Citation : 2022 Latest Caselaw 892 Bom
Judgement Date : 25 January, 2022
Revn 51 of 2021.odt
1
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
NAGPUR BENCH AT NAGPUR
CRIMINAL REVISION APPLICATION NO.51/2021
APPLICANT : Raju @ Rajesh s/o Malhari Salunke
Aged 53 years, Occ. : Agriculture,
R/o Pusad, Tal. Pusad, Dist. Yevatmal.
...VERSUS...
RESPONDENTS : 1. Gyanendra s/o Darbalilal Kashuwah
Aged 60 years, Occ. Advocate,
R/o. Pandey Lay Out, Pusad,
Tal. Pusad, Dist. Yevatmal.
2. Fiza Parvin d/o Naushad Khan
Aged 21 years, Occ. Service,
R/o. Vasant Nagar, Galli No.1, Pusad,
Dist. Yevatmal.
3. State of Maharashtra
through Police Station Vasant Nagar,
Pusad, Distt. Yavatmal.
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Shri R.S. Nayak, Advocate for applicant
Mrs. Shital V. Dhawas, Advocate for non-applicant nos.1 and 2
Shri S.A. Ashirgade, Additional Public Prosecutor for non-applicant no.3
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CORAM : AVINASH G. GHAROTE, J.
DATE : 25/01/2022
1. The present revision raises an interesting question, and
therefore has been heard extensively.
Revn 51 of 2021.odt
2. On account of a dispute between the applicant and the
non-applicants, regarding the occupation of a piece of land, an
offence under Sections 307, 326, 504, 506 and 34 of the I.P.C., came
to be registered with the Police Station Vasant Nagar, Pusad, as
Crime No.339/2020, against the present applicant.
3. The applicant applied for anticipatory bail vide Misc.
Criminal Application No.249/2020, which came to be allowed by the
Additional Sessions Judge, Pusad, by his order dated 25/1/2021, on
conditions, one of them i.e. condition No. (vi) being that the
applicant shall not stay in Pusad town till completion of the
investigation, which is quoted herewith for ready reference :
"vi. After discharge from the hospital, applicant shall not stay in Pusad till completion of the investigation. The applicant shall furnish his place of residence and mobile number to the Investigating Officer, and shall not change the residence without prior permission of the investigation officer till the completion of the investigation."
4. The applicant thereafter filed Misc. Criminal
Application No.2/2020, seeking relaxation of the condition No. (vi) Revn 51 of 2021.odt
in the order dated 25/1/2021 passed in application in Misc.
Criminal Application No.249/2020, on the ground that the applicant
was a Nagar Sevak of Pusad Municipal Council having permanent
residence at Subhash Ward, Prabhag No.6 at Pusad and therefore
was required to attend the meetings of the Municipal Council,
Pusad. It was also claimed that he being an Honorary Magistrate has
to issue certificates to the students residing within the Municipal
limits, due to which his presence or stay in Pusad was necessary. It
was also claimed that he was a Director of Sheshrao Patil Ginning
and Processing, Pusad and so also of Pushpawanti Nagari Sahakari
Pat Sanstha, Pusad and therefore was also required to attend the
meetings of the above said two societies, on account of which, the
condition No. (vi), which debarred him from entering Pusad, was
required to be relaxed.
5. The Investigating Officer gave his no objection for
relaxing condition No. (vi), subject to the point that the applicant
could do the work from the place of his residence as if he visits the
disputed site, a serious incident may occur. It is also stated in the
reply by the I.O. that the applicant may visit his place of work with Revn 51 of 2021.odt
prior permission of the Court and give intimation to the I.O., and
should also not pressurize the witnesses. The learned Sessions Court,
found that it would not be proper to allow the applicant to visit the
disputed site, which is the place of the incident and accordingly,
relaxed condition No. (vi), as contained in the order dated
25/1/2021 in the following terms :
"2 ) The condition in bail order in crime No.339/2020, Dt. 25/01/2021 at serial number (vi) that 'Applicant shall not stay in Pusad', is hereby modified as under :
"The applicant may visit Pusad City to visit his work place between 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. with prior permission of I.O. but he shall not visit the disputed site which is the place of the incident till completion of the investigation.
3) The applicant shall abide by the above modified condition and all the rest of the conditions of the order dated 25/1/2021."
6. The applicant, in contravention to the relaxed
condition, was found on the site of the incident on 16/3/2021, as a
result of which, an application for cancellation of the anticipatory
bail, granted on 25/1/2021 to the applicant came to be filed by the Revn 51 of 2021.odt
respondent Nos. 1 and 2, which was supported by the I.O. and the
learned Sessions Court, finding that the presence of the applicant, at
the site of incident was demonstrated, which was contrary to the
relaxed condition as per the order dated 20/2/2021, by the
impugned order dated 2/6/2021, cancelled the anticipatory bail
granted to the applicant. The present revision application challenges
this order, cancelling the anticipatory bail.
