$~2 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + BAIL APPLN. 3918/2025 RAVINDER ALIAS RAJU .....Applicant Through: Mr. M. L. Yadav, Mr. Harish Chand, Mr. Anand Chittoria, Mr. Harsh Kumar, Advs. versus STATE NCT OF DELHI .....Respondent Through: Mr. Satish Kumar, APP for State Mr. Sarthak Karol, Adv. (DHCLSC) with Ms. Neelakshi Bhaduria, Mr. Shashank Sharma, Advs. for kith and kins of deceased CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SAURABH BANERJEE O R D E R % 20.07.2026 1. By virtue of the present application under Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the applicant seeks grant of regular bail in connection with FIR No.08/2016 dated 02.01.2026 registered at P.S. Hauz Khas under Section 302/34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC). 2. Broadly speaking, as per prosecution on 02.01.2016, while the present applicant along with other undertrial prisoners namely Manoj @ Bobby (deceased), Vishal @ Bunty and Salman @ Samma were escorted back to Tihar Jail in a prison van, a violent altercation took place amongst them inside the vehicle. On inspection from the grill, the applicant was seen placing his foot on the chest of the deceased who was found lying unconscious, while the other co-accused Vishal and Salman were present This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 23/07/2026 at 11:36:35 near him. The deceased was thereafter removed to the Hospital, where he was declared “brought dead”. Based thereon, the present FIR came to be registered. 3. In these facts, this Court has heard learned counsel for the applicant as also learned APP supported by learned counsel for the kith and kins of the deceased. 4. No doubt, the primary contention/ ground of learned counsel for applicant is that the applicant, in total, has already undergone more than nine years of incarceration and that such prolonged detention, without conclusion of trial infringes his fundamental right to speedy trial, is a valid consideration which needs to be given due weightage while dealing with applications of the present kind. 5. However, as per settled position of law, it is also well-established that the inquiry as to the delay is necessarily contextual and the mere length/ period of incarceration need not be the sole guiding factor for release of an accused on regular bail. All the facts involved are to be given due weightage cumulatively along with other relevant factors like the nature/ gravity of the offence, severity of punishment, the nature of accusation, reasonable ground to believe that the accused had committed the crime, nature of evidence, the accused having no prior criminal antecedents, the stage of trial/ proceedings before the learned Trial Court, the chances of accused fleeing/ absconding, the chances of witness tampering and/ or being threatened, the nature, character, behaviour, standing of the accused in the society, the nominal roll received from Jail Authorities showing the conduct of the said inmate when inside jail, possibility of the offence being repeated, if released on bail. Reliance is This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 23/07/2026 at 11:36:35 placed State of U.P. v. Amarmani Tripathi:(2005) 8 SCC 21, Masroor v. State of U.P.:(2009) 14 SCC 286, Ash Mohammad vs. Shiv Raj Singh alias Lalla Babu & Anr.: 2012 (9) SCC 446 and Gulfisha Fatima v. State (NCT of Delhi):2026 SCC OnLine SC 10. 6. Facts herein reveal that the allegations against the applicant are grave and serious inasmuch as the applicant is facing trial for the offence of culpable homicide amounting to murder of a fellow undertrial prisoner, allegedly committed while both were in custody and when they were being escorted back to Tihar Jail. Barring the present FIR, it is not in dispute that the applicant has been involved in as many as three FIRs subsequent to the registration of the present FIR. All the said three FIRs are involving serious offences including that of murder. This clearly reflects that the applicant is prone to commit a fresh offence when out on bail, which will put the members of general public at large at grave risk. Under such circumstances, granting regular bail to the applicant will mean giving premium to singular personal liberty over the public welfare. 7. Besides the above, Nominal Roll of the applicant reflects that his overall conduct while facing incarceration from 2019 till 2023 has been 'Unsatisfactory' and he has been issued as many as eleven punishment tickets during that time. 8. Accordingly, in view of the aforesaid discussions, the present bail application is dismissed in the aforesaid terms. 9. Notwithstanding the aforesaid, since this Court is cognizant of period of incarceration already undergone by the applicant, and in view of the decision of this Court in Mr Himanshu Aliyas Donti v. State of NCT of Delhi: 2026:DHC:3819 wherein it was held that the right of the This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 23/07/2026 at 11:36:35 applicant to speedy trial can be guaranteed by issuing appropriate directions for expeditious trial, the learned Trial Court is requested to expedite the trial and positively try and conclude it on or before 31st March 2027, if possible by giving/ conducting a day-to-day hearing to the proceedings before it in proceedings arising out of FIR No.08/2016 dated 02.01.2026 registered at P.S. Hauz Khas under Section 302/34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, without giving any unnecessary adjournments to any of the parties. 10. A copy of this order be sent to the learned Principal District and Sessions Judge, South District, Saket, New Delhi for information and compliance. 11. Needless to say, observations made on the merits of the matter, if any, are only for the purposes of deciding the present application and shall not be construed as expressions on merits of the matter. SAURABH BANERJEE, J. JULY 20, 2026/bh This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 23/07/2026 at 11:36:35