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Neutral Citation No. - 2025:AHC:82611 Court No. - 47 Case :- CRIMINAL MISC. BAIL APPLICATION No. - 26415 of 2024 Applicant :- Gaurav Prajapati Opposite Party :- State Of U.P. And 3 Others Counsel for Applicant :- Dharmendra Pratap Singh,Nand Kishor Mishra,Rakesh Kumar Shukla Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A. Hon'ble Siddharth,J. Heard Sri Rakesh Kumar Shukla and Shilpa Ojha, learned counsel for the applicant; learned AGA for the State and perused the material placed on record. The instant bail application has been filed on behalf of the applicant, Gaurav Prajapati, with a prayer to release him on bail in Case Crime No. 064 of 2024, under Sections 363, 366, 376(3) IPC and 3/4(2) POCSO Act, Police Station Raksa, District- Jhansi, during pendency of trial. Learned AGA has informed that notice on opposite party no.2 has been served, but no one has put in appearance on behalf of opposite party no.2 to oppose this bail application. There are allegations against the applicant of abduction of a minor girl with intent to marry, commission of offences of rape and penetrative sexual assault.
Learned counsel for the applicant has submitted that from the statement of the victim recorded under Section 164 Cr.P.C., it appears that she willingly eloped with the applicant. She has admitted that she had love affair with the applicant for last three years and entered into physical relationship with him. He has further submitted that it is a case of false implication of the applicant Even otherwise the victim was consenting party. Although she is minor but no element of use of force has been alleged by victim against the applicant. The applicant has criminal history of one case to his credit and he is languishing in jail since 02.4.2024. In case, the applicant is released on bail, he will not misuse the liberty of bail. Per contra learned A.G.A. has opposed the prayer for bail of the applicant by contending that the innocence of the applicant cannot be adjudged at pre trial stage, therefore, he does not deserves any indulgence. In case the applicant is released on bail he will again indulge in similar activities and will misuse the liberty of bail. Having considered the submissions of the parties noted above, finding force in the submissions made by the learned counsel for the applicant; keeping in view uncertainty regarding conclusion of trial; one
sided investigation by police, ignoring the case of accused side; applicant being under-trial having fundamental right to speedy; larger mandate of the Article 21 of the Constitution of India, considering the dictum of Apex Court in the case of Manish Sisodia Vs. Directorate of Enforcement, 2024 LawSuit (SC) 677, considering 5-6 times overcrowding in jails over and above their capacity by under trials and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, let the applicant involved in the aforesaid 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 that :- (i) The applicant shall not tamper with the evidence or threaten the witnesses. (ii) 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. (iii) The applicant shall remain present before the Trial Court on each date fixed, either personally or as directed by the Court. In case of his absence, without sufficient cause, the Trial Court may proceed against him under Section 229-A of the Indian Penal Code. (iv) In case the applicant misuse the liberty of bail during trial and in
order to secure his presence, proclamation under Section 82 Cr.P.C. is issued and the applicants fail 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 174-A of the Indian Penal Code. (v) 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. 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. In case, of breach of any of the above conditions, it shall be a ground for cancellation of bail. Identity and residence proof of the applicant and sureties be verified by the court concerned before the bonds are accepted.
Order Date :- 17.5.2025 Ruchi Agrahari Digitally signed by :- RUCHI AGRAHARI High Court of Judicature at Allahabad