Neutral Citation No. - 2025:AHC-LKO:30049 Court No. - 13 Case :- CRIMINAL MISC. BAIL APPLICATION No. - 4437 of 2025 Applicant :- Hasan Opposite Party :- State Of U.P. Thru. Prin. Secy. Home Lko. And Another Counsel for Applicant :- Ashutosh Mishra Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A. Hon'ble Manish Mathur,J. 1. Heard learned counsel for applicant and learned Additional Government Advocate appearing on behalf of State. In view of order being passed, notice to opposite party no.2 stands dispensed with. 2. This first bail application has been filed with regard to Case Crime No. 597 of 2024 under Sections 87 BNS and 3/5 (1) of U.P. Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, P.S. Sahabad, District Hardoi. 3. As per contents of FIR, allegation levelled is that the applicant was instrumental in conversion of religion of a girl with whom the applicant also contracted marriage. The FIR states that informant is the State President of Kesaria Hindu Vahini and is lodging the FIR on the basis of information derived. 4. Learned counsel for applicant submits that applicant has been falsely implicated in allegations levelled against him which would be evident from the fact that the alleged victim has clearly denied any conversion or marriage with applicant. It is submitted that the FIR even otherwise has been lodged due to political enmity only on the basis of suspicion. 5. Learned AGA appearing on behalf of State has opposed the bail application with the submission that after investigation in the allegations levelled, charge-sheet has been filed. 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 that the FIR has been lodged by a person who is neither the relative of the girl nor has any concrete information with regard to involvement of applicant in alleged conversion of the girl. The informant in fact appears to be a busybody and has filed the FIR only on account of political exigencies. It is evident that the alleged victim in her statement recorded under Section 183 BNSS has clearly denied any marriage or conversion at the instance of applicant. Despite that, charge-sheet has been filed. The applicant does not have any previous criminal history and he is under incarceration since 09.12.2024. 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- Hasan 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 269 BNS. (iii) In case, the applicant misuses the liberty of bail during trial and in order to secure his presence proclamation under Section 84 BNSS 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 209 BNS. (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 351 BNSS. 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 :- 21.5.2025 Satish Digitally signed by :- SATISH KUMAR BHARATI High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, Lucknow Bench