7. By an order dated 07/07/2021, this Court, while
issuing notice was pleased to direct that in the interregnum, no
coercive action shall be taken against the applicant, pursuant to the
order impugned.
8. Mr. Rajesh Nayak, learned Counsel for the applicant
does not dispute the visit/presence of the applicant at the
agricultural field, adjacent to the site of the incident, claimed to be
belonging to the applicant, on 16/3/2021, nor does he dispute, the
presence of the applicant on the spot of incidence on 16/3/2021. It
is his contention, that on 16/3/2021, when the applicant had visited
his agricultural field at Pusad, since the electric motor pump of five
horsepower installed therein, was found to be defective and had Revn 51 of 2021.odt
stopped working, therefore, the electric motor was taken by the
applicant from his field to the shop of one Shri Kanoje (Sanjay
Mechanical Workshop), who found that the wiring was burnt. The
applicant, therefore was standing in the said shop, for repairing of
his motor pump, when he saw some policemen were standing on the
disputed site/incident and merely out of curiosity had been there,
whereupon the police personnel had asked him to leave, upon
which, he had returned back to the shop of the said Kanoje, in
support of which, reliance is placed upon the receipt issued by
Sanjay Mechanical Workshop on 16/3/2021 (pg.49). This averment
is in ground no.(iv) of the memo of the criminal revision, filed in this
Court. Mr. Nayak, learned Counsel for the applicant therefore
submits that there was no breach of the condition whatsoever on
part of the applicant.
8.1] He further submits that on 16/3/2021, the applicant
had been to Pusad after informing the I.O., for which reliance is
placed upon the call history details of the mobile of the applicant,
which indicate telephonic calls having been made to the I.O.
Mr. Subhash Kisanrao Kale on his mobile number (pg. 46 to 48). He Revn 51 of 2021.odt
contends that there is no contravention of this condition, in view of
which, there was no requirement of any permission in writing of the
I.O.
8.2] He further submits that on 16/3/2021, though the
applicant was on the spot of the incident, however, he had done
nothing, for which, he invites my attention to the say of the I.O.
before the learned Sessions Judge (Pg.50-51); the statement of
Subhash Kisanrao Kale, the I.O. (Pg.52) and that of Bholanath
Ambadas Kanade, Police Constable (Pg.53).
8.3] It is further contended that there was no other way
available to approach the agricultural field of the applicant, which
was adjacent to the site of the incident, other than the road, passing
in front of the spot of the incident and therefore, it cannot be said
that there was any violation on part of the applicant. He further
contends that the spot of the incident is a public road and not any
isolated place, where entering would be an offence (Pg.81). He
further contends that the applicant had not done anything, there
was no act attributed to the applicant, other than of his remaining
present on the spot of the incident on 16/3/2021.
Revn 51 of 2021.odt
8.4] He contends that even otherwise, the investigation was
already completed, for which reliance is placed on the
communication dated 17/3/2021, addressed by the I.O. to the
Deputy Director, Forensic Science Laboratories, Amravati.
8.5] Inviting my attention to Section 437 (3)(c) of the Code
of Criminal Procedure, it is contended, that the condition imposed
not to visit the spot, from the nature of the dispute, was due to
erection of wires for making boundaries and therefore, the purpose
for its imposition was that there should be no further quarrel. He
submits, that expression "interest of justice" has to be construed
accordingly and when the applicant had not done anything, not
indulged into any threat giving, did not cause any disturbance of
public peace or tranquility, did not cause any abuse, the liberty
granted by way of anticipatory bail, cannot be taken away. It is
contended that there may be a breach of the condition but there
was no abuse. It is further submitted that the expression "abuse"
would mean misuse of anything and requiring a physical act to be
done, in pursuance to such misuse. Reliance is also placed upon the
definition of the word "abuse" as accruing in Section 3, Revn 51 of 2021.odt
Explanation-I, (i)-physical abuse, as accruing in the Protection of
Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005. It is therefore submitted
that merely going to the spot was no abuse and something more was
required, in the nature of causing any harm, so as to satisfy the
definition of abuse. Relying upon the provisions of the Narcotic
Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 it is submitted that
abuse would require an overt act and not a passive one.
8.6] In so far as the office objection raised that the revision
was not maintainable, reliance has been placed upon the following
decisions :
(1) Prashant Kumar Vs. Mancharlal Bhagatram Bhatia and others, 1988 Cri.L.J. 1463. (para 9)
(2) Chandra Pal Singh Choudhary Vs. Vijit Singh and another, 2009 Cri.L.J. 3516. (paras 17 and 18)
(3) Puran Vs. Rambilas and another, AIR 2001 SC 2023 (Para 16)
(4) Janapala Krishna Vs. The State of Andhra Pradesh, Through the Public Prosecutor, High Court of A.P., Hyderabad, 2014 SCC OnLine Hyd 742.
