerned before the bonds are accepted.
Order Date :- 13.1.2023
Rohit
