Allahabad High Court
Suneel vs State Of U.P. And Another on 26 October, 2023
Bench: Shekhar Kumar Yadav
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
?Neutral Citation No. - 2023:AHC:204429
Court No. - 71
Case :- CRIMINAL MISC ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION U/S 438 CR.P.C. No. - 11642 of 2023
Applicant :- Suneel
Opposite Party :- State Of U.P. And Another
Counsel for Applicant :- Shashi Bhushan,Smriti Shukla
Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A.
Hon'ble Shekhar Kumar Yadav,J.
1. Heard Mrs. Smriti Shukla, learned counsel for the applicants and learned Additional Government Advocate for the State.
2. This anticipatory bail application (under section 438 Cr.P.C.) has been moved seeking bail in Case Crime No.946 of 2018, under Section 376 I.P.C., P.S.- Sector-39 Noida, District- Gautam Buddha Nagar.
3. As per complaint, the complainant moved an application under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C. before the court below concerned alleging therein that applicant has committed rape upon her by intoxicating her.
4. Learned counsel for the applicant submitted that the applicant has been falsely implicated in the present case just to harass the applicant. He submitted that the applicant and victim were doing job of tailoring in the same company and the present FIR has been lodged against the applicant only on this reason that the applicant has given money to the opposite party no.2 and when the applicant demanded his money back, she refused to return his money. He submitted that as per FIR and statement of the victim recorded under Section 164 Cr.P.C., the victim is a consenting party and she was in a physical relationship with the applicant, and as such, no offence under Section 376 I.P.C. is made out against the applicant. Learned counsel for the applicant further submitted that earlier the applicant has approached this Court filing a writ petition being Criminal Misc. Writ Petition No.31022 of 2018 challenging the FIR and co-ordinate Bench of this Court vide order dated 1.11.2018 granted interim protection to the applicant till submission of police report under Section 173(2) Cr.P.C.. Now, the charge sheet has been submitted and no credible evidence has been found against the applicant. The applicant has no criminal history. Learned counsel for the applicant further submits that applicant has apprehension of imminent arrest and in case, applicant is released on anticipatory bail, he will not misuse the liberty and would co-operate with the trial.
4. Learned A.G.A. has opposed the prayer for anticipatory bail of the applicant. He has submitted that in view of the seriousness of the allegations made against the applicant, he is not entitled to grant of anticipatory bail. The apprehension of the applicant is not founded on any material on record. Only on the basis of imaginary fear, anticipatory bail cannot be granted.
5. Hence without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case and considering the nature of accusations and antecedents of applicant and the fact that the applicant and victim are consenting party, he is directed to be enlarged on anticipatory bail as per the Constitution Bench judgment of the Apex Court in the case of Sushila Aggarwal vs. State (NCT of Delhi)- 2020 SCC Online SC 98. The future contingencies regarding anticipatory bail being granted to applicant shall also be taken care of as per the aforesaid judgment of the Apex Court.
6. In the event of arrest, the applicant shall be released on anticipatory bail. Let the applicant- Suneel, involved in the aforesaid case crime be released on anticipatory bail on furnishing a personal bond of Rs.50,000/- with two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the trial court concerned with the following conditions:-
(i) The applicant shall co-operate with the Investigating Officer during investigation and shall report to the Investigating Officer as and when required for the purpose of conducting investigation.
(ii) 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.
(iii) The applicant shall not leave the country during the currency of trial without prior permission from the concerned trial Court.
(iv) The applicant shall surrender his passport, if any, to the concerned Court forthwith. His passport will remain in custody of the concerned Court.
(v) The applicant shall file an undertaking to the effect that he shall not seek any adjournment on the dates fixed for evidence and 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 to ensure presence of the applicant.
(vi) In case, the applicant misuses the liberty of bail, the Court concerned may take appropriate action in accordance with law and judgment of Apex Court in the case of Sushila Aggarwal vs. State (NCT of Delhi)- 2020 SCC Online SC 98.
(vii) 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 default of this condition is deliberate or without sufficient cause, then it shall be open for the trial court to treat such default as abuse of liberty of his bail and proceed against his in accordance with law.
7. In default or misuse of any of the conditions, the Public Prosecutor/ Investigating Officer/ first informant-complainant is at liberty to file appropriate application for cancellation of anticipatory bail granted to the applicant.
8. With the aforesaid observations/ directions, the application stands allowed.
Order Date :- 26.10.2023
Krishna*
