Neutral Citation No. - 2025:AHC-LKO:14239 Court No. - 15 Case :- CRIMINAL MISC. BAIL APPLICATION No. - 8960 of 2024 Applicant :- Santal Chauhan Opposite Party :- State Of U.P. Thru. Prin. Secy. Home Lko And 3 Others Counsel for Applicant :- Adarsh Pratap Singh,Devesh Singh Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A. Hon'ble Shree Prakash Singh,J. Vide order dated 21-10-2024, notice was issued to the opposite party and as per the office report, the same is served upon the opposite party no. 2. Case called out in the revised list. Neither the opposite party no. 2 nor her counsel is present. Under the aforesaid circumstances, the court is proceeding in the matter. Heard learned counsel for the applicant, learned A.G.A. for the State and perused the record. The instant bail application has been filed on behalf of the applicant with the prayer to release him on bail during the trial in Case Crime No. 215 of 2024, under sections 323, 354(A), 509 of the I.P.C. & section 9(M)/10 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012,Police Station-Sarojini Nagar, District-Lucknow. Contention of learned counsel for the applicant is that the applicant is innocent and has falsely been implicated in the instant matter due to ulterior motive. He added that the incident is said to have taken place on 25-05-2024,whereas, the first information report has been lodged after two days i.e. 27-05-2024 and no plausible explanation of delay in lodging the first information report is given. He next added that as per the statement of the victim recorded under section 161 of the Cr.P.C., the father of the alleged victim and the present applicant were taking liquor and during the aforesaid period of time, he has committed the offence, though there is no other independent witness to the same. He submits that due to animosity, the first information report has been lodged and the statement of the victim is tutored and added that the applicant has no previous criminal history and he is languishing in jail since 28-05-2024. He next submits that the chargesheet has been filed and as such, there is no possibility that the applicant would tamper the evidences or would threaten the witnesses. Further submitted that the applicant undertakes that in case, he is granted bail, he will not misuse the liberty of the same and would cooperate in the trial proceedings. Per contra, learned AGA appearing for the State has opposed the contentions aforesaid and submits that there are serious allegations against the applicant and as such, he is not entitled for any relief. Having heard learned counsels for the parties and after perusal of material placed on record, it transpires that the applicant is languishing in jail since 28-05-2024; there is no previous criminal antecedent of the applicant as has been explained in paragraph 25 of the bail application; the chargesheet has been filed and as such, there is no possibility that the applicant would tamper the evidences or would threaten the witnesses; the first information report is delayed by two days; the statement of the victim is tutored coupled with the fact that the applicant has undertaken that if he is granted bail, he will not misuse the liberty of the same and would cooperate in the trial proceedings. Considering the submissions of learned counsel of both sides, 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. Let the applicant-Santal Chauhan involved in the aforementioned 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:- (1) The applicant shall not tamper with the prosecution evidence by intimidating/ pressurizing the witnesses, or otherwise during the investigation or trial; (2) 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. He 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; (3) 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.; and (4) 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, the trial court shall initiate proceedings against him, in accordance with law under Section 174-A of the Indian Penal Code. The identity, status and residential proof of sureties will be verified by the court concerned and in case of breach of any of the above conditions, the court below shall be at liberty to cancel the bail and send the applicant to prison. It is clarified that the observations made in this order are strictly confined to the disposal of this bail application and must not be construed to have any reflection on the merits of the case. Order Date :- 7.3.2025 AKS Digitally signed by :- ANUJ KRISHNA SRIVASTAVA High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, Lucknow Bench