Siddharth Patel v. State of Himachal Pradesh CrMP No. 3529 of 2025 in Cr.MP(M) No. 341 of 2024 19.8.2025 Present: Mr. Ajay Kochhar, Senior Advocate with Mr. Ashwani K. Sharma and Mr. Anubhav Chopra, Advocates, for the applicant/petitioner. Mr. Vishal Panwar and Mr. B.C. Verma, Additional Advocates General with Mr. Ravi Chauhan, Deputy Advocate General, for the respondent/State. HC Gurdass Ram, PS Barotiwala, PS Baddi, present with records. By way of instant application, permission has been sought by the applicant to go abroad for attending Annual IFEAT Conference organized by The International Federation of Essential Oils & Aroma Trades, scheduled to be held w.e.f. 14.9.2025 to 18.9.2025 in Sweden. It is averred in the application that since pursuant to order dated 12.7.2024, passed in CrMP(M) No. 341 of 2024, petitioner has been making himself available for investigation as and when required by the investigating agency and challan already stands filed in the competent court of law, he be permitted to join the afore conference. Besides above, it is also averred in para-7 of the application that in business connection, applicant intends to visit Kazanlak, Bulgaria w.e.f. 3.9.2025 to 5.9.2025, Italy w.e.f. 6.9.2025 to 9.9.2025 and Barceleona, Spain, w.e.f. 10.9.2025 to 13.9.2025. Pursuant to notice issued in the instant proceedings, respondent-State has filed status report, wherein prayer made by the applicant/petitioner has been opposed on the ground that applicant is accused of heinous crime and in the event of his being granted permission to travel abroad, there is every possibility of petitioner’s fleeing from justice. Having heard learned counsel for the parties and perused material available on record, this court finds that FIR No.14/2024 dated 02.02.2024, at Police Station Barotiwala, District Solan, H.P., under Sections 285, 336, 337, 338, 304-A, 308, 304 Part II of IPC & Section 92 of Factories Act, 1948, stands registered against the petitioner, on the allegation that applicant being owner of the Company M/s N.R. Aromas, failed to take safety measures on account of fire incident in factory premises, as a result thereof, nine persons lost their lives. Having taken note of status report filed by the respondent-State in the afore bail application, this court vide order dated 12.7.2024, enlarged the bail petitioners on bail subject to following conditions: “a. They shall make themselves available for the purpose of interrogation, 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. They shall not tamper with the prosecution evidence nor hamper the investigation of the case in any manner whatsoever; c. They shall not make any inducement, threat or promises to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the Court or the Police Officer; and d. They shall not leave the territory of India without the prior permission of the Court or I.O.” There is nothing in the status report suggestive of the fact that despite there being orders passed by this Court, applicant failed to join the investigation, rather as per own case of the prosecution, petitioner has been joining the investigation and on the top of everything, challan stands filed in the competent court of law on 13.9.2024. There is no allegation that attempt, if any, ever came to be made at the behest of the applicant/petitioner to temper with the prosecution evidence. Since it is not in dispute that applicant’s company M/s N.R. Armoas, manufactures perfumes and applicant is one of the proprietors of the company, this Court is persuaded to agree with learned counsel for the petitioner that petitioner is essentially required to attend the afore Conference. Careful perusal of Annexure P-2 annexed with the application reveals that the International Federation of Essential Oils and Aroma Trades has arranged afore Conference in Sweden and applicant being one of the manufacturers of perfumes, has also been invited. Though afore conference which is scheduled to be held in Sweden w.e.f 14.9.2024 to 18.9.2024, but before that applicant/petitioner in connection with business, intends to visit Bulgaria, Italy and Barcelona w.e.f. 3.9.2025 to 13.9.2025 and as such, there appears to be no impediment in considering the prayer made by the applicant/petitioner to permit him to go abroad, enabling him to attend the afore conference. Though Mr. Rajan Kahol, learned Additional Advocate General, on the instructions of Investigating Officer, attempted to argue that in the event of permission being granted to applicant, he may not return to India, but he was unable to dispute that when in past, similar request of the applicant/petitioner was allowed vide order dated 4.11.2024 passed in CrMP No. 4289 of 2024 for visiting Thailand, he not only came back within the stipulated time, but also reported with regard to his arrival to the police. Leaving everything aside, it is not in dispute that besides having Company in State of Himachal Pradesh, he has also business and properties in other parts of the country i.e. Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh. Moreover, there is nothing to suggest that other family members of the applicant/petitioner are also accompanying him and as such, it cannot be said that applicant will not return. Consequently, in view of the above, present application is allowed and applicant/petitioner is permitted to travel afore places as mentioned in the application w.e.f. 3.9.2025 to 18.9.2025, in relaxation of condition No. (d) imposed upon him by this Court vide order dated 12.7.2024 passed in Cr.MP(M) No. 341 of 2024. Applicant shall come back to India on 19.9.2025 and report at concerned Police Station. Any violation of instant order shall be viewed seriously, which may also compel this court to order cancellation of bail granted in his favour vide order dated 12.7.2024. The application is disposed of. August 19, 2025 (Sandeep Sharma), manjit Judge