(5) Miss R. Shakuntala Vs. Roshanlal Agarwal and others, 1985 Cri.L.J. 68. (Para 11) Revn 51 of 2021.odt
(6) Intelligence Officer, Narcotic Control Bureau, Sub Zone, Kakkand, Kochi Vs. Lijo K. Jose, 2016 Cri.L.J. 594. (para 41).
(7) Surya Narain and others Vs. State of U.P. and others, 1999 Cri.L.J. 496 (para 4).
(8) Nilu and others Vs. The State, 1983 Cri.L.J. 1590 (Para 2).
(9) State of U.P. Vs. Karan Singh and another, 1988 Cri.L.J. 1434 (para 6)
(10) Prasad Jacob (US Citizen) & Ors. Vs. State of Kerala and another, 2010 Cri.L.J. 4137 (Para 10)
(11) Sardela Damodar Vs. State of Andhra Pradesh and others, 1998 Cri.L.J. 277 (paras 11 and 12)
and learned counsel submits that even if it is held that a revision
would not be maintainable, Section 482 of Cr.P.C. would surely come
to his aid in the Court entertaining the proceedings and since this
Court was also entrusted with jurisdiction under Section 482 of
Cr.P.C., it would be permissible for it to hear and decide the matter,
even in its jurisdiction under Section 482 of Cr.P.C. and the
application could be treated as one under it.
8.7] He further submits that an application for cancellation
of anticipatory bail, can only be filed by the Public Prosecutor and
not by the complainant, for which reliance is placed on Sardela Revn 51 of 2021.odt
Damodar Vs. State of Andhra Pradesh and others, 1998 Cri.L.J. 277
(paras 11 and 12).
8.8] He submits that the parameters for cancellation of bail
are totally different and bail once granted ought not to be canceled,
as the liberty has not been misused and there has been no violation
of the terms of grant of anticipatory bail and so also a further chance
needs to be given, for which reliance is placed upon the following
decisions :
(1) Bhagirathsingh Judeja Vs. State of Gujrat, AIR 1984 SC 372 (para 6)
(2) Manjit Prakash and others Vs. Shoba Devi and another, 2008 AIR SCW 5099 (paras 6 and 7)
(3) State (Delhi Administration) vrs. Sanjay Gandhi AIR 1978 SC 961 (para 13)
(4) Kunal Kumar Tiwari alias Kunal Kumar Vs. State of Bihar and another, AIR 2017 SC 5416 (para 11).
(5) Mohan Singh Vs. Union Territory, Chandigarh, AIR 1978 SC 1095.
(6) Panchanan Mishra Vs. Digambar Mishra and others, AIR 2005 SC 1299 (para 13).
(7) Kalawanti Shamsunder Advani .Vs... The State of Maharashtra and others (Cri. Application No. 800/2015 decided on 5.10.2021 by Principal Seat of this Court) (para 5 and 7) Revn 51 of 2021.odt
(8) Satish Kumar..Vs...State of Himachal Pradesh AIR OnLine 2019 HP 366
(9) Vivek Rai Vs. State of Jharkhand and another, 2007 Cri.L.J. 680 (para 9)
(10) Mohan Singh Vs. State of Haryana and others, 1997 Cri.L.J. 2098 (Para 4)
(11) Karan Singh Vs. The State of Rajasthan and others, 1993 Cri.L.J. 251 (paras 4 and 5).
(12) D. Chandran -Vs State Assistant Commissioner of Police (L&O)T, Nagar Range, Madras 1997 Cri.L.J.
(13) Ananth Kumar Naik Vs. The State of Andhra Pradesh, 1977 Cri.L.J. 1797
(14) Antaryami Das alias Ganesh Dash Vs. State of Orissa, 2003 Cri.L.J. 2393 (para 10)
(15) Rankanidhi Panda Vs. State of Orissa and others, 1997 Cril.L.J. 4217 (para 5).
9. Mrs. Dhawas, learned Counsel for the respondent Nos.
1 and 2 submits that the relaxation, granted was only for the
purpose of official work and not for any other purpose. There was no
relaxation, granted for the purpose of visiting the agricultural field
of the applicant or the disputed site. She further submits that the
permission to visit Pusad City, as per the order of relaxation was
between 10:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m., that too, only with prior permission Revn 51 of 2021.odt
of the I.O., and in this case, the applicant has not even obtained the
prior permission of the I.O., as was necessary in terms of the order of
relaxation dated 20/2/2021, even to visit Pusad City. She submits
that there was total prohibition, upon the applicant for visiting the
disputed site, which was the place of the incident, till the completion
of investigation, in spite of which, he was found on the spot of the
incident on 16/3/2021, which was in Pusad and the presence of the
applicant, even in Pusad City, was without any prior permission of
the I.O., which would indicate the violation of the condition of
anticipatory bail, imposed upon him by the Court.
