Manipur High Court
Naorem Priyobarta Singh vs Officer In Charge on 7 January, 2025
Digitally signed by
KHOIROM KHOIROM IN THE HIGH COURT OF MANIPUR
BIPINCHANDR BIPINCHANDRA SINGH
A SINGH
Date: 2025.01.07
12:25:02 +05'30'
AT IMPHAL
AB No. 45 of 2024
Naorem Priyobarta Singh, aged about 36 years, S/o
Naorem Purniam Singh of Kakching Wairi Sabal Leikai,
P.O. & P.S. Kakching, Kakching District, Manipur -
795103.
...Petitioner
- Versus -
Officer in Charge, Kakching Police Station, Kakching
District, Manipur.
...Respondent
BEFORE
HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE GOLMEI GAIPHULSHILLU
For the petitioner : Mr. M. Hemchandra, Senior Advocate
For the respondent : Mr. M. Rarry, Senior Advocate
Date of hearing : 27.12.2024.
Date of judgment
& order : 07.01.2025
JUDGMENT & ORDER
(CAV)
[1] Heard Mr. Hemchandra, learned Sr. counsel appearing for the
petitioner and Mr. M. Rarry, learned Sr. counsel appearing for the
respondent at length.
[2] The present case has been filed under section 482 of the
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksh Sanhita, 2023 with the following prayer:
Page 1
(i) To admit the present application;
(ii) Call for the records;
(iii) After hearing the parties, grant pre-arrest bail or
anticipatory bail to the petitioners/applicants u/s 482 of
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 in its
absolute nature in connection with the above referred
FIR No. 81(11)2024 KCG PS U/s 132/133/3(5) BNS
added Sec: 109/351/(3) BNS, 2023 for the ends of
justice;
(iv) To pass any other order/direction as the Hon'ble Court
may deem fit.
[3] The case of petitioner is that on 16.11.2024 at around 6:30
pm All Kakching Clubs Coordinating Committee along with Bazar Board;
Joint Non-Government Voluntary Organisation; Keithel Ema Lup, Kakching
and Langshai Thouna organized a joint candle lighting at the main Road of
Kakching Bazar to condemn the inhuman killing of 6(six) innocent civilians
of Jiribam District by some unknown militants. After the candle lightening,
some of the people who had gathered at the Main Road of Kakching Bazar
attacked/storm the residence of the local MLA of Kakching AC thereby
causing damage to the property. In connection with the said incident, the
Kakching Police Station registered FIR No. 81(11)2024 KCG U/s
132/133/3(5) BNS added Sec: 109/351/(3) BNS, 2023 against a large group
of people numbering more than 1000 numbers. However, the name of the
petitioner is not mentioned anywhere in the said FIR as he was not at all
involved in the said incident.
Page 2
[4] It is submitted that the personnel of Kakching Police Station
have been regularly visiting the residence of the petitioner with an intention
to cause harassment to the petitioner and arrest him in connection with the
said FIR case. It is also submitted that under section 35(3) of BNSS, 2023,
notice of appearance before a Police Officer is to be given to a person
against whom a reasonable complaint has been made but the act of the
personnel of Kakching Police Station clearly violate the relevant provisions
of the Act i.e. BNSS, 2023.
[5] Being aggrieved, the applicant/petitioner filed Cril. Misc (AB)
Case No. 63 of 2024 before the Court of Sessions Judge, Thoubal whereby
the Ld. Court of Sessions Judge, Thoubal passed interim order dated
02.12.2024 thereby granting interim relief to the applicant/petitioner.
Relevant portion of the order dated 02.12.2024 reads as follows:
"On being heard and after having perused the applications,
it is of my opinion that a chance be given to the petitioners of being
heard.
Hence, the petitioners are directed to appear before the IO
of the case on 03.12.2024 before 5:00pm and depose about their
involvements.
In the meantime, in the event of arrest of the petitioners by
the personnel of Kakching PS, the petitioners be released on
interim anticipatory ball till 06.12.2024 on their furnishing PR and
surety bonds of Rs 50,000/- with the following conditions that the
petitioners shall:
(i) co-operate with the investigating authority as and
when required &
(ii) not leave the State of Manipur without prior
permission of the Court.
Further, the OC/Kakching PS is directed to submit report
before this Court on 06.12.2024 for hearing."
Page 3
Further, submits that as per order dated 02.12.2024, the
petitioner along with his counsel and some local people went to the
Kakching P.S on 03.12.2024 at around 3:30 pm. However, as no one was
present at the Kakching P.S, the petitioner along with his counsel had to
return, upon coming out of the premises of Kakching P.S. the petitioner
and his counsel namely Shri Kh. Arunkumar, Advocate took photograph as
proof that the they had visited the Kakching P.S. as per the direction of the
Court of Sessions Judge, Thoubal however, the same was completely
omitted in the report of the I.O. and the Ld. Sessions Judge, Thoubal
rejected the Anticipatory Bail application on 06.12.2024 on the ground that
the petitioner had failed to cooperate with the investigation. Relevant
portion of the order dated 06.12.2024 reads as under:
"In the instant matter at hand, opportunity was given to the
accused persons to co-operate with the investigation authority as
one of the condition in the interim order dated 02.12.2024,
however, they failed to comply with the conditions imposed by this
Court while granting interim bail.
In the light of the above discussions and the materials
submitted before me, the interim bail order dated 02.12.2024 is
hereby vacated."
Accordingly, the present A.B. is filed by the
petitioner/applicant.
