BAIL APPLN. 2132/2026 $~75 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI # CNR No. DLHC010255572026 + BAIL APPLN. 2132/2026 & CRL.M.A. 17726/2026 LOKESH LOHIA BHOPAT .....Petitioner Through: Dr. Manish Aggarwal, Mr. Azad Singh, Ms. Namrata Sharma, Ms. Archan Chaudhary, Mr. Amit Ambawat, Mr. Udit Jain, Ms. Shilpa Kumari, Ms. Archie Garg, Advocates. versus THE STATE NCT OF DELHI .....Respondent Through: Mr. Tarang Srivastav, APP. Insp. Binod Kumar, SI Naveen Kumar, Insp. Ajay Kumar. Mr. Tanuj Gulati, Advocate for Complainant. CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE PRATEEK JALAN O R D E R % 12.08.2026 1. By way of this application under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the petitioner seeks regular bail in connection with FIR No. 397/2025, dated 15.05.2025, registered at Police Station Mehrauli, District South, Delhi, under Sections 103(1)/109(1)/3(5)/61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Sections 25/27 of the Arms Act, 1959. 2. Mr. Tarang Srivastav, learned Additional Public Prosecutor, has handed up a copy of the updated status report, which is taken on record. 3. Mr. Srivastav states that the proceedings before the learned Trial Court are next scheduled to be listed on 25.08.2026 for prosecution evidence, and the complainant is yet to be examined. 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 14/08/2026 at 11:25:23 BAIL APPLN. 2132/2026 4. Having regard to the fact that the offence involved is of murder, and recording of complainant’s evidence is imminent, I am of the view that it would be appropriate for the Sessions Court to consider the petitioner’s application for bail afresh thereafter. 5. It is stated by both, Mr. Srivastav, and Mr. Tanuj Gulati, learned counsel for the complainant, that although the complainant has not been summoned for the next date of hearing, i.e. 25.08.2026, he will appear before the learned Trial Court on the said date, i.e. 25.08.2026, for his examination. 6. In these circumstances, Dr. Manish Aggarwal, learned counsel for the petitioner, does not press the application at this stage, but seeks directions for expeditious recording of the complainant’s evidence. The learned Trial Court is requested to record the evidence of the complainant as expeditiously as practicable. 7. The petitioner will be at liberty to move the learned Trial Court for bail, afresh at the appropriate stage, including in the event the evidence of the complainant is inordinately delayed for reasons not attributable to the petitioner. 8. The bail application, alongwith pending application, is disposed of, in terms of the above. 9. It is clarified that this Court has not made any observation on the merits of the case, and all rights and contentions of the parties in any future application are left open. PRATEEK JALAN, J AUGUST 12, 2026 ‘B’/MK/ 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 14/08/2026 at 11:25:23