9.1] Learned Counsel further by inviting my attention to the
complaint dated 17/3/2021, (Pg.218) made to the Police Station
Vasant Nagar, Pusad, submits that the applicant, on 16/3/2021, had
been to the spot of incident at about 11:33 a.m. along with
Jayashree Ramkrushna Wankhede and Ramkrushna Maroti
Wankhede and three more persons to whom, he was telling that the
half portion of the land of field Survey No.81/1-A was to be fenced
off by erecting a wire compound and a road was to be erected,
adjacent to the Nallha by placing mud thereupon, whereupon the Revn 51 of 2021.odt
respondent Nos.1 and 2 and other persons having approached, they
were threatened with being eliminated. Even though the applicant
was pointed out that his presence on the spot of the incident, was in
violation of the terms of his release on anticipatory bail, the
applicant had stated that nothing would happen (Pg.218). It is
further submitted that the entire incident had been recorded on the
CCTV camera, the footage thereof, was submitted, to the learned
Sessions Court along with the necessary certificate under Section 65
(B) of the Indian Evidence Act, which would also indicate, the
actions on part of the applicant and the violation of the conditions of
the bail.
9.2] She therefore submits that a person like the applicant,
who had intentionally and knowingly violated the terms of his
release, cannot be permitted any leniency, as the very violation
would be an abuse of the liberty granted to him. Reliance is placed
upon Mahipal Vs. Rajesh Kumar Alias Polia and another, (2020) 2
SCC 118.
10. Learned Additional Public Prosecutor Mr. Ashirgade
submits that the applicant was throughout aware of the entire Revn 51 of 2021.odt
procedure for entering Pusad city, and the condition thereof, in spite
of which, no permission was ever obtained from the I.O. by the
applicant, even to visit his work place and therefore, the presence of
the applicant at the spot of the incident on 16/3/2021, which is
undisputed, was contrary to the terms of his release, and therefore,
the bail has rightly been canceled.
11. In so far the contention regarding maintainability of a
revision against an order canceling an anticipatory bail is concerned,
it would be material to note that the same cannot be construed to be
an interlocutory order, so as to fall within the meaning of the
expression as used in Section 397(2) of the Cr.P.C. as it finally
decides the proceedings initiated for cancellation of bail. [See
Prashant Kumar 1988 Cr.L.J.1463; Chandra Pal Singh 2009
Cr.L.J.3516 ]
12. The next contention is that the application for
cancellation of bail can be filed only by the Public Prosecutor and
not by the complainant. Though in Sardela Damodar (supra) relied
upon by Mr. Nayak, learned Counsel for the applicant, it has been so
held, however, this position is no longer extant in view of what has Revn 51 of 2021.odt
been held in Puran v. Rambilas, (2001) 6 SCC 338 which states as
under :
"14. Mr Lalit next submitted that a third party cannot move a petition for cancellation of the bail. He submitted that in this case the prosecution has not moved for cancellation of the bail. He pointed out that the father of the deceased had moved for cancellation of the bail. He relied upon the cases of Simranjit Singh Mann v. Union of India [(1992) 4 SCC 653 : 1993 SCC (Cri) 22 : AIR 1993 SC 280] and Janata Dal v. H.S. Chowdhary [(1991) 3 SCC 756 : 1991 SCC (Cri) 933]. Both these cases dealt with petitions under Article 32 of the Constitution of India whereunder a total stranger challenged the conviction and sentence of the accused. This Court held that neither under the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code nor under any other statute is a third-party stranger permitted to question the correctness of the conviction and sentence imposed by the court after a regular trial. It was held that the petitioner, who was a total stranger, had no locus standi to challenge the conviction and the sentence awarded to the convicts in a petition under Article 32. The principle laid down in these cases has no application to the facts of the present case. In this case the application for cancellation of bail is not by a total stranger but it is by the father of the deceased. In this behalf the ratio laid down in the case of R. Rathinam v.
Revn 51 of 2021.odt
State by DSP [(2000) 2 SCC 391 : 2000 SCC (Cri) 958] needs to be seen. In this case bail had been granted to certain persons. A group of practising advocates presented petitions before the Chief Justice of the High Court seeking initiation of suo motu proceedings for cancellation of bail. The Chief Justice placed the petitions before a Division Bench. The Division Bench refused to exercise the suo motu powers on the ground that the petition submitted by the advocates was not maintainable. This Court held that the frame of sub-section (2) of Section 439 indicates that it is a power conferred on the courts mentioned therein. It was held that there was nothing to indicate that the said power can be exercised only if the State or investigating agency or a Public Prosecutor moves a petition. It was held that the power so vested in the High Court can be invoked either by the State or by any aggrieved party. It was held that the said power could also be exercised suo motu by the High Court. It was held that, therefore, any member of the public, whether he belongs to any particular profession or otherwise could move the High Court to remind it of the need to exercise its power suo motu. It was held that there was no barrier either in Section 439 of the Criminal Procedure Code or in any other law which inhibits a person from moving the High Court to have such powers exercised suo motu. It was held that if the High Court considered that there was no need to cancel the bail then it could dismiss the petition. It was held that it was always open to the High Revn 51 of 2021.odt
Court to cancel the bail if it felt that there were sufficient reasons for doing so.