[6] Mr. M. Rarry, learned Sr. counsel for the respondent has
submitted his affidavit-in-opposition stating that the case of the petitioner
for grant of Anticipatory Bail was earlier considered by the Ld. Sessions
Judge, Thoubal in Cril. Misc(AB) Case No. 63 of 2024 and grant interim bail
vide order dated 02.12.2024 while calling for Bail Objection Report had
Page 4
given an opportunity to the petitioner/accused person to cooperate with the
Investigating Authority as one of the conditions in the interim bail order.
And, the I.O. of the case has submitted his bail objection
report before the Ld. Sessions Judge, Thoubal in connection with the above
referred case and the bail objection report reads as follows:
"Subject: Submission of prayer for rejecting the interim
Anticipatory Bail in r/o the accused Naorem
Priyobarta Singh (36) S/O N. Purnima Singh of
Kakching Wairi Sabal Leikai in C/W FIR No .
85(11)2024 KCG-PS u/s
191(2)223/109/118(2)/324(4)/132 BNS & 3(2)(e)
PDPP Act added sec. 61(2)/190 BNS:
Reference: Cril. Misc. (AB) Case No. 63 of 2024 and M/No.
S.J./TBL/2024/1150, dated 2nd Dec., 2024.
The brief fact of the case is that, on 27.11.2024 at 7:45 pm,
received information that on the same day at about 6:30 pm a mob
comprising of men and women, numbering about 500/600, which
was instigated and spearheaded by members of Langsai Thouna (a
CSO based at Kakching) led by the Convenor Kshetrimayum Rajiv
Singh (50) S/O Ksh. Chaoba Singh of Kakching Moirangthem Leikai
and some students' organization of Kakching gather at Kakching
Paji Leikai by defying curfew orders of District Magistrate, Kakching
and were storming to the residence of Hon'ble MLA Kakching A/C in
connection with the non-released of four (4) persons who were
arrested in connection with FIR No. 80(11) 2024 KCG-PS & FIR No.
81(11)2024 KCG-PS.
On receipt of the information, police deployed at the
residence was alerted and additional police teams also rushed to
the spot and confronted / pacified the mob and prevented them
from entering towards the residence of Hon'ble MLA. However, the
mob turned violent and tried force entry by manhandling the police
teams on duty. But they were pushed back. Later they pelted
stones and broke some police vehicles and marched towards
Kakching Police Station for causing more violent activities. The
unruly mob also beat up some police personnel who were
discharging duty at Kakching Bazar and two of them were also
hospitalized. After the unruly mob reached near the proximity of
Kakching police station, the large police teams (including senior
police officers) announced using loudspeaker and asked the mob to
disperse from the spot peacefully. But the mob paid no attention
and constantly shouted and raised various slogans against the
police on duty. The mob became more violent and started pelting
stones towards the police teams on duty from various directions.
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The police teams made further announcements to disperse but the
mob became more violent and started pelting more stones. As the
situation became more violent the police teams had no option but
to disperse the mob by firing tear shells/mock bombs with the
authorization of the Executive Magistrate present. After hectic
efforts the mob was finally dispersed at about 12:40 am of
28/11/2024. Later discovered that V.D.F. No. 1923. N.
Shyamsundar Singh of R/L-KCG, and 2) V.D.F. No. 1570, Sh. Alvish
Singh MTO-KCG got injuries on their head, chest and back and
admitted at EMA Hospital, Kakching. Hence the case.
In the course of investigation, it has been established that
members of Langsai Thouna led by the Convener Kshetrimayum
Rajiv Singh (50) S/O Ksh. Chaoba Singh of Kakching Moirangthem
Leikai and other vested groups have been creating law and order
situation in Kakching area for the past many days by taking undue
advantage of the prevailing ethnic violence in Manipur. This has
been witnessed by various police teams who are deployed for law
and order on many occasions. On 16 November, too, the incidents
which led to forming of mob and attacking the residence of Hon'ble
MLA and subsequently manhandling him (with life attempt) on the
same day was also a result of suspected conspiracy and instigation
planned by Langsai Thouna and some other vested groups. The
incidents have led to police taking up two FIR cases (FIR No.
80(11)2024 KCG PS & FIR No. 81 (11) 2024 KCG-PS. When the
police arrested some of the persons involved in the two cases,
Langsai Thouna led by Kshetrimayum Rajiv Singh and Naorem
Priyobarta Singh, PRO, Langsai Thouna only instigated and
conspired to create law and order situation at Kakching bazaar area
for release of the four (4) arrested persons. This current case FIR is
also a sum total of such instigation and conspiracy done by Langsai
Thouna and other vested groups by taking undue opportunity of
the charged sentiments/emotions of relatives/guardians (of those
four arrested) and remanded into judicial custody on 27 November
2024, i.e. on day of incident. This fact has also been corroborated
through the interception done by central security force.
As a result Langsai Thouna office was raided for alleged
involvement in this current case FIR and the undernamed accused
persons were arrested on 28/11/2024. Due to law and order
situation they were taken to Porompat PS for safe custody. As part
of investigation, the complainant was examined and recorded his
detail statement in c/w the case U/S 180 of BNSS. Visited and
inspected the spots and drew rough sketch maps of the POs with
indices. Later they were produced before the Duty Magistrate,
Kakching via VC and remanded into police custody for 6 days, i.e.
from 28/11/2024 to 3/12/2024. And they were lodged at Porompat
PS due to anticipated law and order situation at Kakching district.
Page 6
The mobile phones (ten in nos.) belonging to the
undernamed accused persons were also seized in connection with
the case (videography was also done). The office of Langsai
Thouna was also inspected and examined with videography. From
the office many incriminating articles were also seized from the
office. The seized articles give some picture about the
tasks/activities that Langsai Thouna performs, some of which are
against the law.
