Jasbir Singh v. Central Bureau Of Investigation

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA

AT CHANDIGARH

Reserved on: 31.08.2022

Pronounced on: 15.09.2022 Jasbir Singh

...Petitioner

Versus

Central Bureau of Investigation

...Respondent

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANOOP CHITKARA

Present:

Mr. Yashjot Singh Dhaliwal, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. R.S. Dhaliwal, Advocate for Mr. Rajeev Anand, Advocate For the respondent-CBI.

**** ANOOP CHITKARA, J.

FIR No.

Dated Police Station Sections 31.03.2004 SPF/CBI, ACB, Chandigarh 120-B read with 420, 467, 468, 471 IPC and Section 13(1)(d) read with Section 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act 1.

Challenging the order of cancellation of bail and issuance of non-bailable warrants RCCHG2004 A0008 and proclamation, vide order dated 1-9-2006, passed by Special Judge Chandigarh, due to the default in appearances before the trial court, the petitioner has come up before this court.

2.

The nature of order this court proposes to pass, no response is required from the respondent.

3.

Ld. Counsel for the petitioner contends that the non-appearance was because he had gone abroad, and thus, was unintentional, without any endeavor to delay the trial, and due to factors beyond the petitioner's control. In para 11 of the petition, the petitioner contends that he had left India on 14.06.2004, whereas, the notice was issued for the first time on 06.01.2006. As such, he had not intentionally evaded the trial and there is nothing to dispute this statement. 4.

The primary object of service is to secure the accused's presence in trial. The petitioner has approached this court on its own, establishing the bonafide at this stage. Without commenting on the case's merits, and in the facts and circumstances peculiar to this case, and also for the reasons mentioned above, the ends of justice would meet.

Furthermore, without adjudicating the maintainability of this petition under section 482 CrPC and leaving that question open; given the explanation offered by the accused coupled with the facts and circumstances peculiar to this case, a balanced approach would work as an incentive, a catalyst, speeding up the process, and bringing the guilty to Justice and Justice to the guilty. Thus, exercising the inherent powers under section 482 CrPC, this court deems it appropriate to grant the following limited relief to the petitioner, subject to compliance with the conditions mentioned in this order. 5.

In the entirety of facts and circumstances, the ends of justice would meet by the following order.

6.

The petitioner is directed to surrender before the concerned court on or before Dec 15, 2022. Since the co-accused who had faced the trial, have already been acquitted, as such on appearance, the concerned court shall release the petitioner on bail on the same day, subject to furnishing bail bonds to its satisfaction and imposing reasonable conditions as it may deem appropriate in the background of the accused's conduct.

7.

The petitioner is to execute a bond for attendance in the concerned court. On the reverse page of personal bonds, the petitioner shall mention the permanent address, the address where the petitioner generally resides, the phone number linked with the AADHAR card, the other phone numbers (if any), and e-mail (if any). In case of any change in the above particulars, the petitioner shall immediately and not later than 30 days from such modification, intimate about the change to the concerned Police Station and the concerned Court. The bail bonds shall remain in force throughout the trial and in Section 437-A of the Cr.P.C. if not canceled due to non-appearance or breach of conditions.

8.

The order vide which the petitioner was declared a proclaimed offender, all warrants, LOC, and all consequent proceedings in the FIR shall remain stayed qua the petitioner, till Dec 15, 2022. It is clarified that if the petitioner fails to appears before the concerned court, then this order shall stand recalled automatically under section 362, read with 482 CrPC, without any further reference to this court.

9. Any observation made hereinabove is neither an expression of opinion on the merits of the case nor shall the trial Court advert to these comments. 10.

There would be no need for a certified copy of this order, and any Advocate for the Petitioner can download this order along with case status from the official web page of this Court and attest it to be a true copy. In case the attesting officer wants to verify the authenticity, such an officer can also verify its authenticity and may download and use the downloaded copy for attesting bonds.

Petition allowed to the extent and subject to the conditions mentioned above. All pending applications, if any, stand disposed. Trial be expedited.

(ANOOP CHITKARA) JUDGE 15.09.2022 anju rani Whether speaking/reasoned:

Yes Whether reportable:

No.