Shankarbhai Surmabhai Dungaicha vs State Of Gujarat

A.Y. Kogje, J

This application is filed by the applicant under Section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 for regular bail in connection with FIR registered as CR­I/11195003200687 /2020 with Amirgadh Police Station, Banaskantha for the offence punishable under Sections 302 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code.

Learned advocate appearing on behalf of the applicant submits that considering the nature of offence, the applicant may be enlarged on regular bail by imposing suitable conditions.

On the other hand, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent­State has opposed grant of regular bail looking to the nature and gravity of the offence.

Learned Advocates appearing on behalf of the respective parties do not press for a further reasoned order.

I have heard the learned advocates appearing on behalf of the respective parties and perused the papers. Following aspects are considered :­

I) The FIR is registered on 22.09.2020 for the offence which took place on 11.01.2020.

II) The applicant is in custody since 22.09.2020.

III) Investigation is concluded and charge­ sheet is filed.

IV) Submission of learned advocate for the applicant that the incident had taken place in the month of January­2020 and the FIR arraigning the present applicant as an accused in such serious offence was filed on 22.09.2020.

V) Submission of learned advocate for the applicant that the entire case against the present applicant is based on the version given by Bhanabhai whose statement was recorded on 22.09.2020, who has not offered any valid explanation as to why he did not report about what he has witnesses even when the Panchayat got together.

VI) Submission of learned advocate for the applicant that dispute has arisen when the deceased asked the applicant not to attend his work, as they belonged to the same village and the employer is creating dispute for making payment to the deceased for his labour work. However, from the charge­sheet papers, it appears that the applicant himself approached the deceased for giving him money given by the employer to the tune of Rs.25,000/­ which the deceased had refused to accept.

VII) Learned Additional Public Prosecutor under the instructions of the Investigating Officer is unable to bring on record any special circumstances against the applicant.

This Court has taken into consideration the law laid down by the Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of Sanjay Chandra v. Central Bureau of Investigation reported in [2012] 1 SCC 40.

In the facts and circumstances of the case and considering the nature of the allegations made against the applicant in the First Information Report, without discussing the evidence in detail, prima facie, this Court is of the opinion that this is a fit case to exercise the discretion and enlarge the applicant on regular bail.

Hence, the present application is allowed. The applicant is ordered to be released on regular bail in connection with CR­I/11195003200687 /2020 registered with Amirgadh Police Station, Banaskantha on executing a personal bond of Rs.10,000/= (Rupees Ten Thousand Only) with one surety of the like amount to the satisfaction of the trial Court and subject to the conditions that he shall;

(a) not take undue advantage of liberty or misuse liberty;

(b) not act in a manner injurious to the interest of the prosecution;

(c) surrender passport, if any, to the lower Court within a week;

(d) not leave the State of Gujarat without prior permission of the Sessions Judge concerned;

(e) mark presence before the concerned Police Station on alternate Monday of every English calendar month for a period of six months between 11.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m.;

(f) furnish the present address of his residence to the Investigating Officer and also to the Court at the time of execution of the bond and shall not change the residence without prior permission of this Court;

The authorities will release the applicant only if he is not required in connection with any other offence for the time being. If breach of any of the above conditions is committed, the Sessions Judge concerned will be free to issue warrant or take appropriate action in the matter.

Bail bond to be executed before the lower Court having jurisdiction to try the case. It will be open for the concerned Court to delete, modify and/or relax any of the above conditions, in accordance with law.

At the trial, the trial Court shall not be influenced by the observations of preliminary nature qua the evidence at this stage made by this Court while enlarging the applicant on bail.

The application is allowed in the aforesaid terms. Rule is made absolute to the aforesaid extent.

Direct Service is permitted.