Manoj Kumar @ Sonu Yadav @ Engineer v. The State Of West Bengal

14-08-2024 (ct. no.28) S. De (Rejected) CRM (DB) 2127 of 2024 In re: An application for bail under Section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

- A n d - In the matter of : Manoj Kumar @ Sonu Yadav @ Engineer. .... Petitioner.

Mr. Ayan Basu, Sk. Salim, Mr. Sumit Routh, ... For the Petitioner. Mr. Partha Pratim Das, Ms. Sudeshna Das, ...for the State.

Order dictated by Arijit Banerjee, J.

1. The petitioner is one of several accused persons. He prays for bail. He says that he is in custody for about 2 years 6 months. He denies any involvement in the alleged crime.

2. Learned advocate for the State draws our attention to an order dated January 15, 2024 passed in an application for bail moved by a co accused person being CRM (DB) No. 97 of 2024. By the said order, while rejecting the prayer of the petitioner therein, for bail, a co-ordinate Bench requested the Trial Court to conclude the trial with utmost expedition and preferably within a period of 2 years from the next date fixed before the said Court.

3. We see that the period of 2 years is yet to elapse. In fact, a lot of time is left.

Signed By :

SANDIP DE High Court of Calcutta 14 th of August 2024 05:13:23 PM

4. Learned advocate for the petitioner says that only 2 out of 58 witnesses have been examined.

5. CRM (DB) 2127 of 2024 is dismissed.

6. We direct the learned Trial Court to ensure that the time period indicated by the co-ordinate Bench in the order dated January 15, 2024, is strictly adhered to. We clarify that if the trial is not concluded within the said time period, the petitioner will be at liberty to renew his prayer for bail.

7. Let the order be communicated by the parties to the learned Trial Court.

( Partha Sarathi Sen, J.) (Arijit Banerjee, J.)