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Judgment
This Bail Application filed under Section 438 of Criminal Procedure Code was heard through Video Conference.
Petitioners are the accused in Crime No.1161/2020 of Vadakara Police Station, Kozhikode. The above case is registered against the petitioners
alleging offences punishable under Sections 354B, 120B, 323, 506(i) and 294(b) r/w 34 IPC.
The above case is registered based on a private complaint filed by the complainant before the jurisdictional court, which was forwarded to the
police under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C. The allegation is that the 2nd petitioner is the mother-in-law and the 3rd petitioner is the sister-in-law of the
defacto complainant. The 1st petitioner is a friend of the mother-in-law. It is alleged that the petitioners 2 and 3 forced the defacto complainant to sit
with the 1st petitioner and there are some other allegations also. According to the counsel, the offence under Section 354B is attracted.
Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners and the learned Public Prosecutor.
The counsel for the petitioners submitted that this case is registered based on a private complaint filed before the jurisdictional court, which was
forwarded under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C. The counsel submitted that even if the entire allegations are accepted, the offence under Section 354B IPC is
not made out. The counsel submitted that the petitioners are ready to abide any condition, if this Court grant them bail.
A counsel appeared for the defacto complainant. The counsel seriously opposed the bail application. The counsel submitted that the notice is
received from the court to record the statement under Section 164 Cr.P.C. The counsel submitted that the petitioners committed the offence under
Section 354 IPC, which is a non bailable offence.
The learned Public Prosecutor opposed the bail application. The Public Prosecutor submitted that the allegation against the petitioners are serious.
After hearing both sides, I think, this bail application can be allowed on stringent conditions. This is a case registered based on a private complaint
filed before the jurisdictional court which was forwarded under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C. The only non bailable offence alleged against the petitioners is
under Section 354B IPC.
Whether the offence under Section 354B IPC is made out or not is a matter to be investigated. I don't want to make any observation about the merit
of the case. Considering the entire facts and circumstances of the case, I think, this bail application can be allowed on stringent conditions.
Moreover, considering the need to follow social distancing norms inside prisons so as to avert the spread of the novel Corona Virus Pandemic, the
Hon'ble Supreme Court in Re: Contagion of COVID-19 Virus In Prisons case (Suo Motu Writ Petition(C) No.1 of 2020) and a Full Bench of this
Court in W.P(C)No.9400 of 2020 issued various salutary directions for minimizing the number of inmates inside prisons.
Moreover, it is a well accepted principle that the bail is the rule and the jail is the exception. The Hon'ble Supreme Court in Chidambaram. P v
Directorate of Enforcement (2019 (16) SCALE 870,) after considering all the earlier judgments, observed that, the basic jurisprudence relating to bail
remains the same inasmuch as the grant of bail is the rule and refusal is the exception so as to ensure that the accused has the opportunity of securing
fair trial.
Considering the dictum laid down in the above decision and considering the facts and circumstances of this case, this Bail Application is allowed
with the following directions:
The petitioners shall appear before the Investigating Officer within ten days from today and shall undergo interrogation.
After interrogation, if the Investigating Officer propose to arrest the petitioners, they shall be released on bail executing a bond for a sum of
Rs.50,000/-(Rupees Fifty Thousand only) each with two solvent sureties each for the like sum to the satisfaction of the officer concerned.
The petitioners shall appear before the Investigating Officer for interrogation as and when required. The petitioner shall co-operate with the
investigation and shall not, directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to
dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police officer.
Petitioners shall not leave India without permission of the jurisdictional Court.
Petitioners shall not commit an offence similar to the offence of which they are accused, or suspected, of the commission of which they are
suspected.
The petitioners shall strictly abide by the various guidelines issued by the State Government and Central Government with respect to keeping of
social distancing in the wake of Covid 19 pandemic.
If any of the above conditions are violated by the petitioners, the jurisdictional Court can cancel the bail in accordance to law, even though the bail is
granted by this Court.