Sohit vs State Of Haryana

Jaishree Thakur, J

This is a petition that has been filed for grant of regular bail to the petitioner in case FIR No.468 dated 08.10.2018 registered under Sections 186, 201,

224, 225, 353, 307, 411, 385, 34 IPC and Sections 25, 54 & 59 of Arms Act at Police Station SGM Nagar, District Faridabad.

Learned counsel for the petitioner inter alia would contend that the petitioner has been falsely implicated in the instant FIR on the basis of disclosure

statement made by one of the co-accused, which statement is countered by the counsel appearing on behalf of the respondent-State, who submits that

the petitioner herein has been seen in the CCTV footage.

Counsel for the petitioner would further argue that the petitioner has been in custody since 11.07.2019 and the trial is not likely to conclude in the near

future. He further relies upon cross-examination of the complainant wherein material witnesses have already turned hostile. It is further submitted that

the alleged recovery made from the petitioner herein has not been sent to FSL. Apart from the above argument, counsel for the petitioner seeks parity

on the ground that similarly situated co-accused namely Ashish, Wazir @ Mota & Ranvir @ Pawan have already been allowed regular bail.

Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the respondent-State opposes grant of regular bail to the petitioner on the ground that the petitioner herein has

been seen firing in the CCTV footage, however, is not in a position to dispute that similarly placed co-accused from whom recoveries are made have

been allowed regular bail.

I have heard learned counsel for the parties and have perused the paper book.

Keeping in view the fact that the challan has been presented and that the co-accused have already been allowed bail by the High Court coupled with

the fact that the trial is likely to take some time to conclude owing to novel corona virus situation, no useful purpose would be served by keeping the

petitioner behind bars. The instant petition is allowed and the petitioner is directed to be released on regular bail on execution of adequate

personal/surety bond to the satisfaction of concerned trial Court/Duty Magistrate. However, any observation made herein shall not be construed to be

an expression on merits of the case.