Mange Lal v. State Of NCT Delhi
$~88 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + BAIL APPLN. 1525/2026 & CRL.M.A. 12177/2026 MANGE LAL .....Petitioner Through:
Mr. Vishal Tiwari and Mr. Abhinav, Advocates.
versus STATE OF NCT DELHI .....Respondent Through:
Mr. Ritesh Kumar Bahri, APP for State with SI Hemant, PS: Dwarka North.
CORAM:
HON'BLE DR. JUSTICE SWARANA KANTA SHARMA
O R D E R
% 20.04.2026 CRL.M.A. 12178/2026 & CRL.M.A. 12179/2026 (exemptions) 1.
Allowed, subject to all just exceptions.
2.
Applications stand disposed of.
BAIL APPLN. 1525/2026 3.
By way of the present application, the applicant is seeking grant of anticipatory bail in case arising out of FIR bearing no. 252/2023, registered at Police Station, Dwarka North, Delhi, for the commission of offences punishable under Sections 420/34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (hereafter 'IPC').
4.
Issue notice. The learned APP accepts notice on behalf of the Staet. 5.
The brief facts, are that the the present case was registered on the complaint of Sh. Kaushik Kumar, alleging that co-accused Randeep Singh The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.
had dishonestly induced him to part with an amount of Rs. 3,21,32,978/- on false representations, thereby committing offence of cheating. It is alleged that the complainant was persuaded to invest in a purported business relating to the supply of medical equipment and Corona vaccines, wherein coaccused Randeep Singh promised returns of 20-25% and obtained the said amount as a short-term loan. The complainant transferred the aforesaid amount through multiple cheque transactions in SBI Account bearing No. 30489779176 during the period 07.05.2022 to 27.05.2022, as well as via NEFT from ICICI Bank. It is further alleged that during the course of dealings, the accused persons allegedly used forged and fabricated documents, including a fake Bank Demand Draft of Rs. 2,20,00,000/- purportedly drawn on Axis Bank. Co-accused Randeep Singh was arrested on 04.11.2024.
6.
During interrogation, co-accused Randep Singh disclosed that the fake demand draft was received via WhatsApp from accused/applicant Mange Lal, pursuant to which notice under Section 41A Cr.P.C. was served upon him. Thereafter, the applicant/accused Mange Lal joined investigation on 07.11.2024 and disclosed that he had received the said draft from one Pankaj Kumar on the instructions of co-accused Randeep Singh and forwarded the same to him. His mobile phone was seized and he was bound down. Upon completion of investigation, chargesheet was filed on 03.01.2025 against accused Randeep Singh and Mange Lal without arrest. During trial, the Ld. Trial Court issued summons to the applicant/accused; however, he failed to appear. Consequently, the applicant/accused was declared an proclaimed offender vide order dated 04.02.2026. 7.
The learned counsel appearing on behalf of the applicant states that The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.
the applicant has falsely been implicated in this case and further states that the applicant belongs to a middle-class family and has very limited financial resources. It is stated that the applicant had no intention to evade the process of law and was not aware of the issuance of bailable, non-bailable warrant & PO proceedings against him. It is stated that the chargesheet in the case has been filed on 03.01.2025 and since filing of the chargesheet, the applicant had not received any information about the service of the notice under Section 82 of Cr.P.C, neither any police official from the concerned Police Station informed him about the issuance of the process against the applicant before the learned Trial Court. It is stated that the applicant's contact number i.e., 9810XXXX67 is still functioning and no telephonic contact by the IO concerned before declaration of proclaimed offender was made. It is also stated that the applicant's wife had undergone a surgery and on the very same point of time. Therefore, it is prayed that the applicant be granted anticipatory bail.
8.
The learned APP for the State, on the other hand, argues that the allegations against the applicant are serious in nature. It is argued that the fake demand draft which was showed to the complainant was forwarded by the present accused/applicant. Further, it is argued that the accused/applicant is declared proclaimed offender, and thus, bail application be dismissed. 9.
This Court has heard arguments addressed on behalf of the applicant as well as State, and has perused the material on record. 10.
This Court notes that the chargesheet in the present case was filed without arrest of the present applicant. The petitioner herein had shifted from his residence, however, the phone number which was given to the I.O concerned remained the same. The petitioner herein could not be served The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.
when the chargesheet was filed after a notice was issued by the learned Trial Court since he had changed his address. The fact that the phone number which was given to the I.O remained the same, however, he had changed his address and was later declared Proclaimed Offender, which is noted by this Court.
11.
In view of the above and considering the overall facts and circumstances of the case, and the fact that the applicant has no other previous involvement, and there being no necessity of custodial interrogation, this Court finds it a fit case to grant the relief of anticipatory bail to the applicant. In the event of arrest, he shall be released on his furnishing personal bond in the sum of Rs.10,000/- with one surety of the like amount to the satisfaction of the SHO/I.O concerned on the following terms and conditions:
i) The applicant shall remain available on mobile numbers; shared by him with the Police.
ii) The applicant shall not leave the country without prior permission of the concerned Court.
iii) The applicant shall not directly or indirectly make an attempt to influence the witnesses or tamper with the evidence in any manner. iv) In case of change of residential address/contact details, the applicant shall promptly inform the same to the concerned I.O/SHO.
12.
The present bail application along with pending applications, stands disposed of.
13.
It is, however, clarified that nothing expressed herein above 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.
14.
The order be uploaded on the website forthwith. DR. SWARANA KANTA SHARMA, J APRIL 20, 2026/vc/r The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.