Neutral Citation No. - 2025:AHC-LKO:19947 Court No. - 13 Case :- CRIMINAL MISC. BAIL APPLICATION No. - 1028 of 2025 Applicant :- Chandni Shukla @ Chandni Opposite Party :- State Of U.P. Thru. Prin. Secy. Home Lko. Counsel for Applicant :- Prashant Shukla Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A. Hon'ble Manish Mathur,J. 1. Heard learned counsel for applicant, learned A.G.A. for the State and perused the record. 2. This first bail application has been filed with regard to FIR/ Case Crime No.258 of 2023 under Sections 389, 504, 506 IPC, Police Station Kotwali Nagar, District Gonda. 3. As per content of FIR, the applicant allegedly is a member of a gang operated by one Brijesh Kumar Awasthi. As per allegations, the said person alongwith his other gang members is instrumental in creation of forged and fabricated Will Deed dated 15.01.2002 allegedly executed by late Ramkripal, father of complainant/ informant and on that basis of having incorporated their names in revenue records. It is alleged that subsequently sale deeds were also executed. 4. It is submitted that the applicant has been falsely implicated in the charges levelled against him and a bare perusal of the FIR indicates that no role assigned to the applicant with regard to creation of allegedly fabricated Will deed dated 15.01.2002. It is submitted that the only role attributable to applicant is that of being a gang member. The applicant is under incarceration since 23.11.2024 with criminal history of one previous case which has already been explained in the bail application. 5. Learned A.G.A. has opposed the bail application with the submission that the contents of FIR clearly indicates the aspect of applicant being a member of the gang which is engaged in fabrication of Wills and sale deeds. It is, however, admitted that previous criminal history of applicant has already explained. 6. Hon'ble the Supreme Court in Sanjay Chandra v. Central Bureau of Investigation, reported in (2012) 1 SCC 40 has specifically held that bail is to be a norm and an under-trial is not required to be in jail for ever pending trial. Relevant paragraphs of the judgment are as under :- "21. In bail applications, generally, it has been laid down from the earliest times that the object of bail is to secure the appearance of the accused person at his trial by reasonable amount of bail. The object of bail is neither punitive nor preventative. Deprivation of liberty must be considered a punishment, unless it is required to ensure that an accused person will stand his trial when called upon. The courts owe more than verbal respect to the principle that punishment begins after conviction, and that every man is deemed to be innocent until duly tried and duly found guilty." "27. This Court, time and again, has stated that bail is the rule and committal to jail an exception. It has also observed that refusal of bail is a restriction on the personal liberty of the individual guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution." 7. Upon consideration of submissions advanced by learned counsel for parties, prima facie, subject to evidence being led in trial, at this stage, it appears from perusal of FIR that no specific role has been assigned to the applicant in alleged fabrication of the Will Deed dated 15.01.2002, only a general role of applicant being a member of the gang has been assigned. The applicant is under incarceration since 23.11.2024 with previous criminal history of one case having been explained. 8. Considering the submissions of learned counsel for the parties, nature of accusation and severity of punishment in case of conviction, nature of supporting evidence, prima facie satisfaction of the Court in support of the charge, reformative theory of punishment and considering larger mandate of the Article 21 of the Constitution of India and, without expressing any view on the merits of the case, I find it to be a fit case of bail. 9. Accordingly bail application is allowed. 10. Let applicant, Chandni Shukla @ Chandni, involved in the aforesaid case crime be released on bail on his furnishing a personal bond and two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the court concerned with the following conditions which are being imposed in the interest of justice:- (i) The applicant shall file an undertaking to the effect that he shall not seek any adjournment on the dates fixed for evidence when the witnesses are present in court. In case of default of this condition, it shall be open for the trial court to treat it as abuse of liberty of bail and pass orders in accordance with law. (ii) The applicant shall remain present before the trial court on each date fixed, either personally or through his counsel. In case of his absence, without sufficient cause, the trial court may proceed against him under Section 229-A of the Indian Penal Code. (iii) In case, the applicant misuses the liberty of bail during trial and in order to secure his presence proclamation under Section 82 Cr.P.C. is issued and the applicant fails to appear before the court on the date fixed in such proclamation, then, the trial court shall initiate proceedings against him, in accordance with law, under Section 174-A of the Indian Penal Code. (iv) The applicant shall remain present, in person, before the trial court on the dates fixed for (i) opening of the case, (ii) framing of charge and (iii) recording of statement under Section 313 Cr.P.C. If in the opinion of the trial court, absence of the applicant is deliberate or without sufficient cause, then it shall be open for the trial court to treat such default as abuse of liberty of bail and proceed against him in accordance with law. Order Date :- 8.4.2025 Mohd. Sharif Digitally signed by :- MOHAMMAD SHARIF High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, Lucknow Bench