Vakil Singh vs State Of Rajasthan

This criminal appeal under Section 14A(2) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (hereinafter to be referred as 'the SC/ST Act') has been filed on behalf of the appellant being aggrieved with the order dated 23.10.2019 passed by the Special Judge, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities Cases), Bikaner (hereinafter to be referred as 'trial court') in Misc. Bail Application No.1611/2019, whereby the trial court has dismissed the bail application filed on behalf of the appellant.

The appellant has been arrested in FIR No.229/2019 of Police Station Khajuwala, District Bikaner for the offences punishable under Sections 376(2)(n), 450 and 506 IPC, Section 67-A IT Act and Sections 3(1)(W-1), 3(2)(5) and 3(2)(5-A) of SC/ST Act.

Learned counsel for the appellant has submitted that the allegation against the appellant of sexual assault upon the prosecutrix is absolutely false. It is submitted that there is a delay in filing the FIR and no satisfactory explanation has been given regarding the said delay. It is also submitted that the prosecutrix and the appellant are neighbors and they were in relationship for quite some time even before the marriage of the prosecutrix. It is submitted that the photographs of the prosecutrix and the appellant, which are allegedly made viral, are not obscene. It is submitted that the charge-sheet has been filed and trial of the case will take time.

Learned Public Prosecutor has opposed the prayer made on behalf of the appellant in this criminal appeal.

Heard learned counsel for the appellant as well as learned Public Prosecutor and also perused the material on record.

Having regard to the totality of the facts and circumstances of the case, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, I deem it just and proper to allow the appeal filed by the accused appellant under Section 14-A(2) of SC/ST Act.

Accordingly, this criminal appeal filed under Section 14-A(2) of SC/ST Act is allowed and the order dated 23.10.2019 passed by the Special Judge, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities Cases), Bikaner in Misc. Bail Application No.1611/2019 is set aside. It is directed that appellant - Vakil Singh S/o Jaskaran Singh shall be released on bail in connection with FIR No.229/2019 of Police Station Khajuwala, District Bikaner provided he executes a personal bond in a sum of Rs.50,000/-with two sound and solvent sureties of Rs.25,000/- each to the satisfaction of learned trial court for his appearance before that court on each and every date of hearing and whenever called upon to do so till the completion of the trial.