Ravindranath Singh vs State Of Chhattisgarh
2025 Latest Caselaw 3047 Chatt

Chattisgarh High Court

Ravindranath Singh vs State Of Chhattisgarh on 16 June, 2025

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                           A         ANNAJEE
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                           ANNAJEE   Date:
                           RAO       2025.06.17
                                     11:35:42
                                     +0530




                HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR

                            CRA No. 668 of 2025

        RAVINDRANATH SINGH versus STATE OF CHHATTISGARH

                                 Order Sheet


16/06/2025

Mr. T.K. Jha, counsel for the appellant.

Mr. Vivek Sharma, Additional Advocate General for the State.

Heard on I.A.No. 1/2025 for suspension of sentence and grant of bail to the appellant.

By impugned Judgment dated 19.03.2025 passed by the Special Judge (PC Act) Ambikapur, District Sarguja in Special Case (PCA) No. 02/2016, the appellant has been convicted u/s 13(1)(e) read with section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and sentenced to undergo RI for 5 years and to pay a fine of Rs.10,000/-, in default of payment of fine, to further undergo additional RI for 6 months.

Learned counsel for the appellant submits that the property was over valued by ACB and the learned trial Court has not considered the explanation given by the appellant in his defence. He further submits that the maximum jail sentence awarded to the appellant is RI for 5

years, out of which, he has already undergone custody period of 1 year 6 months &15 days during trial and after pronouncement of judgment by trial Court, he has been further continuously in jail since 19.03.2025 thereby the total custody period undergone by him is 1 year, 9 months & 15 days. He further submits that the appellant is aged about 62 years and there is no immediate possibility of hearing the appeal on merits, therefore, his application (I.A.1/2025) may be allowed. In support of his submission, he placed a copy of the Order dated 12.08.2024 passed by the coordinate Bench in CRA No.1226 of 2024 (Kaushal Kishore Yadu Vs. State of CG).

Per contra, learned State Counsel opposes the bail application.

Looking to the facts and circumstances of the case and the nature of offence, as also the age of the appellant and further hearing of the appeal on merits is likely to take time, I am inclined to allow this bail application without commenting anything on merits of the case.

Accordingly, I.A.No.1/2025 is allowed and it is directed that the substantive jail sentence imposed upon the appellant shall remain suspended during the pendency of this appeal and the appellant is directed to be released on bail on his furnishing a personal bond in sum of Rs.25,000/- with one surety in the like sum to the satisfaction of the concerned trial Court. He shall thereafter appear before the Registry of this Court on 3 rd

September, 2025 and thereafter he shall continue to appear before the trial Court on a date to be given by the Registry in this behalf and shall continue to appear there on all such subsequent dates as are given by the said Court till the disposal of this appeal.

In view of the above, I.A.No.1/2025 stands disposed. List the case for final hearing in its due course.

Sd/-

                                     (Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal)
Rao                                         Judge