On 28/11/2024, 29/11/2024 and 30/11/2024 police team
rushed to the house of Naorem Priyobarta Singh located at
Kakching Wairi Sabal Leikai to effect arrest him but could not found
arrest him till date. It is corroborated from the GD. No. 14/KCG-
PS/2024 dated 28/11/2024, GD. No. 22/KCG-PS/2024 dated
29/11/2024 and GD. No. 23/KCG- PS/2024 dated 30/11/2024.
(Enclosed as annexures). The accused person has properly
organized womenfolk of the locality so that they may obstruct the
entry of police team and prevent them from arresting him, while his
house continue to be used as gathering point to further his
activities.
During the police custody period, all the accused persons
Le. (1) Kshetrimayum Rajiv Singh (50 yrs) S/O Ksh. Chaoba Singh
of Kakching Moirangthem Leikai, (2) Naorem Jotish Singh (30 yrs)
S/O N. Nabakeshow Singh of Kakching Chumnang Leikai, (3)
Leishangthem Prabin Singh (31 yrs) S/O (L) L. Ibomcha Singh of
Kakching Lamdong, (4) Pukhrambam Gopin Singh (32 yrs) S/O P.
Gopal Singh of Kakching Wairi Senapati Leikai, (5) Naorem Shitaljit
Singh (33 yrs) S/O (L) N. Godador Singh of Kakching Wairi
Khullakpam Leikai, (6) Wayenbam Johnson Singh (31 yrs) S/O (L)
W. Joykumar Singh of Kakching Paji Leikai and (7) Kshetrimayum
Ashokumar Singh (30 yrs), S/O Ksh. Modhuchandra Singh of
Kakching Sumak Leikai were interrogated one by one.
On interrogation of the accused person, namely
Kshetrimayum Rajiv Singh (50 yrs).he admitted that he was part of
organizing the mob through various meetings before the day of
incident and on the day of incident. He was also part of the group
(as Convener of Langsai Thouna) which gave clarion call to defy the
curfew orders and organize mob to cause violence on 27th
November 2024 if the four (4) arrested persons in c/w FIR No. 80
(11) 2024 KCG PS & FIR No. 81(11)2024 KCG PS were not
released. He also admitted that he was present in various places of
Kakching area when the incident took place. He stated that Naorem
Priyobarta Singh is PRO of Langsai Thouna. They work together for
Langsai Thouna. He further admitted that members of
LangsaiThouna and some other vested groups were also part of the
two incidents on 16 November 2024. The presence of Naorem
Priyobarta Singh (36) yrs S/o N. Pumima Singh of Kakching Wairi
Sabal Leikai was also was also corroborated through the statement
of the accused no.7.
Page 7
On further investigation, it was corroborated from the CDR
analysis of mobile phone no. 8787560811, which was used by
Naurem Priyobarta Singh, that he was present in various places of
Kakching areas where the mob activities took place. The picture of
the tower location is enclosed.
There are other crimes where Langsal Thouna has been
named in some FIRs at Kakching police station and this accused
person has been party to all these crimes along with the Convener,
Langsal Thouna who has already been arrested. Due to his guilty
conscience the said accused person has been avoiding police for
the past many days.
In connection with the order of Hon'ble Court of Session
Judge, Thoubal, the accused person, namely Naorem Priyobarta
Singh (36) S/e N. Pumima Singh of Kakching Wairi Sabal Leikal had
come to Kakching police Station on 03/12/2024 @ 03.00 pm. But at
that time the OC/Kakching and the 10 were engaged in case
proceedings of the above referred case and other cases at the
Court complex. Accordingly, he was informed to appear before the
10 on the next day but he did not appear before the 10 till date.
From his motive, there is strong apprehension that he will abscond
and will not co-operate in the investigation of the case.
Therefore, considering the above facts and circumstances,
the above noted accused person is highly required for custodial
interrogation to extract the details of his involvement in the case,
their associates and their motives/intentions in the case. So, his
custodial interrogation is highly required in the case. Smooth and
fair investigation may not be possible without custodial
interrogation and he has not shown much obedience to the order of
Hon'ble court to appear before the 10 for giving his statement. He
is likely to not cooperate and abscond in near future.
Hence, the Hon'ble Judge is humbly prayed to cancel the
interim anticipatory bail granted to the accused person by the
Hon'ble Session Court, Thoubal keeping in view the best interest for
smooth investigation of the case."
[7] It is further submitted that the petitioner is not entitled to
grant the relief sought for in the present application keeping in mind the
parameters laid down by the Hon'ble Apex Court and relied upon the
following judgment in support of his case;
Page 8
Mayanglambam Prabha Devi v. State of Manipur and
others, 2022 SCC Online Mani 449- para 28
"28. In so far as the grant of refusal of the anticipatory bail, the
Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of Siddharam Satlingappa
Mhetre v. State of Maharashtra, (2011) 1 SCC 694 has laid
down the parameters as under:
"112. The following factors and parameters can be taken
into consideration while dealing with the anticipatory bail:
(i) The nature and gravity of the accusation
and the exact role of the accused must be
properly comprehended before arrest is
made;
(ii) The antecedents of the applicant including
the fact as to whether the accused has
previously undergone imprisonment on
conviction by a court in respect of any
cognizable offence;
(iii) The possibility of the applicant to flee from
justice;
(iv) The possibility of the accused's likelihood
to repeat similar or other offences;
(v) Where the accusations have been made
only with the object of injuring or
humiliating the applicant by arresting him
or her;
(vi) Impact of grant of anticipatory bail
particularly in cases of large magnitude
affecting a very large number of people;
(vii) The courts must evaluate the entire
available material against the accused very
carefully. The court must also clearly
comprehend the exact role of the accused
in the case. The cases in which the
accused is implicated with the help of
Sections 34 and 149 of the Penal Code,
1860 the court should consider with even
greater care and caution because over
implication in the cases is a matter of
common knowledge and concern;
(viii) While considering the prayer for grant of
anticipatory bail, a balance has to be struck
between two factors, namely, no prejudice
should be caused to the free, fair and full
investigation and there should be
prevention of harassment, humiliation and
unjustified detention of the accused;
(ix) The court to consider reasonable
apprehension of tampering of the witness
Page 9
or apprehension of threat to the
complainant;
(x) Frivolity in prosecution should always be
considered and it is only the element of
genuineness that shall have to be
considered in the matter of grant of bail
and in the event of there being some
doubt as to the genuineness of the
prosecution, in the normal course of
events, the accused is entitled to an order
of bail."
