Ankit Shokeen v. State (NCT Of Delhi)

$~1&2 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Date of Decision: 07.04.2026 + BAIL APPLN. 594/2026 AKASH @ TT .....Petitioner Through:

Mr. Takshay and Mr. Manish Godara, Advocates.

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

Mr. Hemant Mehla, APP for State with Inspector Praveen.

+ BAIL APPLN. 645/2026, CRL.M.A. 4925/2026 & CRL.M.A. 4926/2026 ANKIT SHOKEEN .....Petitioner Through:

Mr.

Sandiip Guptaa, Advocate (through videoconferencing).

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

Mr. Amit Ahlawat, APP for State with Inspector Praveen.

CORAM: JUSTICE GIRISH KATHPALIA J U D G M E N T (ORAL) 1.

The accused/applicants seek regular bail in case FIR No. 269/2022 of Police Station Hari Nagar for offence under Section 302/307/323/147/148/149/506/120B/34 of IPC.

Page 1 of 4 pages 2.5.4.20=8401dd889b27a77b2f65ffffe4afec45569af39 62c6fb4835d435f97626cacca, ou=HIGH COURT OF DELHI,CID - 7047638, postalCode=110003, st=Delhi, serialNumber=d3e86796451ec45c07b5d15570996b4 0f80cbd2eee60402c487965ff801e26fa, cn=GIRISH Date: 2026.04.07 05:56:30 -07'00'

2.

Broadly speaking, the prosecution case is that inside the jail cell, a group of prisoners assaulted two prisoners with dandas, fists and kicks. One of the victim prisoners died in the incident. Two of the alleged assailants have already been granted bail by coordinate benches of this court. The entire incident was captured on CCTV installed inside the cell. 3.

Learned counsel for both accused/applicants submit that they are entitled to bail on grounds of parity with co-accused persons Ashwani and Rahul, who were granted bail by the coordinate benches of this court. It is also contended that the alleged incident was a part of group fight between the prisoners and nobody expected that one of the victims would die. 4.

On the other hand, learned prosecutors assisted by Investigating Officer/Inspector Praveen oppose these bail applications, contending that role played by the present accused/applicants was different from the role played by co-accused persons Ashwani and Rahul to the extent that neither of them used danda during assault, whereas, the present accused/applicant Ankit assaulted the victims with danda. Further, it is contended that the accused/applicant Akash is involved in six more cases while the accused/applicant Ankit is involved in four cases. 5.

Learned APP has played the CCTV footage in court. The manner in which the two groups assaulted two co-prisoners, one of whom Page 2 of 4 pages 2.5.4.20=8401dd889b27a77b2f65ffffe4afec4556 9af3962c6fb4835d435f97626cacca, ou=HIGH COURT OF DELHI,CID - 7047638, postalCode=110003, st=Delhi, serialNumber=d3e86796451ec45c07b5d155709 96b40f80cbd2eee60402c487965ff801e26fa, cn=GIRISH KATHPALIA Date: 2026.04.07 05:56:20 -07'00'

succumbed, conveys an impression that although the assailants were waiting for the victims to enter the cell, but the manner of assault does not show a concerted attack. Practically, it was free for all with a number of inmates assaulting both the victims. Some of the assailants were carrying dandas while others were using fists and kicks. 6.

In response to a specific query, the Investigating Officer admits that he did not investigate into the role played by the jail officials in order to find out as to how dandas entered the cell.

7.

Further, as submitted by both sides, during trial, three of the prosecution witnesses have turned hostile to prosecution. 8.

Looking into the manner of assault, the use of dandas or fists/kicks cannot be a criteria in this case to distinguish the roles played by the present accused/applicants and the accused persons Ashwani and Rahul. In view of the manner of assault, parity to the present accused/applicants cannot be denied on the ground that one of them namely Ankit used danda in the assault.

9.

Considering the above circumstances, these bail applications are allowed and the accused/applicants are directed to be released on bail, if not required in any other case, subject to each of them furnishing a personal bond in the sum of Rs.20,000/- with one surety each in the like Page 3 of 4 pages 2.5.4.20=8401dd889b27a77b2f65ffffe4afec 45569af3962c6fb4835d435f97626cacca, ou=HIGH COURT OF DELHI,CID - 7047638, postalCode=110003, st=Delhi, serialNumber=d3e86796451ec45c07b5d15 570996b40f80cbd2eee60402c487965ff801 e26fa, cn=GIRISH KATHPALIA Date: 2026.04.07 05:56:08 -07'00'

amount to the satisfaction of the learned trial court. Pending applications stand disposed of.

10.

Copy of this order be sent to the concerned Jail Superintendent for being conveyed to the accused/applicants.

2.5.4.20=8401dd889b27a77b2f65ffffe4a fec45569af3962c6fb4835d435f97626ca cca, ou=HIGH COURT OF DELHI,CID - 7047638, postalCode=110003, st=Delhi, serialNumber=d3e86796451ec45c07b5 d15570996b40f80cbd2eee60402c48796 5ff801e26fa, cn=GIRISH KATHPALIA Date: 2026.04.07 05:55:22 -07'00'

GIRISH KATHPALIA (JUDGE) APRIL 7, 2026/ry Page 4 of 4 pages