Surjan Ram vs State Of Rajasthan

Farjand Ali, J

The instant application for suspension of sentence has been moved on behalf of the applicant in the matter of judgment dated 01.08.2023 passed by the learned Special Judge (Prevention of Corruption Act) No.2, District Jodhpur in Criminal Regular Case No.46/2021 whereby he was convicted and sentenced to suffer maximum imprisonment of three years’ simple imprisonment along with a fine of Rs.3,000/- under Section 13(1)(D) read with Section 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act and lesser punishment for the other offence under Section 7 of Prevention of

It is contended on behalf of the applicant that the learned trial Judge has not appreciated the correct, legal and factual aspects of the matter and thus, reached at an erroneous conclusion of guilt, therefore, the same is required to be appreciated again by this court being the first appellate Court. The sentence of the accused-appellant has already been suspended by the trial court. He was on bail during trial and did not misuse the liberty so granted to him; hearing of the appeal is likely to take long time, therefore, the application for suspension of sentence may be granted.

Per contra, learned public prosecutor has vehemently opposed the prayer made on behalf of the accused-applicant for releasing the appellant on application for suspension of sentence.

Heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the material available on record.

Considering the submissions of learned counsel for the parties and looking to the totality of facts and circumstances of the case, more particularly the facts that the accused-appellant was on bail during the course of trial and the hearing of appeal is likely to take further more time and considering the overall sub-missions while refraining from passing any comments on the niceties of the matter and the defects of the prosecution as the same may put an adverse effect on hearing of the appeal, this court is of the opinion that it is a fit case for suspending the sentence awarded to the accused-appellant.

Accordingly, the application for suspension of sentence filed under Section 389 Cr.P.C. is allowed and it is ordered that the sentence passed by learned Special Judge (Prevention of Corruption Act) No.2, District Jodhpur who passed the impugned order dated 01.08.2023 in Criminal Regular Case No.46/2021 against the appellant-applicant- Surjan Ram S/o Shri Hanuman Ram shall remain suspended till final disposal of the aforesaid appeal and he shall be released on bail provided he executes a personal bond in the sum of Rs.50,000/-with two sureties of Rs.25,000/- each to the satisfaction of the learned trial Judge for his appearance in this court on 18.09.2023 and whenever ordered to do so till the disposal of the appeal on the conditions indicated below:-

(1) That he will appear before the trial Court in the month of January of every year till the appeal is decided.

(2) That if the applicant changes the place of residence, he will give in writing his changed address to the trial Court as well as to the counsel in the High Court.

(3) Similarly, if the sureties change their addresses, they will give in writing their changed address to the trial Court.