Srikant Upadhyay and others v. State of Bihar and another,
2024 SCC Online SC 282- para 16, 21, 24.
"16. The core contention of the appellants is that the rejection of
the application for anticipatory bail without considering the
application on merits for the reason of issuance of proclamation
under Section 82, Cr.P.C., is unsustainable. It is the further
contended that at no stage, the appellants were "evading the
arrest" or "absconding" but were only exercising their legal right to
seek anticipatory bail. It is in the aforesaid circumstances that the
learned Senior Counsel appearing for the appellants raised the
contention that when an application for anticipatory bail is pending,
the issuance of proclamation, following issuance of non-bailable
warrant could not be a reason for non-considering the application
for anticipatory bail on merits.
21. We are in full agreement with the view taken by the Gujarat
High Court that filing of an anticipatory bail through an advocate
would not and could not be treated as appearance before a court
by a person against whom such proceedings, as mentioned above
are instituted. The meaning of the term "absconded" has been dealt
by us hereinbefore. We found that its etymological and original
sense is that the accused is hiding himself. What is required as
proof for absconding is the evidence to the effect that the person
concerned was knowing that he was wanted and also about
pendency of warrant of arrest. A detailed discussion is not
warranted in this case to understand that the appellants were
actually absconding. It is not in dispute that they were served with
the "summons". The fact that bailable warrants were issued against
them on 12.04.2022 is also not disputed, as the appellants
themselves have produced the order whereunder bailable warrants
were issued against them. We have already referred to Section 70
(2), Cr. P.C. which would reveal the position that once a warrant is
issued it would remain in force until it is cancelled by the Court
which issued it or until its execution. There is no case for the
appellants that either of such events had occurred in this case to
make the warrants unenforceable. They also got no case that their
application was interfered with by a higher Court. That apart, it is a
fact that the appellants themselves on 23.08.2022, moved a bail-
cum-surrender application before the Trial Court but withdrew the
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same fearing arrest. It is also relevant to note that in the case on
hand even while contending that they were before a Court, the
appellants got no case that in terms of the provisions under Section
438 (1-B), Cr. P.C. an order for their presence before the Court was
ordered either suo motu by the Court or on an application by the
public prosecutor. When that be the circumstance, the appellants
cannot be allowed to contend that they were not hiding or
concealing themselves from arrest or that they were not knowing
that they were wanted in a Court of law.
24. There can be no room for raising a contention that when an
application is filed for anticipatory ball, it cannot be adjourned-
without passing an order of Interim protection. A bare perusal of
Section 438 (1), Cr. P.C., would reveal that taking into consideration
the factors enumerated thereunder the Court may either reject the
application forthwith or issue an interim order for the grant of
anticipatory ball. The proviso thereunder would reveal that if the
High Court or, the Court of Sessions, as the case may be, did not
pass an interim order under this Section or has rejected the
application for grant of anticipatory ball, it shall be open to an
officer in-charge of a police station to arrest the person concerned
without warrant, on the basis of the accusation apprehended in
such application. In view of the proviso under Section 438(1), Cr.
P.C., it cannot be contended that if, at the stage of taking up the
matter for consideration, the Court is not rejecting the application,
it is bound to pass an interim order for the grant of anticipatory
bail. In short, nothing prevents the court from adjourning such an
application without passing an interim order. This question was
considered in detail by a Single Bench of the High Court of Bombay,
in the decision in Shrenik Jayantilal Jain v. State of Maharashtra
Through EOW Unit II, Mumbai and answered as above and we are
in agreement with the view that in such cases, there will be no
statutory inhibition for arrest. Hence, the appellants cannot be
heard to contend that the application for anticipatory bail filed in
November, 2022 could not have been adjourned without passing
interim order. At any rate, the said application was rejected on
04.04.2023. Pending the application for anticipatory ball, in the
absence of an interim protection, if a police officer can arrest the
accused concerned how can it be contented that the court which
issued summons on account of non-obedience to comply with its
order for appearance and then issuing warrant of arrest cannot
proceed further in terms of the provisions under Section 82, Cr..
P.C., merely because of the pendency of an application for
anticipatory bail. If the said position is accepted the same would be
adopted as a ruse to escape from the impact and consequences of
issuance of warrant for arrest and also from the issuance of
proclamation under Section 82, Cr. P.C., by filing successive
applications for anticipatory bail. In such circumstances, and in the
absence of any statutory prohibition and further, taking note of the
position of law which enables a police officer to arrest the applicant
for anticipatory bail if pending an application for anticipatory bail
the matter is adjourned but no interim order was passed. We have
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11
no hesitation to answer the question posed for consideration in the
negative. In other words, it is made clear that in the absence of any
interim order, pendency of an application for anticipatory bail shall
not bar the Trial Court in issuing/proceeding with steps for
proclamation and in taking steps under Section 83, Cr. P.C., In
accordance with law."
