Pranay Kundu@Pranay Kundu v. State Of West Bengal

C.R.M. (A) 2867 of 2023 09.08.2023 SL. 14 Court No. 29 Sourav (Allowed) In Re: - An application for anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in connection with Sonamukhi Police Station Case No. 76 of 2023 dated 20.04.2023 under Sections 406/409/420/467/468/471/120B IPC.

And In the matter of: Pranay Kundu @ Pranoy Kundu ....petitioner.

Mr. Sandipan Ganguly, Mr. Arnab Mukherjee ...for the petitioners.

Mr. Ranabir Roy Chowdhury Mr. Mainak Gupta ...for the State.

1. Heard learned Counsel for the parties.

2. The petitioner is stated to be the Bank Manager of Punjab National Bank at Sonamukhi Branch, Bankura.

3. Considered the materials placed by the learned Counsel for the parties including the statement of one Madhuri Pal and one Pratima Roy which are stated to be implicative of the present petitioner with two other principal accused, namely, Chaitali Dey and Bhagyabati Mal.

4. We do not want to go into nitty gritty of the process in which the cheque issued by a particular self-help group is passed. But from the statement of the aforesaid witnesses, it is found that the co-accused are alleged to have made some interpolation in the resolution of the self-help group thereby withdrawing more amount than authorized and when such incident was brought to the notice of the Bank Manager (the present petitioner), he said them that they should not create chaos in the bank.

5. Learned Counsel for the petitioner also relies on a document of internal enquiry by the Bank where it is found that there has been no financial irregularity and mala fide action by the bank officials.

6. Investigation is stated to have progressed substantially.

7. Regard being had to the facts and submission, factum of permanent residence of the petitioner, nature of allegation, and substantial progress in investigation, it is directed that each of the petitioner shall be released on bail in the event of his arrest by the Arresting Officer in the aforesaid P.S. case on such terms and conditions as deemed just and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case.

8. The petitioner is directed to appear before the I.O. within 21 days from today along with a server copy or certified copy of this order.

9. Accordingly, the prayer for the anticipatory bail is allowed.

10. The application being CRM (A) 2867 of 2023 is disposed of.

11. The I.O. is hereby directed to act upon the server copy of this order, if required.

(Chitta Ranjan Dash, J.) (Partha Sarathi Sen, J.)