2025:HHC:17990 IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA Cr.MP (M) No. :    1242 of 2025 Reserved on   :   4 th   June 2025 Decided on     :   6 th   June 202 5 Dinesh Singh …Applicant Versus State of Himachal Pradesh …Respondent Coram The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Virender Singh,  Judge. Whether approved for reporting?1 For the applicant   : Mr. Sumesh Raj, Advocate. For the respondent   : Mr. Tejasvi Shrama & Mr. Mohinder Zharaick, Additional Advocate General,   with   Mr. Rohit   Sharma, Deputy   Advocate   General,   for respondent No.1. None for respondent No.2. Virender Singh, Judge Applicant­Dinesh Singh, has filed the present application, under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha   Sanhita,   2023   (hereinafter   referred   to   as   the 'BNSS'), with a prayer to release him on bail, during the trial, arising out of FIR No.249 of 2024, dated 07.11.2024, registered under Sections 64 and 61(2) of the Bharatiya 1 Whether Reporters of local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? Yes. 2 2025:HHC:17990 Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (hereinafter referred to as the ‘BNS’), with Police Station Nurpur, District Kangra, H.P. 2. According   to   the   applicant,   he   is   innocent person   and   has   falsely   been   implicated,   in   the   present case, at the instance of the complainant. 3. The   applicant   has   termed   the   case   of   the prosecution alleged against him as absurd, baseless and imaginary. 4. Except   the   present   case,   another   case   FIR No.425 of 2022, under Section 354­A IPC and Section 66­E & 67­A of the Information and Technology Act, is stated to have   been   registered   against   the   applicant   with   Police Station, Udampur, Jammu & Kashmir. 5. Applicant has tried his luck by moving similar application before the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Nurpur, District Kangra, however, his application has been dismissed on 25.02.2025. 6. Apart from this, learned counsel appearing for the applicant, has given certain undertakings, on behalf of the applicant, for which, the applicant is ready to abide by, 3 2025:HHC:17990 in   case,   ordered   to   be   released,   on   bail,   during   the pendency of the trial. 7. On the basis of the above facts, a prayer has been made to allow the application. 8. In this case, prosecutrix has been ordered to be impleaded as respondent No.2, on 29.05.2025 and notices were ordered to be served upon her, through SHO Police Station, Nurpur. Despite service, she has opted not to put appearance and to contest the application. 9. When   put   to  notice,   the   police   has   filed   the status report, disclosing therein, that on 07.11.2024, the prosecutrix/respondent   No.2,   along   with   her   mother, appeared   before   the   Police   and   made   a   complaint, mentioning therein, that she is resident of the address, as mentioned, in the complaint. 9.1. According   to   the   prosecutrix,   her   father   is   a labourer by profession. For the last four months, from the date   of   making   the   complaint,   she   is   allegedly   learning computer at Gangath. On 06.11.2024, after attending the computer classes, the prosecutrix was on her way to her home, on foot. 4 2025:HHC:17990 9.2. At about 1.30 p.m., in the afternoon, when, the prosecutrix reached a secluded place near Bera Ground, then a J.K. number car came there and the driver had stopped the car near the prosecutrix. Another person was sitting in the car, who had snatched the phone from the prosecutrix. 9.3. The   said   boy   was   earlier   known   to   the prosecutrix, as, he was her friend through instagram, a social media App. The prosecutrix used to talk with said boy on instagram. 9.4. The said boy disclosed his name as Dinesh @ Sunny, resident of Vasauli, Jammu and Kashmir. Not only this, the said boy has also given his mobile number to her, through which, they remained in touch with each other. 9.5. The   prosecutrix   has   further   alleged   in   the complaint that Dinesh @ Sunny (applicant) dragged her inside   the   car   and   directed   the   driver   to   drive   the   car towards her house. When the said act of accused Dinesh (applicant) was resisted by the prosecutrix, her mouth was gagged   and   the   car   was   driven   towards   Forest   side   at secluded   place,   where,   accused   Dinesh   @   Sunny 5 2025:HHC:17990 (applicant) directed the driver to park the car on the side of the road. 9.6. Consequently, the driver acted on the direction of accused Sunny (applicant). Thereafter, accused Sunny (applicant) dragged the prosecutrix out of the car and took her towards the bushes on the side of the road. She was raped twice. Although, the prosecutrix raised alarm, but, no habitation was there, as such, no one could hear her alarm. 9.7. Thereafter, accused Sunny (applicant) made her to sit in the car and directed the driver to take the car to Tallu. Consequently,   the   driver   drove   the   car   towards Tallu. One   kilometer   short   to   Tallu,   Sunny   threw   the prosecutrix out of the car. Thereafter, the driver took the vehicle   towards   Tallu. Sunny   (applicant)   had   allegedly recorded the Video. 9.8. After reaching home, the prosecutrix disclosed this   fact   to   her   mother. Thereafter,   she   has   made   the complaint. 6 2025:HHC:17990 9.9. On   the   basis   of   the   above   facts,   the   police registered the FIR, in question, and the police machinery swung into motion. 9.10. During investigation, on the identification of the prosecutrix,   the   spot   was   visited   and   the   statements witnesses under Section 180 of the BNSS were recorded. Thereafter, team of DFU, Nurpur, inspected the spot and physical   evidence,   so   found,   was   also   taken   into possession. 9.11. Thereafter,   the   prosecutrix   has   also   handed over her apparels, which were worn by her at the relevant time. The prosecutrix was also medico­legally examined and physical evidence, collected by the doctors, was taken into possession. 