In this case the application for cancellation of bail, has been filed by
the complainant and has been supported by the I.O., considering
which there is no merit in this contention.
13. Much has been said regarding the difference between
the parameters for rejection of bail and cancellation of bail. There is
no doubt a marked difference in the two propositions as has been
held in Dolat Ram v. State of Haryana [(1995) 1 SCC 349 in the
following words :
"4. Rejection of bail in a non-bailable case at the initial stage and the cancellation of bail so granted, have to be considered and dealt with on different basis. Very cogent and overwhelming circumstances are necessary for an order directing the cancellation of the bail, already granted. Generally speaking, the grounds for cancellation of bail, broadly (illustrative and not exhaustive) are: interference or attempt to interfere with the due course of administration of justice or evasion or attempt to evade the due course of justice or abuse of the concession granted to the accused in any manner. The satisfaction of the court, on Revn 51 of 2021.odt
the basis of material placed on the record of the possibility of the accused absconding is yet another reason justifying the cancellation of bail. However, bail once granted should not be cancelled in a mechanical manner without considering whether any supervening circumstances have rendered it no longer conducive to a fair trial to allow the accused to retain his freedom by enjoying the concession of bail during the trial. --------".
The same position has been reiterated in Puran v. Rambilas, (2001)
6 SCC 338. Other cases relied upon by Mr. Nayak, learned counsel
for the applicant are Bhagirathsinh Mahipatsinh Jadeja (supra)
wherein it has been held that very cogent and overwhelming
circumstances are necessary for an order seeking cancellation of the
bail and the only material considerations in such a situation are
whether the accused would be readily available for his trial and
whether he is likely to abuse the discretion granted in his favour by
tampering with evidence. In Manjit Prakash (supra-2008) it has been
held that even though the re-appreciation of the evidence as done by
the court granting bail is to be avoided, the court dealing with an
application for cancellation of bail under Section 439(2) can
consider whether irrelevant materials were taken into consideration Revn 51 of 2021.odt
and that is so because it is not known as to what extent the
irrelevant materials weighed with the court for accepting the prayer
for bail. In Pancham Mishra (supra-2005) it has been held that the
object underlying the cancellation of bail is to protect the fair trial
and secure justice being done to the society by preventing the
accused who is set at liberty by the bail order from tampering with
the evidence in the heinous crime and if there is delay in such a case
the underlying object of cancellation of bail practically loses all its
purpose and significance to the greatest prejudice and the interest of
the prosecution. It hardly requires to be stated that once a person is
released on bail in serious criminal cases where the punishment is
quite stringent and deterrent, the accused in order to get away from
the clutches of the same indulge in various activities like tampering
with the prosecution witnesses, threatening the family members of
the deceased victim and also create problems of law and order
situation. Vivek Rai (supra-2007) relies upon Biman Chatterjee v.
Sanchita Chatterjee, reported in 2004 Cr LJ 1451 which holds that
the grant of bail under the Criminal Procedure Code is governed by
the provision of Chapter XXXII of the Code and the provision therein
does not contemplate either granting of a bail on the basis of an Revn 51 of 2021.odt
assurance of compromise or cancellation of a bail for violation of the
terms or such compromise. What the Court has to bear in mind
while granting bail is what is provided for in Section 437 of the said
Code and having granted the bail under the said provision of law, it
is not open to the Trail Court or the High Court to cancel the same
on a ground alien to the grounds mentioned for cancellation of bail
in the said provision of law. Karan Singh (supra -1993 Cri L.J. 251)
holds that different considerations prevail with the Court in granting
and canceling the bail. While at the time of granting the bail, the
Court has to take into account the nature of the crime, the nature of
the changes, the evidence on record, the possibility of interference
with the course of justice, the antecedents of the accused,
furtherance of interest and socio-geographical circumstances,
whereas while considering the application for cancellation of the
bail, the Court has to see, whether after the grant of the bail, the
accused has, in any way, misused the liberty granted to him. The
object of Sub-section (5) of Section 437 of Cr. P.C. is not punitive but
to protect the interest of justice and to prevent, it from being
tampered with in any manner by the accused. The bail granted to an
accused can be canceled if the accused, after his release on bail, tries Revn 51 of 2021.odt
to tamper with the evidence or hampers the trial or investigation,
committing an act of violence or commits the same offence again.
