Johnson P V And Ors vs State Of Kerala

This Bail Application filed under Section 438 of Criminal Procedure Code was heard through Video Conference.

The petitioners are accused in Crime No.1772/2020 of Kunnicode Police Station. The above case is registered against the petitioners alleging

offences punishable under Sections 498(A), 294(b), 354, 323, 341, 114 r/w Section 34 of the IPC.

The prosecution case is that the petitioners who are the in-laws of the defacto complainant mentally and physically harassed the defacto

complainant.

Heard the counsel for the petitioners and the learned Public Prosecutor.

The counsel for the petitioners submitted that even if the entire allegations are accepted, the offence under Section 498A IPC is not made out in this

case. The counsel submitted that all other offences alleged against the petitioners are bailable offences. The counsel submitted that the offence under

Section 354 IPC is also not made out in the facts and circumstances of this case. The counsel submitted that the allegation in the F.I.statement is that

the defacto complainant's mother died and the mother of the defacto complainant was working in the Government Department of Tamil Nadu. When

the defacto complainant want to go to her mother's work place for submitting certain papers for getting dying-in harness scheme appointment, the

petitioners resisted the same. The counsel submitted that the petitioners are ready to abide any conditions if this Court grant them bail.

The Public Prosecutor opposed the bail application. The Public Prosecutor submitted that there is no allegation against the husband of the defacto

complainant. The allegation is mainly against the in-laws of the defacto complainant. The Public Prosecutor submitted that if this Court is granting bail,

stringent conditions may be imposed.

After hearing both sides, I think, this bail application can be allowed on stringent conditions. Admittedly, the matrimonial relationship between the

husband and the defacto complainant is in existence even now. This complaint is filed against the in-laws of the defacto complainant. I don't want to

make any observation on the merit of the case. Considering the entire facts and circumstances and I think, this Bail Application can be allowed on

stringent conditions.

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.

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 petitioners shall appear before the Investigating Officer within ten days from today and shall undergo interrogation.

After interrogation, if the Investigating Officer propose to arrest the petitioners, they shall be released on bail executing a bond for a sum of

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

The petitioners shall appear before the Investigating Officer for interrogation as and when required. The petitioners 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 them from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police officer.

Petitioners shall not leave India without permission of the Court.

Petitioners shall not commit an offence similar to the offence of which they are accused, or suspected, of the commission of which they are

suspected.

The petitioners 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 petitioners, the jurisdictional Court can cancel the bail in accordance to law, even though the bail is

granted by this Court.