9.12. On 08.11.2024, the prosecutrix was produced before   the   learned   Additional   Chief   Judicial   Magistrate, Nurpur, where, her statement under Section 183 of BNSS was recorded. 9.13. During   investigation,   the   statement   of prosecutrix was recorded in which, she had disclosed that the vehicle used by accused Dinesh (applicant) was having 7 2025:HHC:17990 registration No.JK08M­9312, which was being driven by accused Vinod Singh. 9.14. The involvement of accused Vinod Singh was found, in the crime, in question, as such, Section 61(2) of the BNSS was added, in this case. On 29.12.2024, accused Dinesh   Singh   (applicant)   was   nabbed. He   was   also medico­legally examined. 9.15. It is the further case of the police that during investigation,   it   was   found   that   accused   Dinesh   Singh (applicant) used Car No.JK08M­9312 and the said car was being driven by Vinod Singh, at the relevant time. 9.16. Lastly, it has been pleaded that investigation, in the present case, is complete and charge­sheet has been filed on 3.1.2025, which is pending before the Court of learned Additional Sessions Judge, Nurpur, for 7.6.2025 for consideration on charge. 9.17. It has been apprehended in the status report that the applicant is resident of Jammu and Kashmir and in case, the bail is granted to him, he may not be available for trial. 8 2025:HHC:17990 10. On the basis of the above facts, a prayer has been made to dismiss the application. 11. No   doubt,   the   applicant   has   been   named   as accused in a heinous offence, but, the allegations levelled against the applicant will be proved during the trial. 12. The   investigation,   in   the   present   case,   is complete and the applicant is in judicial custody. This fact demonstrates   that   his   custodial   interrogation   is   not required. 13. On the basis of the fact that a case is found to have   been   registered   against   the   applicant   with   Police Station, Udampur, the relief of bail cannot be declined to him. Since there is noting on record, which is suggestive of the   fact   that   the   applicant   has   been   convicted   by   the competent   Court   of   law,   as   such,   presumption   of innocence is still available to the applicant. 14. Charge sheet, in this case, was filed way back on 3.1.2025 and in the long span of five months, charges have not yet been framed against the applicant. This fact demonstrates   that   the   chances   of   commencement   and conclusion of trial against the applicant are not so bright. 9 2025:HHC:17990 As such, no useful purpose would be served by keeping the applicant, in the judicial custody, that too, for indefinite period. 15. Even otherwise, the bail application cannot be rejected,   as   a   matter   of   punishment,   as,   pre­trial punishment is prohibited under the law and punishment can   only   be   imposed,   after   the   full   fledged   trial,   by competent Court of law. 16. So far as the apprehensions, which have been expressed, by the Police, in the status report, is concerned, for   those   apprehensions,   reasonable   conditions   can   be imposed, in case, the applicant is ordered to be released on bail. 17. Considering   all   these   facts,   this   Court   is of the view that the bail application is liable to be allowed and is accordingly allowed. The applicant is ordered to be released   on   bail   in   case   FIR   No.249   of   2024,   dated 07.11.2024,   under   Sections   64,   61(2)   of   the   BNSS, registered   with   Police   Station,   Nurpur,   District   Kangra, H.P.,   on   his   furnishing   personal   bond   in   the   sum   of Rs.50,000/­, with two sureties, in the like amount, to the 10 2025:HHC:17990 satisfaction of learned Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Nurpur, District Kangra, H.P. 18. This order of release, however, shall be subject to the following conditions :­ “a)   Applicant shall make himself available for the purpose   of   investigation,   if   so   required   and regularly   attend   the   trial   Court   on   each   and every date   of   hearing and   if   prevented by any   reason   to   do   so,   seek   exemption   from appearance by filing appropriate application; b) He   shall   not   tamper   with   the   prosecution evidence   nor   hamper   the   investigation   of   the case in   any   manner whatsoever; c)     He shall not  make any inducement, threat or promises   to   any   person   acquainted   with   the facts of the case so as to dissuade them from disclosing such facts to the Court or the Police Office; and d) He shall not leave the territory of India without the prior permission of the Court.” 19. Any of the observations made herein above shall not be taken as an expression of opinion on the merits of the case as these observations are confined only to the disposal of the present application. 20. It is made clear that the respondent­State is at liberty to move an appropriate application, in case, any of the bail conditions is found to be violated by the applicant. 11 2025:HHC:17990 21. The Registry is directed to forward a soft copy of the bail order to the Superintendent Jail, Sub­Jail, Nurpur, District Kangra through e­mail, with a direction to enter the date of grant of bail in the e­prison software. 22. In case, the   applicant is not released within a period of seven   days   from   the   date   of   grant of bail, the Superintendent Jail, Sub­Jail, Nurpur, District Kangra, is   directed   to   inform   this   fact   to   the   Secretary,   DLSA, Kangra. The   Superintendent   Jail,   Sub­Jail,   Nurpur, District Kangra, is further directed that if the applicant fails to furnish the bail bonds, as per the order passed by this Court, within a period of one month from today, then, the said fact be submitted to this Court. ( Virender Singh ) June 06, 2025 (ps) Judge Digitally signed by RAJNI Date: 2025.06.06 16:19:21 IST