Mayurkumar Shantilal Parekh vs State Of Gujarat

Nirzar S. Desai, J

The present application is filed under Section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, for regular bail in connection with FIR being I - C.R.No. 4 of 2023 registered with Dahod ACB Police Station, District: Dahod for offences under Sections 7 (a) and 13 (2) of the Prevention of the Corruption Act,1998.

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

Learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing on behalf of the respondent-State has opposed grant of regular bail looking to the nature and gravity of the offence.

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

Having heard the learned advocates for the parties and perusing the material placed on record and taking into consideration the facts of the case, nature of allegations, gravity of offences, role attributed to the accused, without discussing the evidence in detail, this Court is of the opinion that this is a fit case to exercise the discretion and enlarge the applicant on regular bail.

This Court has considered following aspects:-

(a) The applicant is in jail since 08.05.2023.

(b) Though charge-sheet is not filed, this Court put a specific query to the learned APP about the likelihood of filing charge-sheet and in response there to, learned APP upon instructions from the Investigating Officer i.e. Ms. R. B. Prajapati, P.I., ACB, Godhara submitted that though investigation is practically over, the sanction is sought from the Higher Officer for laying the charge-sheet which indicates that the investigation is practically over and now no further material is required to be collected by the Investigating Officer.

(c) The Trial may take its own time.

(d) It is submitted by learned Senior Advocate Mr. Nanavaty, upon instructions that the present applicant is already suspended in respect of the FIR in question and there is no likelihood in near future that he will get his job back.

(e) There is no past antecedent registered against the present applicant;

In the facts and circumstances of the present case, I am inclined to consider the case of the present applicant.

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

Hence, the present application is allowed. The applicant is ordered to be released on regular bail in connection with FIR being I - C.R.No. 4 of 2023 registered with Dahod ACB Police Station, District: Dahod 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 the applicant 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 India without prior permission of the concerned trial court;

[e] mark presence before the concerned Police Station between 1st to 10th day 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 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 the concerned trial court;

The authorities shall adhere to its own Circular relating to COVID-19 and, thereafter, will release the applicant only if the applicant 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 Sessions 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 prima facie observations made by this Court in the present order.

Rule is made absolute to the aforesaid extent. Direct service is permitted.