Sourav Puri v. State Of West Bengal

01.09.2025 Item No.09 Ct.No.34 rc.

Reject C.R.M. (M) 964 of 2025 In Re : An Application for bail under Section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure read with Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 in connection with Gariahat Police Station Case No. 329 of 2019 dated 12.12.2019. And In Re :

Sourav Puri ... Petitioner Mr. Joy Chakraborty Mr. Sandip Dinda ... for the Petitioner Mr. Madhusudan Sur Md. Kutubuddin ... for the State Report submitted by the State is taken on record. The petitioner is in custody for more than five years and prays for bail.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that despite direction of this Court earlier for expeditious disposal of the case, trial is yet to be concluded.

Learned counsel for the State opposes the prayer. I have considered the material on record. The matter relates to murder of an aged lady who was found in beheaded condition at her residence. The offending weapon has been recovered at the instance of the petitioner. The witnesses have implicated the petitioner in the alleged

offence. The petitioner is in custody for more than five years. Offence, if proved, shall attract mandatory life imprisonment. In turning down the prayer of one of the co-accused on February 27, 2025, this Court recorded that the prosecution would examine ten to twelve witnesses and conclude the trial within eight months. The accused therein was granted liberty to renew his prayer in the event trial was not concluded within the said timeframe. The timeframe is yet to expire. Learned counsel for the State assures this Court that the prosecution shall make all efforts to conclude the trial within the said timeframe, keeping in mind the intervening annual vacation.

In view of the gravity of the offence as well as prima facie role of the petitioner therein, prayer for bail is rejected at this stage.

Learned trial Court is directed to expedite the trial without granting any unnecessary adjournment to either of the parties.

The bail application is disposed of.

Case Diary is returned.

Urgent certified website copy of this order, if applied for, be supplied to the parties upon compliance with all requisite formalities.

(Suvra Ghosh, J.)