Gurdev Singh @ Dodhi v. State Of Punjab

- 1IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CRM-M-33248-2023 (O&M) Date of decision: 19.07.2023 Gurdev Singh @ Dodhi ....Petitioner

Versus

State of Punjab

...Respondent

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AMAN CHAUDHARY Present :

Mr. Umesh Aggarwal, Advocate for the petitioner Ms. Himani Arora, AAG Punjab ***** AMAN CHAUDHARY . J.

1.

The present petition has been filed under Section 439 Cr.P.C. for the grant of regular bail to the petitioner in case FIR No.173 dated 04.10.2022, registered under Sections 379-B and 34 IPC, at Police Station Majitha, District Amritsar.

2.

Learned counsel contends that the petitioner is in custody for the last 8 months. His name has surfaced based on disclosure statement of Gurpinder Singh @ Bhinder, who was arrested from the spot and recovery of wallet that had been snatched was effected from him. He has been granted regular bail by this Court vide order dated 26.04.2023, Annexure P-2. Petitioner has been falsely implicated in the case. No recovery has been effected from him. No independent

- 2witness was joined in this case. Only 3 out of 13 witnesses have been examined. The petitioner is involved in one more case, in which he is on bail. In this regard, reliance is placed upon on the judgment of Hon'ble The Supreme Court in Maulana Mohd. Amir Rashadi vs. State of U.P. and others, 2012(2) SCC 382. 3.

The custody certificate dated 18.07.2023, filed by learned State counsel is taken on record. As per the same, the petitioner is behind bars for 8 months and 3 days.

4.

Learned State counsel opposes the bail on the ground that the petitioner had actively participated in the commission of the alleged offence. He is however unable to controvert the submissions regarding the stage of the case, coaccused having been granted bail and petitioner being on bail in another case. 5.

Heard.

6.

Hon'ble The Supreme Court of India in the case of Maulana Mohd. Amir Rashadi (Supra) had held that, "As observed by the High Court, merely on the basis of criminal antecedents, the claim of the second respondent cannot be rejected. In other words, it is the duty of the Court to find out the role of the accused in the case in which he has been charged and other circumstances such as possibility of fleeing away from the jurisdiction of the Court etc". 7.

Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, in particular that the petitioner is in custody for 8 months and 3 days; is on bail in another FIR; coaccused has been granted bail by this Court; only 3 out of 13 witnesses have yet been examined; the trial is likely to take considerable time and his further incarceration would not serve any useful purpose, thus the present petition for grant of regular bail deserves to be allowed.

- 38.

As a result, the present petition is allowed. The petitioner is ordered to be released on regular bail, subject to his furnishing bail/surety bonds to the satisfaction of trial Court/Duty Magistrate concerned and subject to him not being required in any other case. The petitioner shall abide by the following conditions:- (i).

The petitioner will not tamper with the evidence during the trial.

(ii).

The petitioner will not pressurize/ intimidate the prosecution witnesses.

(iii). The petitioner will appear before the trial Court on each and every date fixed, unless is exempted by a specific order of Court.

(iv). The petitioner shall not commit an offence similar to the offence of which, he is an accused, or for commission of which he is suspected of.

(v).

The petitioner shall not directly or indirectly coerce, induce, threaten or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him/ her from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police officer or tamper with the evidence in any manner.

(vi). The petitioner shall not in any manner misuse his liberty. (vii). The petitioner shall furnish his address and mobile number to the Trial Court forthwith and shall not change the same till the conclusion of the trial and in case for any reason, the petitioner seeks to change any of the aforesaid, the same shall be done only with prior intimation to the learned Trial Court, stating the reason for the same.

(viii).The petitioner shall not leave the country without prior permission of the trial Court.

(ix). The trial Court/Duty Magistrate may impose any other condition, as deemed appropriate while releasing the petitioner. 9.

It is made abundantly clear that in case there is any breach of the aforesaid conditions, the State shall be at liberty to seek cancellation of bail as granted to the petitioner by this order.

10.

In view of the above, it is clarified that the observations made herein are limited for the purpose of present proceedings and would not be construed as

- 4an opinion on the merits of the case and the trial would proceed independently of the aforesaid observations.

(AMAN CHAUDHARY) JUDGE 19.07.2023 S.Sharma(syr) Whether speaking/reasoned :

Yes/No Whether reportable :

Yes/No