Sameer Shafiqulla Khan v. State Of Maharashtra

2023:BHC-AS:25569

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION BAIL APPLICATION NO.1896 OF 2023 SAMEER SHAFIQULLA KHAN ..APPLICANT VS.

THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA ..RESPONDENT ------------ Adv. Arun Rajput a/w. Adv. Viral Mukte a/w. Adv. Gufran Shaikh for the applicant Ms. Veera Shinde, APP for the State.

PSI S. I. Gaikwad, Shanti Nagar Police Station., Bhivandi, District - Thane.

------------ CORAM : M. S. KARNIK, J.

DATE : SEPTEMBER 4, 2023.

P.C. :

1.

Heard learned counsel for the applicant and learned APP for the State.

2.

This is an application for bail in respect of the offence punishable under Section 302 read with 34 of the Indian Penal Code (hereafter 'IPC' for short) read with Sections 37(1), 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act registered on 10/8/2021 vide C.R. No.I-547/2021 with Shanti Nagar Police Station, Thane.

3.

There are in all four accused. The applicant is the 1/4

accused no.1. According to the eye witnesses version, the deceased started conversation with the accused which the accused found abusive. The eye witnesses state that there was scufÒe between the applicant and the deceased. The accused no.2 who had a knife in his hand, stabbed the deceased. It is the case of the applicant that cross case was registered against the deceased and other accused persons that they had brutally assaulted the present applicant. The applicant was in ICU almost for 20 days. The injury certificate is on record.

4.

Learned APP submitted that it is the mob who assaulted the present applicant and not the accused whose names are mentioned in the cross-case filed against the deceased and other accused at the instance of the present applicant. Learned APP also invited my attention to the statement of Heena Mohammad Shahid Ansari to submit that even the applicant has a role in stabbing the deceased. The knife was recovered at the instance of the accused no.2. However, from the material on record, prima facie, reveals that it is the accused no.2 who used the knife to stab the victim. Prima facie, the provocation was at the 2/4

instance of the deceased. From the facts and circumstances on record, whether the applicant shared a common intention with the accused no.2 is a matter which can go into during trial.

5.

The applicant was arrested on 6/11/2021 and is in custody for more than one year and nine months with no possibility of the trial concluding any time soon. The investigation is complete. The charge-sheet has been filed. There are no criminal antecedents reported against the applicant. In my opinion, the applicant does not appear to be a flight risk. Hence, the following order :-

O R D E R

(a) The application is allowed.

(b) The applicant-Sameer Shafiqulla Khan in connection with C.R. No.I-547/2021 with Shanti Nagar Police Station, Thane, shall be released on bail on his furnishing P.R. Bond of Rs.25,000/- with one or more sureties in the like amount. (c) The applicant shall attend the Investigating OfÏcer of Shanti Nagar police station, Thane, once in a month every first Monday of the month between 11.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m.

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(d) The applicant 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 the facts to Court or any Police OfÏcer. The applicant shall not tamper with evidence.

(e) On being released on bail, the applicant shall furnish his contact number and residential address to the Investigating OfÏcer and shall keep him updated, in case there is any change.

6.

The application is disposed of.

(M. S. KARNIK, J.) 4/4