Siddharam Satlingappa Mhetre v. State of Maharashtra,
(2011) 1 SCC 694- para 112
"112. The validity of the restrictions imposed by the Apex Court,
namely that the accused released on anticipatory bail must submit
himself to custody and only thereafter can apply for regular bail.
This is contrary to the basic intention and spirit of section 438
Cr.P.C. It is also contrary to Article 21 of the 57 Constitution. The
test of fairness and reasonableness is implicit under Article 21 of
the Constitution of India. Directing the accused to surrender to
custody after the limited period amounts to deprivation of his
personal liberty."
Jai Prakash Singh v. State of Bihar and another, (2012) 4
SCC 379- para 19
"19. The case at hand, if considered in the light of the aforesaid
settled legal proposition, we reach an inescapable conclusion that
the High Court did not apply any of the aforesaid parameters,
rather dealt with a very serious matter in a most casual and cavalier
manner and showed underserving and unwarranted sympathy
towards the accused."
Shri Gurbaksh Singh Sibbia & Ors vs. State of Punjab ,
(1980) 2 SCC 565 - para 12
"12. We find ourselves unable to accept, in their totality, the
submissions Full Bench of the High Court has engrafted on the
power conferred by Section 438. Clause (1) of Section 438 is
couched in terms, broad and unqualified. By any known canon of
construction, words of width and amplitude ought not generally to
be cut down s to read into the language so as of the statute
restraints and conditions which the legislature itself did not think it
proper or necessary to impose. This is especially true when the
statutory provision which falls for consideration is designed to
secure a valuable right like the right to personal freedom and
involves the application of a presumption as salutary and deep
grained in our criminal jurisprudence as the presumption of
innocence. Though the right to apply for anticipatory bail was
conferred for the first time by Section 438, while enacting that
provision the legislature was not writing on a clean slate in the
sense of taking an unprecedented step, insofar as the right to apply
for bail is concerned. It had before it two cognate provisions of the
Code: Section 437 which deals with the power of courts other than
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12
the Court of Session and the High Court to grant bail in non-bailable
cases and Section 439 which deals with the "special powers" of the
High Court and the Court of Session regarding bail. The whole of
Section 437 is riddled and hedged in by restrictions on the power of
certain courts to grant bail. That section reads thus:
437. When bail may be taken in case of non-bailable offence.-(1)
When any person accused of or suspected of the commission of any
non- bailable offence is arrested or detained without warrant by an
officer in charge of a police station or appears or is brought before
a court other than the High Court or Court of Session, he may be
released on bail, but he shall not be so released if there appear
reasonable grounds for believing that he has been guilty of an
offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life:
Provided that the court may direct that any person under the age of
sixteen years or any woman or any sick or infirm person accused of
such an offence be released on bail:
Provided further that the mere fact that an accused person
may be required for being identified by witnesses during
investigation shall not be sufficient ground for refusing to grant bail
if he is otherwise entitled to be released on with such directions ball
and gives an as may undertaking that he be given by the court.
(2) If it appears to such officer or court at any stage of the
investigation, inquiry or trial, as the case may be, that there
are not reasonable grounds for believing that the accused
has committed a non-bailable offence, but that there are
sufficient grounds for further inquiry into his guilt, the
accused shall, pending such inquiry, be released on ball, or,
at the discretion of such officer or court, on the execution by
him of a bond without sureties for his appearance as
hereinafter provided.
(3) When a person accused or suspected of the commission
of an offence punishable with imprisonment which may
extend to seven years or more or of an offence under
Chapter VI, Chapter XVI or Chapter XVII of the Indian Penal
Code or abetment of, or conspiracy or attempt to commit,
any such offence, is released on ball under sub. section (1),
the court may impose any condition which the court
considers necessary-
(a) in order to ensure that such person shall attend in
accordance with the conditions of the bond
executed under this Chapter, or
(b) in order to ensure that such person shall not commit
an offence similar to the offence of which he is
accused or of the commission of which he is
suspected, or
(c) otherwise in the interests of justice.
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13
(4) An officer or a court releasing any person on bail under
sub- section (1) or sub-section (.), shall record in writing his
or its reasons for so doing.
(5) Any court which has released a person on bail under
sub- section (1) or sub-section (2), may, if it considers it
necessary so to do, direct that such person be arrested and
commit him to custody.
(6) If, in any case triable by a Magistrate, the trial of a
person accused of any non-bailable offence is not concluded
within a period of sixty days from the first date fixed for
taking evidence in the case, such person shall, if he is in
custody during the whole of the said period, be released on
bail to the satisfaction of the Magistrate, unless for reasons
to be recorded in writing, the Magistrate otherwise directs.
(7) If, at any time after the conclusion of the trial of a
person accused of a non-bailable offence and before
judgment is delivered, the court is of opinion that there are
reasonable grounds for believing that the accused is not
guilty of any such offence, it shall release the accused, if he
is in custody, on the execution by him of a bond without
sureties for his appearance to hear judgment delivered.
Section 439(1)(a) incorporates the conditions mentioned in Section
437(3) if the offence in respect of which the bail is sought is of the
nature specified in that sub-section. Section 439 reads thus:
439. Special powers of High Court or Court of Session regarding
bail.- (1) A High Court or Court of Session may direct-
(a) that any person accused of an offence and in custody be
released on bail, and if the offence is of the nature
specified in sub-section (3) which it of Section 437, may
Impose any condition which it considers necessary for the
purposes mentioned that sub-section.
