Jacob @ Vinay v. State Of Punjab

CRM-M-24359 of 2019 -1IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CRM-M-24359 of 2019 (O&M) Date of decision : 16.1.2020 ...

Jacob @ Vinay ................Petitioner vs.

State of Punjab .................Respondent Coram: Hon'ble Mr. Justice H. S. Madaan Present: Mr. Kuldeep V. Singh Ahluwalia, Advocate for the petitioner.

Mr. Rana Harjasdeep Singh, Deputy Advocate General, Punjab.

...

H. S. Madaan, J. (Oral) This petition for regular bail has been filed by petitioner - Jacob @ Vinay, an accused in FIR No. 277 dated 13.10.2018, for offences under Sections, 392, 379-B, 420, 468, 471, 413, 482, 411 and 34 IPC, registered at Police Station Division No.6, Police Commissionerate Jalandhar.

Briefly stated, the prosecution story is that a secret information was received by the police that several persons, including the present petitioner, had been indulging in committing theft of the vehicles and then selling those to other persons, by

CRM-M-24359 of 2019 -2preparing forged number plates and fake documents. In addition to that such criminals had been indulging in the offence of snatching of ornaments and vehicles. Accordingly, the accused was arrested in this case on 13.10.2018. He alongwith co-accused has been sent up to face trial. He had moved an application for grant of regular bail before Additional Sessions Judge, Jalandhar, which was dismissed vide order dated 4.2.2019. Now he has come to this Court seeking similar relief.

The petition is being opposed by the State counsel. I have heard learned counsel for the parties, besides going through the record.

Learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted that the petitioner is behind the bars for more than one year; the trial is at initial stage and its conclusion is likely to take some time; co-accused of the petitioner, namely, Ramanpreet Singh and James Masih @ Honey have been granted bail by this Court. Therefore, this concession be also granted to the present petitioner. Though the request is being opposed by the State counsel, but I find that keeping in view the facts and circumstances of the case and considering that the petitioner is behind the bars for more than one years and conclusion of trial is likely to take some time, though he is shown to be involved in three more criminal cases, but then he is on bail in those cases, the petition is accepted. Petitioner - Jacob @ Vinay is ordered to be released on bail on his furnishing bail bonds and surety bonds to the satisfaction of the trial Court/CJM/Duty Magistrate, Jalandhar. However, it is made clear

CRM-M-24359 of 2019 -3that in case the petitioner is found indulging in any criminal act after being granted bail by this Court, this order shall be liable to be withdrawn.

( H.S. Madaan ) 16.1.2020 Judge chugh Whether speaking / reasoned Yes / No Whether reportable Yes / No