The powers vested with the Court for cancellation of the bail have to
be exercised with care and circumspection. Unless there are strong
and compelling circumstances and the High Court is not expected to
interfere with the discretion exercised by the learned Sessions Judge
in granting the bail. In Sanjay Gandhi (Supra AIR 1978 SC 961) it
was held that rejection of bail when bail is applied for is one thing;
cancellation of bail already granted is quite another. It is easier to
reject a bail application in a non-bailable case than to cancel a bail
granted in such a case. Cancellation of bail necessarily involves the
review of a decision already made and can by and large be permitted
only if, by reason of supervening circumstances, it would be no
longer conducive to a fair trial to allow the accused to retain his
freedom during the trial. The fact that prosecution witnesses have
turned hostile cannot by itself justify the inference that the accused
has won them over.
There cannot be any quarrel with the principles enunciated
regarding the cancellation of bail, in the judgments referred to above
and relied upon by Mr. Nayak, learned counsel for the applicant.
Revn 51 of 2021.odt
14. What is material to be noted is that the present case does
not call upon me, to consider what are the parameters for grant of
anticipatory bail, but whether the cancellation of anticipatory bail as
ordered by the learned Sessions Court, was based upon parameters
permissible to be considered and whether the discretion exercised
was correct. In Ananth Kumar Naik (supra-1977 Cr L.J.1797), relied
upon by Mr. Nayak, learned counsel for the applicant, it was held
that in any case, under Clause (c) of sub-section (3) of section 437
of Cr.P.C. a condition 'otherwise in the interests of justice' can be
imposed, which is not a position which falls for consideration in the
present case. Mohan Singh (supra - 1978) is a case in which bail
was granted by the Sessions Judge after hearing counsel on both
sides but it was canceled by the High Court mainly for the reason
that the appellant had simultaneously moved for bail in the Sessions
as well as in the High Court without disclosing to the Sessions Court
that he had moved for bail in the High Court, which position also
does not fall for consideration in the present matter. Mohan Singh
(supra- 1997 Cr LJ 2098) was a case in which cancellation of bail
was sought on the ground that the bail was granted on the Revn 51 of 2021.odt
erroneous assumption that the name of the applicant was not
mentioned in the FIR and without there being anything else, it was
held that mere noticing of a wrong fact by the trial Court by itself
would not constitute sufficient ground for cancellation of the bail
granted to the accused by the trial Court. The facts in the present
matter are quite different. D. Chandran (supra- 1997 Cr.L.J. 1945)
was a case in which the accused did not attend the police station for
3 days, due to an ailment, which ailment was supported by the
prescription of the Doctor, in view of which it was held that there
was sufficient cause, in view of the earlier and subsequent conduct
of the accused, which again is inapplicable on facts. Rankanidhi
Panda (1997 Cr L.J. 4217) was a case in which the Court found on
the basis of the police report that the allegation against the accused
made for cancellation of bail was factually incorrect and therefore
refrained from doing so which position is not extant in the present
matter. In Antaryami Das (supra- 2003 Cri LJ 2393) based upon the
facts discretion was exercised by the Court to set aside the order of
cancellation of bail, inspite of availability of series of criminal cases
instituted against the petitioner and the petitioner was guilty of
violating the terms and conditions imposed by the lower Court while Revn 51 of 2021.odt
allowing the petitioner to go on bail and was a matter of exercise of
discretion based upon the facts prevailing therein. Kalawanti Advani
(supra) holds that cancellation of bail can be done in cases where
the order granting bail suffers from serious infirmities resulting in
miscarriage of justice or if the court granting bail has ignored
relevant material indicating prima facie involvement of the accused
or takes into account irrelevant material which has no relevance to
the question of grant of bail. Kalawanti Advani (supra) however
does not consider case of violation of the conditions of the bail and
therefore is inapplicable on the facts of the present case. Kunal
Tiwari (supra-2017) deals with the nature of conditions to be
imposed while granting anticipatory bail, which is not the issue in
the present case. Satish Kumar (supra-AIR online 2019 HP 366) was
a case in which the applicant had come to the court under the
influence of alcohol, being offended by which, the learned Sessions
Court had cancelled the bail, without anything else, which again is
not attracted on the facts of the present matter.
15. The position enunciated in Dolat Ram and Puran
(supra) as indicated above as well as in the other judgments cited by Revn 51 of 2021.odt
Mr. Nayak, learned Counsel for the applicant, is only illustrative and
not exhaustive. There can be incidences/cases/instances, when
considering the given facts of a case, the Court may deem it proper
to cancel the anticipatory bail/ bail, once granted. Each case has to
be decided on its own facts, by applying the principles enunciated.