(b) that any condition Imposed by a Magistrate when
reloading any person on ball be set aside or modified :
Provided that the High Court or the Court of Beaton shall, before
granting ball in a person who is accused of an offence which i
exclusively by or which, thought not to triable, punishable with
imprisonment for life, give notice of the application Public
Prosecutor unless it is for reasons to be recorded in writing, of
opinion that it is not practicable to give such notice,
(2) A High Court or Court of Session may direct that say person
who has been released on ball under this Chapter be arrested and
commit him to custody.
Page
14
The provisions of Sections 437 and 439 furnished a convenient
model for the legislature to copy while enacting Section 490. If it
has not done so and has departed from a pattern which could easily
be adopted with the necessary modifications, it would be wrong to
refuse to give to the departure its full effect by assuming that it was
not intended to serve any particular or specific purpose. The
departure in our opinion, was made advisedly and purposefully
Advisedly, at least in part, because of the 41st Report of the Law
Commission which, while pointing out the necessity of Introducing a
provision in the Code enabling the High Court and the Court of
Session to grant anticipatory ball, said in paragraph 39.9 that it had
"considered carefully the question of laying down in the stature
certain conditions under which alone anticipatory ball could be
granted" but had come to the conclusion that the question of
granting such ball should be left "to the discretion of the court" and
ought not to be fettered by the statutory provision itself, since the
discretion was being conferred upon superior courts which were
expected to exercise it judicially. The legislature conferred a wide
discretion on the High Court and the Court of Session to grant
anticipatory bail because it evidently felt, firstly, that it would be
difficult to enumerate the conditions under which anticipatory bail
should or should not be granted and secondly, because the
intention was to allow the higher courts in the echelon a somewhat
free hand in the grant of relief in the nature of anticipatory bail.
That is why, departing the terms of Sections 437 and 439, Section
438(1) uses the language that the High Court or the Court of
Session "may, If it thinks fit" direct that the applicant be released
on bail. Sub-section (2) of Section 438 is a further and clearer
manifestation of the same legislative Intent to confer a wide
discretionary power to grant anticipatory bail. It provides that the
High Court or the Court of Session, while issuing a direction for the
grant of anticipatory ball, "may include such conditions in such
directions in the light of the facts of the particular case, as it may
think fit", including the conditions which are set out in clauses (i) to
(iv) of sub-section. (2).The proof of legislative Intent Can best be
found in the language which the legislature uses. Ambiguities can
undoubtedly be resolved by resort to extraneous aids but words, as
wide and explicit as have been used in Section 438, must be given
their full effect, especially when to refuse to do so will result in
undue impairment of the freedom of the individual and the
presumption of innocence. It has to be borne in mind that
anticipatory ball is sought when there is a mere apprehension of
arrest on the accusation that the applicant has committed a non-
bailable offence. A person who has yet to lose his freedom by being
arrested asks for freedom in the event of arrest. That is the stage
at which it is imperative to protect his freedom, insofar as one may,
and to give full play to the presumption that he is innocent. In fact,
the stage at which anticipatory bail is generally sought brings about
its striking dissimilarity with the situation in which a person who is
arrested for the commission of a non-bailable offence asks for bail.
In the latter situation, adequate data is available to the court, or
can be called for by it, in the light of which it can grant or refuse
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15
relief and while granting it, modify it by the imposition of all or any
of the conditions mentioned in Section 437.
[8] Learned counsel of the petitioner has also filed his rejoinder
affidavit on behalf of the petitioner and relied on the following judgments in
support of his case;
1. Bhavnagar University v. Palitana Sugar Mill (P) Ltd.
and others, (2003) 2 SCC 111 - Para 59
"59. A decision, as is well known, is an authority for which it is
decided and not what can logically be deduced therefrom. It is also
well settled that a little difference in facts or additional facts may
make a lot of difference in the precedential value of a decision."
2. Priya Indoria v. State of Karnataka and others,
(2024) 4 SCC 749- para 39,44, 46, 50
"39. In Gurbaksh Singh Sibbia v. State of Punjab ("Gurbaksh Singh
Sebia"), a Constitution Bench of this Court speaking through
Chandrachud, CJ., observed that society has a vital stake in
preserving personal liberty as well as investigational powers of the
police and their relative importance at any given time depends upon
the complexion and restraints of political conditions. How best to
balance these interests while determining the scope of Section 438
CrPC was the focus of the said case while dealing with the historical
background of the said provision.
44. The concept of "anticipatory bail" was clearly explicated vide the
41st Law Commission Report year 1969, whereby the Law
Commission observed as such:
"39.9. Anticipatory ball. The suggestion for directing the
release of a person on bail prior to his arrest (commonly
known as "anticipatory bail") was carefully considered by us.
Though there is a conflict of judicial opinion about the power
of a court to grant anticipatory bail, the majority view is that
there is no such power under the existing provisions of the
Code. The necessity for granting anticipatory bail arises
mainly because sometimes influential persons try to implicate
their rivals in false causes for the purpose of disgracing them
or for other purposes by getting them detained in jail for
some days. In recent times, with the accentuation of political
rivalry, this tendency is showing signs of steady increase.
Apart from false cases, where there are reasonable grounds
for holding that a person accused of an offence is not likely to
abscond, or otherwise misuse his liberty while on bail, there
seems no justification to require him first to submit to
custody, remain in prison for some days and then apply for
bail.
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16
We recommend the acceptance of this suggestion. We are
further of the view that this special power should be conferred
only on the High Court and the Court of Session, and that the
order should take effect at the time of arrest or thereafter."
