[Cites 4, Cited by 0]
Delhi High Court
Manju Aggarwal vs State (Nct Of Delhi) on 16 March, 2026
$~2
* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
% Date of Decision: 16.03.2026
+ BAIL APPLN. 2869/2024 & CRL.M.(BAIL) 1344/2024
MANJU AGGARWAL .....Petitioner
Through: Mr. Sumit Kumar, Advocate.
versus
STATE (NCT OF DELHI) .....Respondent
Through: Mr. Amit Ahlawat, APP for State.
Mr. Danish Khan, Advocate for R-2.
CORAM: JUSTICE GIRISH KATHPALIA
J U D G M E N T (ORAL)
1. The accused/applicant seeks anticipatory bail in case FIR No.
100/2024 of PS DBG Road for offence under Section 420/406/506/120B
IPC.
2. This anticipatory bail application came up for the first hearing on
13.08.2024 before the predecessor bench and thereafter continued getting
adjourned before different benches. By order dated 13.08.2024, the
accused/applicant was granted interim protection from arrest subject to
joining investigation and that protection continues till date on date to date
basis. Thereafter, along with 179 such old pending bail applications, this
BAIL APPLICATION 2869/2024 Page 1 of 3 pages
GIRISH
DN: c=IN, o=HIGH COURT OF DELHI,
2.5.4.20=8401dd889b27a77b2f65ffffe4afec455
69af3962c6fb4835d435f97626cacca, ou=HIGH
COURT OF DELHI,CID - 7047638,
postalCode=110003, st=Delhi,
serialNumber=d3e86796451ec45c07b5d15570
996b40f80cbd2eee60402c487965ff801e26fa,
cn=GIRISH KATHPALIA
Date: 2026.03.16 17:21:14 -07'00'
Digitally Signed
By:DIKSHA RAWAT
Signing Date:16.03.2026
17:38:28
application was transferred to this bench. Today is the first hearing before
me.
3. Broadly speaking, the allegation against the accused/applicant is that
she is Director of a construction company, which got embroiled into a
dispute with the sellers of the subject immovable property. In the course of
hearings, by way of order dated 17.09.2025, the predecessor bench referred
the matter to the Delhi High Court Mediation Centre and today it is
submitted by both sides that the matter stands settled.
4. Against the above backdrop, learned counsel for accused/applicant
submits that she deserves to be granted anticipatory bail. Learned APP for
State submits that the mediation cannot be a ground to grant anticipatory
bail. Learned counsel for complainant de facto supports the
accused/applicant.
5. Of course, merely because the civil dispute between the parties gets
settled in mediation proceedings, the accused cannot claim anticipatory bail
as a matter of right. It is trite that the bail courts are not the money recovery
forum. But at the same time, it also cannot be ignored that the complainant
de facto also had requested before the predecessor bench for referral of the
dispute to settlement and today they do not object to grant of anticipatory
bail. It also cannot be ignored that the State never objected to this settlement
process. More importantly, it is Sh. Ram Avtar, husband of the present
accused/applicant, against whom all allegations of the FIR are directed, but
BAIL APPLICATION 2869/2024 Page 2 of 3 pages
GIRISH
DN: c=IN, o=HIGH COURT OF DELHI,
2.5.4.20=8401dd889b27a77b2f65ffffe4afec455
69af3962c6fb4835d435f97626cacca, ou=HIGH
KATHPALIA
postalCode=110003, st=Delhi,
serialNumber=d3e86796451ec45c07b5d15570
996b40f80cbd2eee60402c487965ff801e26fa,
cn=GIRISH KATHPALIA
Date: 2026.03.16 17:21:04 -07'00'
Digitally Signed
By:DIKSHA RAWAT
Signing Date:16.03.2026
17:38:28
he has not been arrested. The accused/applicant is a 65 years old lady and
her only role is being a formal Director of the construction company in
question.
6. Considering the above circumstances, I do not find any ground to
deny liberty to the accused/applicant. Therefore, the anticipatory bail
application is allowed and it is directed that in the event of her arrest, the
accused/applicant shall be released on bail, subject to her furnishing
personal bond in the sum of Rs.10,000/- with one surety in the like amount
to the satisfaction of the IO/SHO concerned. Accompanying application
stands disposed of.
GIRISH
DN: c=IN, o=HIGH COURT OF DELHI,
2.5.4.20=8401dd889b27a77b2f65ffffe4afec45
569af3962c6fb4835d435f97626cacca,
ou=HIGH COURT OF DELHI,CID - 7047638,
KATHPALIA
postalCode=110003, st=Delhi,
serialNumber=d3e86796451ec45c07b5d1557
0996b40f80cbd2eee60402c487965ff801e26fa,
cn=GIRISH KATHPALIA
Date: 2026.03.16 17:20:46 -07'00'
GIRISH KATHPALIA
(JUDGE)
MARCH 16, 2026/ry
BAIL APPLICATION 2869/2024 Page 3 of 3 pages
