Citation : 2026 Latest Caselaw 1556 Del
Judgement Date : 18 March, 2026
$~78
* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
% Date of Decision: 18.03.2026
+ BAIL APPLN. 4473/2024 & CRL.M.(BAIL) 2072/2024,
CRL.M.A. 36652/2024 & 12666/2025
ABHINAY KUMAR .....Petitioner
Through: Mr. Ankur Yadav, Advocate (through
videoconferencing)
versus
STATE( GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI) .....Respondent
Through: Mr. Amit Ahlawat, APP for the State
with SI Satender Kumar and Inspector
Abhijeet Singh.
CORAM: JUSTICE GIRISH KATHPALIA
J U D G M E N T (ORAL)
1. The accused/applicant seeks anticipatory bail in case FIR No. 387/2024 of PS Geeta Colony for offence under Section 406/420/120B/34 IPC.
1.1 This anticipatory bail application was listed for first hearing on 05.12.2024 before the predecessor bench and after hearing both sides, the learned predecessor bench directed that subject to his joining investigation, the accused/applicant shall not be arrested till next date. That interim
BAIL APPLICATION 4473/2024 Page 1 of 4 pages
GIRISH DN: c=IN, o=HIGH COURT OF DELHI, 2.5.4.20=8401dd889b27a77b2f65ffffe4afec45
ou=HIGH COURT OF DELHI,CID - 7047638,
KATHPALIA postalCode=110003, st=Delhi, serialNumber=d3e86796451ec45c07b5d1557 0996b40f80cbd2eee60402c487965ff801e26fa
Digitally Signed , cn=GIRISH KATHPALIA Date: 2026.03.18 18:16:17 -07'00'
By:DIKSHA RAWAT Signing Date:18.03.2026 18:18:10 protection continued on date to date basis till date. Along with 179 such old pending bail applications, this application also was transferred to this bench.
1.2 Today is the first hearing before this bench. I have heard learned counsel for accused/applicant and learned APP for State.
2. Briefly stated, prosecution case is as follows. In the FIR, the complainant de facto alleged that he was approached by the accused/applicant and one Lalit Jain in January 2024 with an offer for investment in their company namely M/s Clean Earth Innovations Pvt. Ltd., which is dealing in scrap and manufacture of environment friendly products. The accused/applicant and his associate assured to transfer to the complainant de facto 2% shares in the company for investment of Rs. 2 crores. The accused/applicant and his associate persuaded the complainant de facto after showing him financial health status of the company. Accordingly, the complainant de facto paid cash amount in three instalments, viz., Rs.44.6 lakhs on 11.01.2024 at Chacha Nehru Hospital, Geeta Colony; Rs.25.75 lakhs on 12.01.2024 and Rs.25 lakhs on 24.02.2025 at Karol Bagh. The said entire amount was paid in cash against receipts issued by the accused/applicant and his associate. But the accused persons neither transferred 2% shares in their company nor returned the amount. Hence, according to the complainant de facto, he was cheated by the accused persons.
3. Learned counsel for accused/applicant submits that the entire case set
BAIL APPLICATION 4473/2024 Page 2 of 4 pages
DN: c=IN, o=HIGH COURT OF DELHI,
5569af3962c6fb4835d435f97626cacca, ou=HIGH COURT OF DELHI,CID - 7047638,
KATHPALIA postalCode=110003, st=Delhi, serialNumber=d3e86796451ec45c07b5d155 70996b40f80cbd2eee60402c487965ff801e2 6fa, cn=GIRISH KATHPALIA Digitally Signed Date: 2026.03.18 18:14:41 -07'00'
By:DIKSHA RAWAT Signing Date:18.03.2026 18:18:10 up by the complainant de facto is false and that the accused/applicant never issued any receipt to the complainant de facto. It is further contended that during the period of interim protection from arrest, the accused/applicant joined investigation whenever directed by the IO and his specimen signatures have already been taken for being compared with the alleged receipts. It is also contended that there is no evidence collected to show any cash money drawn by the complainant de facto from his bank account, to be handed over to the accused persons.
4. Learned APP for State submits that the accused/applicant be directed to join investigation, in case he is granted anticipatory bail. However, learned APP admits that specimen signatures of the accused/applicant have already been obtained by the IO.
5. In order to ascertain if the complainant de facto paid any money to the accused persons towards purchase of 2% shares of the company of the accused persons, the IO was directed to show the said cash receipts. Those receipts are completely silent about any purchase of shares. Those receipts are printed material on letter head, bearing signatures alleged to be of the accused/applicant. The unusual space between the printed material and the signatures prima facie raises a suspicion. Even the learned Court of Sessions while dealing with anticipatory bail application of the accused/applicant recorded such observation.
6. At this stage, during dictation of the order, learned APP also submits
BAIL APPLICATION 4473/2024 Page 3 of 4 pages
DN: c=IN, o=HIGH COURT OF DELHI,
GIRISH 2.5.4.20=8401dd889b27a77b2f65ffffe4afec 45569af3962c6fb4835d435f97626cacca,
KATHPALIA postalCode=110003, st=Delhi, serialNumber=d3e86796451ec45c07b5d15 570996b40f80cbd2eee60402c487965ff801e 26fa, cn=GIRISH KATHPALIA Date: 2026.03.18 18:14:27 -07'00' Digitally Signed By:DIKSHA RAWAT Signing Date:18.03.2026 18:18:10 that as per evidence collected by the IO, on the date of payment of first instalment, the accused/applicant was not a Director in the said company. But on this aspect, as mentioned above, prima facie, the material on record is not of the nature that the accused/applicant be deprived of liberty.
7. Considering the overall circumstances, the application is allowed and in the event of his arrest, the accused/applicant is directed to be released on bail subject to his furnishing a personal bond in the sum of Rs.10,000/- with one surety in the like amount to the satisfaction of the IO/SHO concerned. Pending applications stand disposed of.
8. Of course, on the above aspects, the learned trial court shall take independent view at the final stage on the basis of evidence adduced during trial.
DN: c=IN, o=HIGH COURT OF DELHI,
GIRISH 2.5.4.20=8401dd889b27a77b2f65ffffe4afec 45569af3962c6fb4835d435f97626cacca, ou=HIGH COURT OF DELHI,CID - 7047638,
KATHPALIA postalCode=110003, st=Delhi, serialNumber=d3e86796451ec45c07b5d15 570996b40f80cbd2eee60402c487965ff801 e26fa, cn=GIRISH KATHPALIA Date: 2026.03.18 18:14:01 -07'00'
GIRISH KATHPALIA (JUDGE) MARCH 18, 2026/ry
BAIL APPLICATION 4473/2024 Page 4 of 4 pages
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