Surendra Kumar @ Raja vs. State Of U.P.

Court No. - 66

Case :- CRIMINAL MISC. BAIL APPLICATION No. - 12442 of 2021 Applicant :- Surendra Kumar @ Raja Opposite Party :- State of U.P. and Another Counsel for Applicant :- Ved Prakash Pandey Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A.

Hon'ble Ajay Bhanot,J.

Heard Sri Vinod Kumar Pandey, learned counsel for the applicant and learned AGA for the State.

A first information report was lodged against the applicant as Case Crime No. 178 of 2020 at Police Station- Khakheru, District Fatehpur under Sections 354 IPC, Section 9/10 of the POCSO Act.

The bail application of the applicant was rejected by learned Additional District and Sessions Judge (POCSO Act), Fatehpur, on 05.01.2021.

The applicant is in jail since 15.11.2020, pursuant to the said F.I.R.

Sri Vinod Kumar Pandey, learned counsel for the applicant contends that the applicant has been falsely implicated in the instant case. The victim in her statement under Section 164 Cr.P.C. has contradicted the prosecution case set up in the FIR. The victim has not assigned any role of physical assault or inappropriate sexual act to the applicant. Apart from this case, the applicant does not have criminal history. Lastly it is submitted by learned counsel for applicant that the applicant shall not abscond, and will fully cooperate in the criminal law proceedings. The applicant shall not tamper with the evidence nor influence the witnesses in any manner.

Sri Vikas Sahai, learned AGA for the State could not satisfactorily dispute the aforesaid submissions from the record. Learned AGA does not dispute the fact that the applicant does not have any criminal history apart from this case.

Courts have taken notice of the overcrowding of jails during the current pandemic situation (Ref.: Suo Motu Writ Petition (c) No. 1/2020, Contagion of COVID 19 Virus in prisons before the Supreme Court of India). These circumstances shall also be factored in while considering bail applications on behalf of accused persons.

I see merit in the submissions of learned counsel for the applicant and accordingly hold that the applicant is entitled to be enlarged on bail.

In the light of the preceding discussion and without making any observations on the merits of the case, the bail application is allowed.

Let the applicant- Surendra Kumar @ Raja be released on bail in Case Crime No. 178 of 2020 at Police Station- Khakheru, District Fatehpur under Sections 354 IPC, Section 9/10 of the POCSO Act, on her furnishing a personal bond and two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the court below. The following conditions be imposed in the interest of justice:-

(i) The applicant will not tamper with the evidence during the trial.

(ii) The applicant will not influence any witness.

(iii) The applicant will appear before the trial court on the date fixed, unless personal presence is exempted.

(iv) The applicant shall not directly or indirectly make inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the Court to any police officer or tamper with the evidence.

In case of breach of any of the above condition, the prosecution shall be at liberty to move bail cancellation application before this Court.

Order Date :- 21.12.2021 Pravin