Madhya Pradesh High Court
Hukumsingh @ Banesingh vs The State Of Madhya Pradesh on 21 January, 2025
1 CRA-9647-2023
IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH
AT INDORE
CRA No. 9647 of 2023
(HUKUMSINGH @ BANESINGH Vs THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH )
Dated : 21-01-2025
Shri Nilesh Dave, learned counsel for the appellant.
Shri Anand Bhatt, learned Government Advocate for respondent /
State.
Heard on I.A. No.15923/2024, second application under Section 430
of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (equivalent to Section 389(1)
of Cr.P.C.) for suspension of remaining jail sentence and grant of bail on
behalf of the appellant Hukumsing @ Banesingh S/o Gabbusingh. The first
application i.e. I.A.No.18417/2023 was dismissed as withdrawn with liberty
to renew the prayer after completion of 50% of actual jail sentence awarded
to appellant vide order dated 14.12.2023.
The appellant stands convicted under Sections 452, 354 and 323 of
Indian Penal Code, 1860 and 9(N)/10 of Protection of Children from Sexual
Offences Act, 2012 and sentenced to undergo 03 years RI, 03 years RI, 01
month SI and 05 years RI with fine of Rs.500/-, 500/-, 200/- and 1000/-
respectively with usual default stipulation.
Learned counsel for the appellant while taking exception to this
impugned judgment submits that appellant is innocent and he has been
falsely implicated in this matter. Trial Court has not appreciated the evidence
in its right perspective. There are material contradictions and omissions in
the statement of the witnesses. Impugned judgment suffers from surmises
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and conjectures and has been passed ignoring serious anomalies. It is further
submitted that present appellant is in custody since 18.03.2022. Appellant
has been sentenced to 05 years, out of which, he has been suffered 02 years
and 10 months of jail incarceration, meaning thereby, he has completed 50%
of the actual jail sentence. It is further submitted that the appeal being of the
year 2023 is not likely to be heard finally in near future. There is a strong
case in favour of the appellant. Hence, under such circumstances prayer is
made for suspension of jail sentence and grant of bail.
Per contra, learned Government Advocate appearing on behalf of the
respondent/State, while supporting the judgment impugned submits that no
exception can be taken in the matter of suspension of sentence and grant of
bail, regard being had to the nature and the gravity of offence found proved
against the present appellant.
Heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the record.
Considering the aforesaid factual backdrop, all the facts and
circumstances of the case coupled with the fact that possibility of final
hearing of this appeal in near future is bleak, without expressing any
conclusive opinion on merits, I find it to be a fit case to suspend the
remaining custodial sentence of the appellant.
Accordingly, application is allowed. Subject to deposit of fine amount,
if not already deposited the remaining jail sentence during the pendency of
the appeal is hereby suspended and it is directed that appellant be released on
bail on his furnishing personal bond in sum of Rs.50,000/- (Rupees Fifty
Thousand Only) with one solvent surety in the like amount to the satisfaction
3 CRA-9647-2023
of learned trial Court for compliance with following conditions:-
(1) The appellant shall deposit the amount of fine (if not deposited)
forthwith;
(2) The appellant shall appear before the Trial Court on 10/03/2025
and on such further dates as may be directed by the Trial Court;
(3) The appellant shall ensure hearing of the appeal on the date fixed
for such hearing and shall also ensure proper legal representation on his
behalf, on the date notified for hearing.
In case of breach of any of the aforementioned conditions, this order
granting suspension of sentence shall become ineffective. The Trial Court
shall be authorized to grant exemption from attendance to the appellant on
any date, on sufficient cause being shown [Chapter XIII Rule 42 Sub-Rule 2
of the M.P. High Court Rules, 2008].
Where the appellant do not appear on the date of his appearance before
the Trial Court and no sufficient cause for non-appearance is shown, the
Trial Court shall be authorized to issue non-bailable / bailable warrants to
secure his attendance under intimation to the Registry of High Court.
The Trial Court shall also proceed under Section 446 of Cr.P.C. /
Section 491 of BNSS, 2023 against such appellant and his surety without any
reference to this Court and without any impediment of the order granting
bail. [Chapter XIII Rule 42 Sub-Rule 3 of M.P. High Court Rules, 2008].
On arrest / surrender in compliance with the warrant, the appellant
shall be forwarded in custody to undergo sentence of imprisonment under
intimation to the Registry of this Court.
4 CRA-9647-2023
Accordingly, the I.A. stands allowed and disposed off.
I.A.No.15922/2024, which is an application for urgent hearing, also
stands disposed off.
Certified copy as per rules.
(BINOD KUMAR DWIVEDI)
JUDGE
Anushree
