Nishaj vs State Of Kerala

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

The petitioner is the accused in Crime No.24 of 2020 of Nilambur Police Station. The above case is registered against the petitioner alleging

offences punishable under Sections 450, 376 (1) and 506 of IPC.

The prosecution case is that on 10.01.2020 at about 12.30 a.m., the petitioner trespassed into the house of the defacto complainant where she and

her child are residing, committed rape on her and threatened with dire consequence if divulged the incident to anyone.

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

The counsel for the petitioner submitted that no such incident happened. The counsel submitted that the defacto complainant also filed an affidavit

before this Court saying that she has no grievance against the petitioner. The counsel submitted that Annexure-A1 is the true copy of the notarized

affidavit of the defacto complainant. The counsel submitted that the petitioner is ready to abide any conditions if this Court grant him bail.

The Public Prosecutor opposed the bail application. When this bail application came up for consideration on an earlier date, this Court directed the

Public Prosecutor to get instructions based on the alleged affidavit given by the defacto complainant. The Public Prosecutor after getting instructions

submitted that a signed statement is recorded from the defacto complainant on 25.11.2020 and that signed statement is made available to this Court.

The Public Prosecutor also submitted that final report is already filed in this case. Now the committal court already committed the case to Sessions

Court.

After hearing both sides, I think, this bail application can be allowed on stringent conditions. I perused the signed statement dated 25.11.2020 of the

defacto complainant in which it is stated that she has no grievance against the petitioner. It is true that the offence under Section 376 IPC cannot be

compounded. Criminal proceedings initiated under Section 376 IPC can't be quashed even under Section 482 Cr.P.C in the light of several judgments

of the Apex Court. But in this case the investigation is over and final report is filed. The victim also stated that she has no grievance against the

petitioner. In such circumstances, this Court cannot ignore such a statement given by the victim while considering this bail application. I don't want to

make any observation on the merit of the case. Considering the entire facts and circumstances 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 petitioner 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 petitioner, he shall be released on bail 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 them from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police officer.

Petitioner shall not leave India without permission of the Court.

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.