Subodh Kumar Singh @ Pathhar Singh v. The State Through C.B.I. Unit
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.3382 of 2024 Arising Out of PS. Case No.-4 Year-2016 Thana- C.B.I CASE District- Patna ====================================================== Subodh Kumar Singh @ Pathhar Singh S/O RAM JANAM SINGH VILLAGE- NAYAGAON EAST, PS. DESARI, DIST. VAISHALI. ... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
THE STATE THROUGH C.B.I. UNIT BIHAR ... ... Opposite Party/s ====================================================== Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s :
Mr. Mahendra Thakur, Advocate.
For the State :
Mr. Bipin Kumar Sinha, APP For the CBI :
Ms. Nivedita Nirvikar, Sr. Advocate.
====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE JITENDRA KUMAR ORAL ORDER 10-04-2024 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned APP for the State.
2. The petitioner seeks bail in connection with R.C. (s) Case No. 4/2016, registered for the offences punishable under Sections 420, 471, 193 and 120(B) of the Indian Penal Code.
3. The prosecution case as emerging from the FIR is that the petitioner with the help of other co-accused persons played fraud with Hon'ble Patna High Court, Patna for securing bail.
4. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is innocent and has falsely been implicated in this case only on the basis of suspicion. He further submits that
2/4 similarly situated co-accused persons, namely, Nandkishor Singh @ Nandu, Chandradeo Prasad, Rajendra Singh Shastri @ Shastri, Mantu Kumar @ Matu Kumar and Arun Kumar Tiwari have been granted bail vide orders dated 24.09.2020, 15.11.2022, 28.08.2020, 29.8.2016 and 13.5.2016, passed in Cr. Misc. No. 19926 of 2020, Cr. Misc. No. 24243 of 2022, 10739 of 2020, 26052 of 2016 and 18980 of 2016, respectively. He further submits that as per the charge-sheet, tampering with figure of the alleged narcotics has been done subsequently after filing of the petition by one Arun Kumar Tiwari in connivance with all the other co-accused. However, there is no allegation of direct role of the accused-petitioner in tampering with the figure of the narcotics substance in the bail petition. He also submits that the petitioner has been languishing in jail since 26.10.2022. He also submits that trial is not progressive and charge has not been framed.
5. It is also stated in paragraph no. 2 of the petition that the petitioner has never moved before this Court for grant of anticipatory bail or regular bail.
6. It has further been stated in paragraph no. 3 that the petitioner has been made accused in special case No. 13 of 2015, registered under Sections 21 and 29 of the NDPS Act, in
3/4 which the petitioner has been convicted and allowed bail.
7. However, Ld. Counsel for the CBI vehemently opposes the prayer of the petitioner for bail. He fairly submits that as per the charge-sheet, this tampering with the figure of the narcotics in the bail petition has been done subsequently after its filing by one co-accused Arun Kumar Tiwari in connivance with other co-accused, including the petitioner. However, he concedes that there is no allegation of direct role of the present petitioner in the alleged offence.
8. Considering the aforesaid facts and circumstances, particularly the nature of the allegation as well as the fact that the similarly situated co-accused persons have been enlarged on bail by co-ordinate Benches of this Court, the petitioner, abovenamed, is directed to be released on bail on his furnishing bail bonds in the sum of Rs. 10,000 /- (Ten Thousand) with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of the Ld. Exclusive Magistrate, Patna, in connection with R.C(s) Case No. 4/2016 on the following conditions:
(i) The petitioner will make himself available for interrogation by a police officer/court as and when required. (ii) The petitioner will undertake that investigation/trial will not hamper on account of his absence or
4/4 non-cooperation. He must be available to the police or the court whenever his presence is required.
(iii) The petitioner 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 him from disclosing such facts to the court or to any Police Officer. (iv) In case, it is brought to the notice of the court below that the petitioner has criminal antecedent other than the disclosed one, the learned court below shall cancel the bail bond of the petitioner after hearing him and getting satisfied that the petitioner has concealed his criminal antecedent despite his knowledge of the same.
(v) In case, it is brought to the notice of the court below that statement regarding previous bail petition is wrong, the learned court below shall cancel the bail bond of the petitioner. The application stands allowed accordingly. (Jitendra Kumar, J) jyoti/- U T