$~8 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + BAIL APPLN. 1019/2026, CRL.M.A. 7762/2026 PRADEEP ALIAS FEFDA ...Applicant Through: Ms. Anushkaa Arora, Adv. (DHCLSC) versus STATE OF NCT OF DELHI ...Respondent Through: Mr. Raghuinder Verma, APP for the State with Ms. Upasna Bakshi and Ms. Divya Bakshi, Advs. alongwith Insp. Manoj Kumar, PS Lahori Gate Mr. Sarthak Karol, SC (DHCLSC) with Ms. Neelakshi Bhadauria and Mr. Shashank Sharma, Advs CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SAURABH BANERJEE O R D E R % 08.07.2026 1. By virtue of the present application under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the applicant seeks grant of regular bail in proceedings arising out of FIR No.88/2023 dated 21.01.2023 registered at PS: Lahori Gate under Sections 302 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. 2. Succinctly put, as per prosecution, the FIR was registered at the instance of the cousin of the deceased who discovered the dead body at Pull Mithai, DRP Line. During the course of investigation, the family members of the deceased raised suspicions against the applicant, who is a homeless person staying on the footpaths around Toffy Market, Azad Market, Bara Hindu Rao, Delhi. When the applicant was apprehended, he 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 14/07/2026 at 11:09:41 admitted that he used to commit pickpocketing/ petty crimes to obtain money and consume drugs along with the deceased, however, he used to have frequent fights with the deceased regarding the distribution of the proceeds. On 20.01.2023, after another such incident of theft followed by an altercation, the applicant admitted that he murdered the deceased by repeatedly hitting him on his head with a stone and left the dead body on the spot. Accordingly, the applicant was arrested on 21.01.2023. 3. In this factual backdrop, this Court has heard learned counsels for the applicant as well as the complainant, as also learned APP. Learned APP has also handed over the Status Report alongwith the statement of the applicant given to the Police, which are taken on record. 4. Facts disclose that the applicant is involved in commission of a grave and serious offence in a heinous manner, as the deceased expired after being repeatedly hit on the head with a stone for a dispute over stolen money. Moreover, the applicant does not have clean antecedents as there are as many as eight other FIRs against him at present. It is also noteworthy that the applicant does not have any permanent abode/ address, thereby making him a flight risk, and securing his presence during the trial or at any other point of time might prove nearly impossible. 5. Further, though the applicant has been in custody for over three and a half years, out of five total witnesses, only two are remaining to be examined, hence, the trial is not likely to take longer time. 6. Lastly, as far as the contentions raised on behalf of the applicant qua the witnesses having turned hostile is concerned, the same is a matter of trial and not for this Court to consider while dealing with the 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 14/07/2026 at 11:09:41 application seeking regular bail. 7. Accordingly, since the aforesaid facts and circumstances, taken cumulatively, do not inspire confidence in this Court to grant the applicant regular bail, the present application is dismissed. SAURABH BANERJEE, J JULY 8, 2026/rr 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 14/07/2026 at 11:09:41