Darpan v. State Of NCT Of Delhi

$~6 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + BAIL APPLN. 576/2026 DARPAN .....Petitioner Through:

Mr. Saket Singh, Advocate.

versus STATE OF NCT OF DELHI .....Respondent Through:

Mr. Manoj Pant, APP for the State with SI Manisha

CORAM:

HON'BLE DR. JUSTICE SWARANA KANTA SHARMA

O R D E R

% 13.04.2026 1.

By way of the present application, the applicant seeks grant of regular bail in case arising out of FIR bearing No. 381/2025 for the offence punishable under Sections 371(3), 311, 3(5), 310(2) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (hereafter 'IPC'), registered at Police Station Punjabi Bagh, Delhi.

2.

Briefly stated, the facts of the present case are that On 29.05.2025 at around 02:30 AM, a PCR call was received regarding a dacoity incident at Hotel Golden Saffron, Shivaji Park, Punjabi Bagh, Delhi. Upon receiving the information, the Investigating Officer (I.O.), along with the staff, reached the spot, where the complainant and other hotel staff met them. During enquiry, it was revealed that 5-6 unknown persons arrived on two motorcycles. Out of them, four persons entered the hotel while the others remained outside. The assailants, armed with knives, threatened the The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

receptionist and other staff, looted cash from the counter, and also robbed two mobile phones belonging to the staff. The CCTV footage was checked and preserved, and statements of the victims were recorded. Thereafter, the present case was registered at Police Station Punjabi Bagh, and further investigation was taken up by the I.O.

3.

The learned counsel appearing on behalf of the applicant argues that the applicant has been falsely implicated in the present case. It is argued that the applicant is in judicial custody since 31.05.2025. It is also argued that the chargesheet in the present case has been filed on 26.08.2025. Further, as per the disclosure statement of co-accused Opender, he has stated that he had misinformed the applicant/accused and had taken him to the spot on a false pretext, and that the applicant/accused had no knowledge about the planning for commission of any alleged offences. It is further argued that the applicant was not actively involved in the offence and had no prior knowledge of it. He claims he was taken to the location by his brother-inlaw, co-accused Opender, under the pretext of labour work and was unaware of the incident at Hotel Golden Saffron. It is therefore, prayed that the applicant be granted regular bail.

4.

The learned APP for the State, on the other hand, does not dispute that there are no criminal cases pending against the present accused/applicant and the applicant is only 22 years of age. It is stated that the applicant is in judicial custody for the last one year.

5.

This Court has heard arguments addressed on behalf of the learned counsel appearing for the applicant as well as the learned APP for the State and has perused the material available on record. 6.

After hearing arguments and going through the case file, this Court is The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

of the opinion that the allegations against the present accused/applicant are that he was standing outside the hotel at the time of alleged commission of offence. The learned Trial Court has already granted bail to the co-accused with graver role.

7.

Considering the overall facts and circumstances of the case, , this Court is inclined to grant regular bail to the applicant herein, on his furnishing personal bond in the sum of Rs.10,000/- with one surety of the like amount, subject to the satisfaction of the learned Trial Court/Successor Court/Link Court/Duty Judge concerned on the following terms and conditions:

i) The applicant shall not leave the country without prior permission of the concerned Court and if the applicant has a passport, he shall surrender the same to the concerned trial court. ii) In case of change of residential address/contact details, the applicant shall promptly inform the same to the concerned Court and IO/SHO concerned.

iii) The applicant shall appear regularly before the learned Trial Court, unless exempted.

iv) The applicant shall not communicate with, or come into contact with the complainant or any of the prosecution witnesses, or tamper with the evidence of the case.

8.

Accordingly, the present bail application stands allowed and is disposed of.

9.

It is, however, clarified that nothing expressed hereinabove shall tantamount to an expression of opinion on merits of the case. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

10.

The order be uploaded on the website forthwith. DR. SWARANA KANTA SHARMA, J APRIL 13, 2026/zp The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.