Though it is trite that the liberty granted to an accused, by way of
releasing him, either on anticipatory bail or regular bail, ought not
to be easily interfered with, by canceling or recalling the order of
anticipatory bail or regular bail, that however is not an absolute
principle but is one dependent upon the facts of each case. Where it
is shown that the liberty granted, had been abused, misused or the
conditions of release have been violated, and the reason for such
violation is not logical or is improper or does not appeal to the
conscience of the Court, the liberty can always be curtailed by
exercising the powers under Section 439(2) of the Cr.P.C. or by
exercise of the inherent powers under Section 482 of Cr.P.C.
[See Sushila Aggarwal v. State (NCT of Delhi), (2020) 5 SCC 1 (para
68)].
16. The contention of Mr. Nayak learned Counsel for the
applicant, that the word 'abuse', must necessarily indicate an overt Revn 51 of 2021.odt
or physical act on part of the applicant in pursuance to such misuse,
in my considered opinion, has to be construed in the background of
the condition imposed. In the instant case, considering the plea of
the applicant, the condition which initially restricted his entry into
Pusad city, was relaxed, at his behest by permitting the applicant to
enter Pusad City to visit his work place between 10.00 a.m. to 5.00
p.m. with prior permission of I.O. and a further specific restriction
had been imposed that he shall not visit the disputed site which is
the place of the incident till completion of the investigation. The
contention that merely because the applicant had been at the spot of
the incident on 16/3/2001, without anything further or an overt act,
would not mean that the condition was violated, is clearly
misconceived. This is for the reason, that by the very terms of the
order of his release on anticipatory bail, the applicant was bound to
honor the conditions to which the applicant was put. Though the
order dated 25/1/2021 relaxed the prohibition upon the applicant
not to visit the city of Pusad, the same was not without conditions,
but was only for visiting his work place between 10.00 a.m. to 5.00
p.m. for which the applicant was specifically obligated to (a) obtain
the prior permission of the I.O. and (b) continued the restriction Revn 51 of 2021.odt
upon the applicant not to visit the spot of the incident. The very
purpose of putting conditions upon a person, while granting him
anticipatory bail, was to ensure that the apprehension of any
incident happening, the influencing of the witnesses, the tampering
of the evidence is prevented. Thus an applicant when put to
conditions by a Court while granting anticipatory bail / regular bail,
is by the very terms of the imposition, duty bound to strictly adhere
to the terms imposed upon him, being aware that the liberty granted
to him, is not absolute, but is conditional, upon him complying and
continue to comply with the conditions imposed upon. This is
further spelt out from clause (3) of the order dated 25/ 1/2021,
which stated thus :
"3) The applicant shall abide by the above modified condition and all the rest of the conditions of the order dated 25/1/2021."
The condition imposed placed two restrictions upon the applicant :
(a) The applicant may visit Pusad City to visit his work place between 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. with prior permission of I.O.
(b) he shall not visit the disputed site which is the place of the incident till completion of the investigation.
Revn 51 of 2021.odt
In so far as the first restriction is concerned, the applicant was
permitted to visit the city of Pusad to visit his work place, only with
prior permission of the I.O. There is no such permission obtained by
the applicant. A prior permission, would necessarily mean a prior
permission in writing or by e-mail, or by whatsapp. There is no
application placed on record to indicate that any permission of the
I.O. was solicited by the applicant for visiting Pusad City, on
16/3/2021, nor is there any such permission placed on record.
Mr. Ashirgade, learned APP, has categorically stated that no such
permission was given by the I.O. to the applicant for visiting Pusad
City on 16/3/2021. The contention of Mr. Nayak, learned Counsel
for the applicant, that the applicant had called the I.O. on his mobile
phone on 15/3/2021, 16/3/2021, by placing reliance upon the
printouts of his mobile for the above two dates (pages 46 to 48) is of
no consequence, as these printouts may at the most indicate the
attempt of the applicant to contact the I.O. may be for the purpose of
seeking permission to visit Pusad City. They however do not indicate
that any such permission was granted by the I.O. What is required by
the order dated 25/1/2021, is the prior permission of the I.O., and
the mere calling the I.O. on his mobile phone, does not satisfy this Revn 51 of 2021.odt
requirement. Moreover the I.O. through the learned APP,
categorically states that there was no prior permission granted to the
applicant for visiting Pusad City on 16/3/2021. It is thus apparent
that on 16/3/2021, the applicant was in Pusad city without
obtaining the prior permission of the I.O. as was necessary for him,
in terms of the order dated 25/1/2021 and thus had committed a
conscious breach of this condition imposed upon him.
The order dated 25/1/2021, imposed a further
condition upon the applicant of not visiting the disputed site which
is the place of the incident till completion of the investigation.