(emphasis added by us)
46. Observing that the crimes, the criminals and even the
complainants can occasionally possess s extraordinary features, in
Gurbaksh Singh Sibbia it was stated that "[w]hen the even flow of
life becomes turbid, the police can be called upon to inquire into
charges arising out of political antagonism" The powerful processes
of criminal law can then be perverted for achieving extraneous
ends. Attendant upon such investigations, when the police are not
free agents within their sphere harassment and humiliation that of
duty, is a great amount of inconvenience, can even take the form of
the parading of a respectable person in handcuffs, apparently on
way to a court of justice. The d foul deed is done when an
adversary is exposed osed to social ridicule and obloquy, no matter
when and whether a conviction is secured or is at all possible. It is
in order to meet such situations, though not limited to these
contingencies, that the power to grant anticipatory bail was
introduced into the Code of 1973.
50. Thereafter, the law anticipatory bail was further crystallised by
on the Constitution Bench of this Court in Gurbaksh Singh Sibbia
16, where it disagreed with the reasoning of the Full Bench19 of the
Punjab and Haryana High Court. It was observed that since the
denial of bail amounts to deprivation of personal liberty, the Court
should lean against the imposition of unnecessary restrictions on
the scope of Section 438 CrPC, especially when not imposed by the
legislature in terms of the Section. It was observed that Section 438
CrPC is a procedural provision which is concerned with the personal
liberty of the individual, who is entitled to the benefit of the
presumption of innocence since he is not, on the date of his
application for anticipatory bail, convicted of the offence in respect
of which he seeks bail. An overgenerous infusion c of constraints
and conditions which are not to be found in Section 438 CrPC can
make its provisions constitutionally vulnerable since the right to
personal freedom cannot be made to depend on compliance with
unreasonable restrictions. The beneficent provision contained in
Section 438 CrPC must be saved, not jettisoned."
However, the learned counsel for the respondent contradicts
the reliance made by the petitioner in support of his case saying
that in the facts and circumstance of the case preserving personal
liberty and restraining the investigational powers of the police does
not arise at all.
Page
17
3. Sushila Aggarwal and others v. State (NCT of Delhi)
and another, (2020) 5 SCC 1- para 7.2
"7.2. While considering the issues referred to a larger Bench,
referred to hereinabove, the decision of the Constitution Bench of
this Court in Gurbaksh Singh Sibbia is required to be referred to and
considered in detail. The matter before the Constitution Bench in
Gurbaksh Singh Sibbia arose out of the decision of the Full Bench of
the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The High Court rejected the
application for bail after summarising, what according to it was the
true legal position, thus: (Gurbaksh Singh Sibbia case, SCC pp. 576-
77, para 11)
"(1) The power under Section 438, Criminal Procedure Code,
is of an extraordinary character and must be exercised
sparingly in exceptional cases only;
(2) Neither Section 438 nor any other provision of the Code
authorises 9 the grant of blanket anticipatory bail for
offences not yet committed or with regard to accusations
not so far levelled.
(3) The said power is not unguided or uncanalised but all
the limitations imposed in the preceding Section 437, are
implicit therein and must be read into Section 438.
(4) In addition to the limitations mentioned in Section 437,
the petitioner must make out a special case for the exercise
of the power to grant anticipatory bail.
(5) Where a legitimate case for the remand of the offender
to the police custody under Section 167(2) can be made out
by the investigating agency or a reasonable claim to secure
incriminating material from information likely to be received
from the offender under Section 27 of the Evidence Act can
be made out, the power under Section 438 should not be
exercised.
(6) The discretion under Section 438 cannot be exercised
with regard to offences punishable with death or
imprisonment for life unless the court at that very stage is
satisfied that such a charge appears to be false or
groundless.
(7) The larger interest of the public and State demand that
in serious cases like economic offences involving blatant
corruption at the higher rungs of the executive and political
power, the discretion under Section 438 of the Code should
not be exercised; and
(8) Mere general allegations of mala fides in the petition are
inadequate. The court must be satisfied on materials before
it that the allegations of mala fides are substantial and the
accusation appears to be false and groundless."
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18
The learned counsel for the respondent contradicts the
reliance made by the learned counsel for the petitioner.
4. Satish v. State of Haryana, (2012) 4 SCC 509- para 1 - 3.
"1. Application for impleadment/intervention is rejected. Leave
granted.
2. This appeal is filed against the judgment and order dated 16-9-
2011 passed in the anticipatory bail application by the High Court of
Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh in Satish v. State of Haryana.
The High Court has rejected the application for anticipatory bail.
3. This Court, on 31-10-20112, while issuing notice, has ordered for
the release of the appellant on his furnishing the personal bond of
Rs 20,000 with one surety in the like amount to the satisfaction of
the investigating officer, subject to the condition that he will join
the investigation as and when required and shall abide by the
provisions of Section 438(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure,
1973. In our opinion, the aforesaid order should be made absolute
and is made absolute. The appeal is disposed of accordingly."
5. Shri Gurbaksh Singh Sibbia&Orsvs State of Punjab ,
(1980) 2 SCC 565 - para 10, 11
"10. Shri V. M. Tarkunde, appearing on behalf of some of the
appellants, while supporting the contentions of the other appellants,
said that since the denial of bail amounts to deprivation of personal
liberty, courts should lean against the imposition of unnecessary
restrictions on the scope of Section 438, when no such restrictions
are imposed by the legislature in the terms of that section. The
learned counsel added a new dimension to the argument by
invoking Article 21 of the Constitution. He urged that Section 438 is
a procedural provision which is concerned with the personal liberty
of an individual who has not been convicted of the offence in
respect of which he seeks bail and who must therefore be
presumed to be innocent. The validity of that section must
accordingly be examined by the test of fairness and reasonableness
which is implicit in Article 21. If the legislature itself were to impose
an unreasonable restriction on the grant of anticipatory bail, such a
restriction could have been struck down as being violative of Article
21. Therefore, while determining the scope of Section 438, the
court should not impose any unfair or unreasonable limitation on
the individual's right to obtain an order of anticipatory bail.
