Iqbal M.A vs State Of Kerala

This Bail Application filed under Section 438 of Criminal Procedure Code (Cr.P.C.) was heard through Video Conference.

The petitioner is the accused in crime No.768/2020 of Cheruthuruthy Police Station. The above case is registered against the petitioner alleging

offences punishable under Sections 341, 323, 324, 354, 294(b) and 506(i) of the Indian Penal Code.

The prosecution case is that on 18.12.2020 at about 04.30p.m. the accused wrongfully restrained a man called 'Mony' who helped the son of the

defacto complainant in the last local body election, uttered abusive words, threatened and manhandled him. The son of the defacto complainant was

the rebel candidate for Congress. The defacto complainant, on seeing this scuffle, came to the scene of occurrence and tried to intervene and

separated them. During that time the petitioner caught hold of the defacto complainant and twisted her arms causing some pain to her arms. Hnece, it

is alleged that the petitioner committed the offence.

Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Public Prosecutor. The counsel for the petitioner submitted that the only non-baialble

offence alleged against the petitioner is under Section 354 IPC. Even if the entire allegations are accepted, the offence under Section 354 IPC is not

made out. The counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is ready to abide by any conditions, if this Court grant him bail. The learned

Public Prosecutor opposed the Bail Application.

After hearing both sides, I think this bail application application can be allowed on stringent conditions. When this Bail Application came up for

consideration on 22.12.2020, this Court passed an interim order not to arrest the petitioner. That interim order is even now in force. The only non-

bailable offence alleged against the petitioner is under Section 354 of IPC. Whether the offence under Section 354 IPC is made out is a matter to be

investigated by the Investigating Officer. I do not want to make any observation about the merits of the case. Considering the facts and circumstances

of the case, I think this Bail Application can be allowed.

Moreover, the 2nd wave of COVID-19 is spreading in the country and the cititzens are facing serious difficulties. In the state of Kerala, the 2nd

wave of the pandemic is creating lot of problems and even the day-to-day life of the citizens are affected. Everday, about 25,000 people are tested

positive with COVID-19. In such circumstances, this Court has to consider this fact also while considering bail appliations. The life is more important

than anything. Therefore, I am considering this bail application based on the above pandemic situation.

Moreover, considering the need to follow social distancing norms inside prisons so as to avert the spread of the novel Corona Virus Pandemic, the

Hon'ble Supreme Court in Re: Contagion of COVID-19 Virus In Prisons case (Suo Motu Writ Petition(C) No.1 of 2020) and a Full Bench of this

Court in W.P(C)No.9400 of 2020 issued various salutary directions for minimizing the number of inmates inside prisons. These happened during the

1st wave of COVID-19 season.

Moreover, it is a well accepted principle that, the bail is the rule and the jail is the exception. The Hon'ble Supreme Court in Chidambaram P. v.

Directorate of Enforcement (2019 (16) SCALE 870), after considering all the earlier judgments, observed that, the basic jurisprudence relating to bail

remains the same inasmuch as the grant of bail is the rule and refusal is the exception so as to ensure that, the accused has the opportunity of securing

fair trial.

Considering the dictum laid down in the above decision and considering the facts and circumstances of this case, this Bail Application is allowed

with the following directions:

The petitioner shall appear before the Investigating Officer within ten days from today and shall undergo interrogation;

After interrogation, if the Investigating Officer proposes to arrest the petitioner, he shall be released on bail on executing a bond for a sum of

Rs.50,000/-(Rupees Fifty Thousand only) with two solvent sureties each for the like sum to the satisfaction of the officer concerned;

The petitioner shall appear before the Investigating Officer for interrogation as and when required. The petitioner shall co-operate with the

investigation and shall not, directly or indirectly make any 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 or to any police officer;

The petitioner shall not leave India without permission of the Court;

The petitioner shall not commit an offence similar to the offence of which he is accused, or suspected, of the commission of which he is suspected;

The petitioner shall strictly abide by the various guidelines issued by the State Government and Central Government with respect to keeping of

social distancing in the wake of Covid 19 pandemic;

If any of the above conditions are violated by the petitioner, the jurisdictional Court can cancel the bail in accordance to law, even though the bail is

granted by this Court.