Citation : 2021 Latest Caselaw 12237 Ori
Judgement Date : 29 November, 2021
IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK
CRLA No.354 of 2018
S.K. Firojul Akhatar Aman .... Appellant/
Petitioner
Mr. K. Pattanaik, Advocate
-versus-
State of Odisha .... Respondent/
Opp. Party
Mr. R. Tripathy,
Addl. Standing Counsel
CORAM:
JUSTICE S.K. SAHOO
ORDER
Order No. 29.11.2021
Misc. Case No.856 of 2018
11. This matter is taken up through Hybrid
Arrangement (Video Conferencing/Physical Mode).
This is an application under Section 389 of Cr.P.C. for grant of bail.
Heard.
The appellant-petitioner has been convicted under section 20(b)(ii)(C) of the N.D.P.S. Act and sentenced to undergo R.I. for a period of ten years and to pay a fine of Rs.1,00,000/- (rupees one lakh), in default, to undergo further R.I. for a period of one year by the learned 2nd Additional Sessions Judge, Balasore in Special Case No.116/71 of 2014.
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Perused the impugned judgment.
Learned counsel for the appellant-petitioner submitted that the petitioner is in judicial custody since 23.08.2014 and therefore, out of ten years of substantive sentence imposed by the learned trial Court, he has already undergone substantive sentence of more than seven years and three months and there is no chance of early hearing of appeal in the near future and balance of convenience is in his favour and therefore, the bail application of the petitioner may be favourably considered.
Learned counsel for the State on instruction submitted that there are no criminal antecedents against the petitioner, however he submitted that in view of the commercial quantity of ganja seized from the possession of the petitioner and the bar under section 37 of the N.D.P.S. Act, the petitioner should not be released on bail.
Considering the submissions of learned counsel for the respective parties, the nature of evidence adduced by the prosecution during trial, the commercial quantity of ganja seized and in view of the bar under section 37 of the N.D.P.S. Act, while not inclining to release the petitioner on bail on merit, but taking into account the sentence imposed by the learned trial Court, the period already undergone by
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the petitioner and absence of any chance of early hearing of the appeal in the near future, I direct the petitioner to be released on interim bail for a period of three months from the date of his release. The petitioner shall surrender before the learned Court below immediately on the expiry of the said three months period.
For the aforesaid period, let the appellant- petitioner be released on interim bail for the aforesaid period on furnishing bail bond of Rs.50,000/- (rupees fifty thousand) with two local solvent sureties each for the like amount to the satisfaction of the trial Court with further terms and conditions as the learned Court may deem just and proper. While on interim bail, the petitioner shall not indulge in any criminal activities in any manner and he shall appear before the Inspector in-charge of Soro police station once in a week on every Monday.
Violation of any terms and conditions shall entail cancellation of interim bail.
The Misc. Case is disposed of.
( S.K. Sahoo) Judge Misc. Case No.857 of 2018
12. Heard.
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There shall be stay of realization of fine amount imposed by the learned trial Court on the appellant- petitioner till disposal of the criminal appeal.
The Misc. Case is disposed of.
( S.K. Sahoo) Judge
CRLA No.354 of 2018
13. List this matter in the week commencing from 14.03.2022.
Learned counsel for the appellant shall file the surrender certificate of the appellant by the next date.
A free copy of orders be handed over to the learned counsel for the State.
Urgent certified copy of this order be granted on proper application.
( S.K. Sahoo) Judge RKM
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