Habib Ibrahim Node vs State Of Gujarat

A.Y. Kogje, J

This application is filed by the applicant under Section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 for regular bail in connection with FIR registered as CR­I/11993010200843 /2020 with Rapar Police Station, Kachchh for the offence punishable under Sections 307, 143, 144, 146, 147, 148, 149, 507, 506(2), 34 and 120(B) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 135 of the Gujarat Police Act.

Learned advocate appearing on behalf of the applicant submits that considering the nature of offence, the applicant may be enlarged on regular bail by imposing suitable conditions.

On the other hand, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent­State has opposed grant of regular bail looking to the nature and gravity of the offence.

Learned APP strongly opposes the bail application on the ground that the applicant is indulging in shifting of sand which appears to be main cause of dispute and that is the possibility of winning over the witnesses, as the applicants are large in strength.

Learned Advocates appearing on behalf of the respective parties do not press for a further reasoned order.

I have heard the learned advocates appearing on behalf of the respective parties and perused the papers. Following aspects are considered :­

I) The FIR is registered on 27.09.2020 for the offence which took place on 27.09.2020.

II) The applicant is in custody since 07.10.2020.

III) Investigation is concluded and charge­ sheet is filed.

IV) Submission of learned advocate for the applicant that it is on account of internal rivalry the applicant has been arraigned as an accused though no specific role or overt act is attributed to the applicant.

V) Submission of learned advocate for the applicant that the applicant is also not named in the FIR and the two accused persons, who are named in the FIR have already been enlarged on regular bail by the Sessions Court.

VI) Submission of learned advocate for the applicant that the applicant is not having any antecedents.

VII) Learned Additional Public Prosecutor under the instructions of the Investigating Officer is unable to bring on record any special circumstances against the applicant.

This Court has taken into consideration the law laid down by the Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of Sanjay Chandra v. Central Bureau of Investigation reported in [2012] 1 SCC 40.

In the facts and circumstances of the case and considering the nature of the allegations made against the applicant in the First Information Report, without discussing the evidence in detail, prima facie, this Court is of the opinion that this is a fit case to exercise the discretion and enlarge the applicant on regular bail.

Hence, the present application is allowed. The applicant is ordered to be released on regular bail in connection with CR­I/11993010200843 /2020 registered with Rapar Police Station, Kachchh on executing a personal bond of Rs.10,000/= (Rupees Ten Thousand Only) with one surety of the like amount to the satisfaction of the trial Court and subject to the conditions that he shall;

(a) not take undue advantage of liberty or misuse liberty;

(b) not act in a manner injurious to the interest of the prosecution;

(c) surrender passport, if any, to the lower Court within a week;

(d) not leave the State of Gujarat without prior permission of the Sessions Judge concerned;

(e) mark presence before the concerned Police Station on alternate Monday of every English calendar month for a period of six months between 11.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m.;

(f) furnish the present address of his residence to the Investigating Officer and also to the Court at the time of execution of the bond and shall not change the residence without prior permission of this Court;

(g) not enter Tal:Rapar for the period of six months except for the purpose of marking presence before the concerned Police Station and attending the trial proceedings.

The authorities will release the applicant only if he is not required in connection with any other offence for the time being. If breach of any of the above conditions is committed, the Sessions Judge concerned will be free to issue warrant or take appropriate action in the matter.

Bail bond to be executed before the lower Court having jurisdiction to try the case. It will be open for the concerned Court to delete, modify and/or relax any of the above conditions, in accordance with law.

At the trial, the trial Court shall not be influenced by the observations of preliminary nature qua the evidence at this stage made by this Court while enlarging the applicant on bail.

The application is allowed in the aforesaid terms. Rule is made absolute to the aforesaid extent.

Direct Service is permitted.