Admittedly the applicant was found at the disputed side, which is
the place of the incident, on 16/3/2021, which again constituted a
breach of the condition imposed upon him, by the order dated
25/1/2021. Though the complaint dated 17/3/2021 (pg.218) by the
respondent Nos. 1 & 2, to the Police, attributes allegations to the
applicant of attempting to change the situation by directing those
present with him, to erect a fencing and place earth upon the area
adjacent to the Nali, which falsifies the plea raised by Mr. Nayak
learned Counsel for the applicant that nothing was done by the Revn 51 of 2021.odt
applicant by placing reliance upon the statements of Subhash Kale/
I.O. (pg.52) and Bholanath Kanade P.C. (pg.53) , even discounting
the same, it is apparent that the applicant has breached the
conditions imposed upon him, by entering Pusad City without the
prior permission of the I.O. and so also by visiting the spot of the
incidence. The contention, that on 16/3/2021, as the motor pump at
the agricultural land of the applicant which is adjacent to the place
of the incident, had malfunctioned and was required to be repaired
and was thus taken to the mechanic for repairs, whose workshop
was situated on the public road in front of the site of the incident,
only adds insult to the injury as the applicant by the very terms of
the order dated 25/1/2021, was restrained from entering Pusad City
without the prior permission of the I.O., which as is apparent he had
not only done, but had also been to the spot of the incident, which
he was further prohibited from doing by the order dated 25/1/2021.
The question thus required to be considered is whether the
conditions put by a Court of law, upon a person seeking anticipatory
bail, while granting him anticipatory bail, have any legal sanctity/
force or are they merely directory so as to be violated with impunity,
merely for the sake of protecting the liberty granted to the said Revn 51 of 2021.odt
person. In my considered opinion, each and every condition,
imposed by a Court while granting anticipatory bail / regular bail, is
mandatory to be followed by the applicant who is receiving the
benefit of liberty based upon such conditions. To hold otherwise,
would render the very purpose of imposing any conditions nugatory.
A person therefore who secures his liberty from the rigors of the
Criminal law, being accused of having committed an offense, thus
has to unscrupulously follow and adhere to the conditions upon
which his liberty has been secured by the Court. The contention
thus that there has to be an overt physical act attributed to the
applicant, to claim violation of the condition by him and his
presence on the spot of the incident, would not suffice, is clearly
misconceived, as the condition asked the applicant to refrain from
visiting the spot of the incident, which he not only did, but justified
his such action, which considering the nature of the condition is
enough to demonstrate a violation.
17. The further contention that the investigation was
complete, based upon the communication dated 17/3/21, addressed
by the I.O. to the Deputy Director of the Forensic Laboratory seeking Revn 51 of 2021.odt
analysis of the blood samples and soliciting of an early report, is
again misconceived as the report of the forensic analysis of the blood
was yet to be received then and even otherwise, the completion of
investigation could be evinced by the report as contemplated by
Section 173(2) of the Cr.P.C. which came to be filed only on
25/5/2021.
18. Thus what has to be seen is whether the learned
Sessions Court was within the parameters of law, in having canceled
the anticipatory bail granted to the applicant. A perusal of the
impugned order would indicate that the learned Sessions Court has
taken note of the conduct of the applicant, where instead of being
contrite in having violated the conditions of anticipatory bail, the
applicant, was on the other hand trying to justify, his presence on the
spot of the incidence on 16/3/2021, on the alleged ground that the
motor pump in his agricultural filed was to be repaired, when as per
the conditions imposed upon him by the order dated 25/1/2021, it
was not even permissible for the applicant to be in Pusad City
without the prior permission of the I.O., much less on the spot of
incident, which was totally prohibited to the applicant. The learned Revn 51 of 2021.odt
Sessions Court, in my considered opinion, has correctly held that the
applicant, had violated the conditions of anticipatory bail, imposed
upon him, by the order dated 25/1/2021, which were binding upon
him. There was and could be no justification whatsoever, for having
violated the conditions imposed upon the applicant, for he was
specifically aware that his liberty had been secured to him and its
continuance was dependent upon the applicant, scrupulously
following the conditions, inspite of which the applicant, not only
entered Pusad city without prior permission of the I.O. but was even
found on the spot of the incident, which action could not have been
countenanced by the learned Sessions Court, as it was duty bound to
protect the majesty of law, and to ensure that the conditions
imposed by a Court of law, for setting the applicant at liberty, were
strictly followed.
19. In light of the discussion, made above, in the facts of
the present case, where it is an admitted position by the applicant
himself that he had violated the conditions of anticipatory bail, on
which he was released, and considering the reasoning of the learned
Sessions Court, I do not find any infirmity or perversity therein so as Revn 51 of 2021.odt
to permit me to interfere. The application thus lacks merits and is
accordingly dismissed.
Judge.
Digitally sign byRAJESH VASANTRAO JALIT Location:
Signing Date:25.01.2022 17:27
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