Imposition of an unfair or unreasonable limitation, according to the
learned counsel, would be violative of Article 21, irrespective of
whether it is imposed by legislation or by judicial decision.
11. The Full Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court rejected
the appellants' applications for bail after summarising, what
according to it is the true legal position, thus:
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19
(1) The power under Section 438, Criminal Procedure Code, is
of an extraordinary character and must be exercised
sparingly in exceptional cases only;
(2) Neither Section 438 nor any other provision of the Code
authorises the grant of blanket anticipatory bail for
offences not yet com- mitred or with regard to accusations
not so far levelled.
(3) The said power is not unguided or uncanalised but all the
limitations imposed in the preceding Section 437. are
implicit therein and must be read into Section 438.
(4) In addition to the limitations mentioned in Section 137, the
petitioner must make out a special case for the exercise of
the power to grant anticipatory ball.
(5) Where a legitimate case for the remand of the offender to
the police custody under Section 167 (2) can be made out
by the investigating agency or a reasonable claim to secure
incriminating material from information likely to be
received from the offender under Section 27 of the
Evidence Act can be made out, the power under Section
438 should not be exercised.
(6) The discretion under Section 438 cannot be exercised with
regard to offences punishable with death or imprisonment
for life unless the court at that very stage is satisfied that
such a charge appears to be false or groundless,
(7) The larger interest of the public and State demand that in
serious cases like economic offences involving blatant
corruption at the higher rungs of the executive and political
power, the discretion under Section 438 of the Code should
not be exercised; and
(8) Mere general allegations of mala fides in the petition are
inadequate. The court must be satisfied on materials
before it that the allegations of mala fides are substantial
and the accusation appears to be false and groundless.
It was urged before the Full Bench that the appellants were men of
substance and position who were hardly likely to abscond and
would be prepared willingly to face trial. This argument was
rejected with the observation that to accord differential treatment
to the appellants on account of their status will amount to negation
of the concept of equality before the law and that it could hardly be
contended that every man of status, who was intended to be
charged with serious crimes, including the one under Section 409,
IPC which was punishable with life imprisonment, "was entitled to
knock at the door of the court for anticipatory bail". The possession
of high status, according to the Full Bench, is not only an irrelevant
consideration for granting anticipatory bail but is, if anything, an
aggravating circumstance."
Page
20
6. Arnesh Kumar vs State of Bihar & Anr (2014) 8 SCC
273 - para 5
"5. Arrest brings humiliation, curtails freedom and casts scars
forever. Lawmakers know it so also the police. There is a battle
between the lawmakers and the police and it seems that the police
has not learnt its lesson: the lesson implicit and embodied in CrPC.
It has not come out of its colonial image despite six decades of
Independence, it is largely considered Cas a tool of harassment,
oppression and surely not considered a friend of public. The need
for caution in exercising the drastic power of arrest has been
emphasised time and again by the courts but has not yielded
desired result. Power to arrest greatly contributes to its arrogance
so also the failure of the Magistracy to check it. Not only this, the
power of arrest is one of the lucrative sources of police corruption.
The attitude to arrest first and then d proceed with the rest is
despicable. It has become a handy tool to the police officers who
lack sensitivity or act with oblique motive."
7. Criminal Major Acts.
8. Criminal Manual (2022).
9. The Constitution of India.
[9] Perused the observation made by the Hon'ble Supreme
Court in the above citations made by the learned counsel for the
petitioner and also the reliance made in the above mentioned Acts &
Rules, this Court is of the view that considering the nature of case and
the facts and circumstances as set out by the petitioner and respondents
and discussion and observation made by this Court, this Court is of the
view that the Hon'ble Supreme Court's observation made herein above
are not maintainable/reliable in the petitioner's case.
[10] Mention is made here that due to apprehension of arrest the
petitioner filed AB before the Ld. Sessions Judge, Thoubal. The Ld. Sessions
Judge, interim relief with the following conditions:
"In the meantime, in the event of arrest of the petitioners by
the personnel of Kakching PS, the petitioners be released on
interim anticipatory ball till 06.12.2024 on their furnishing PR and
Page
21
surety bonds of Rs 50,000/- with the following conditions that the
petitioners shall:
(i) co-operate with the investigating authority as and when
required &
(ii) not leave the State of Manipur without prior permission of
the Court.
Further, the OC/Kakching PS is directed to submit report
before this Court on 06.12.2024 for hearing."
With condition to appear before the I.O. of the case on
03.12.2024 before 5:00 pm.
[11] Thereafter, the Ld. Sessions Judge after getting the bail
objection report and after hearing both sides rejected the earlier interim
bail order was rejected with the following observations:
"In the instant matter at hand, opportunity was given to the
accused persons to co-operate with the investigation authority as
one of the condition in the interim order dated 02.12.2024,
however, they failed to comply with the conditions imposed by this
Court while granting interim bail.
In the light of the above discussions and the materials
submitted before me, the interim bail order dated 02.12.2024 is
hereby vacated."
[12] The relevant sections in the present case are 132/133/3(5)
BNS added Sec: 109/351/(3) BNS, 2023. As per the law laid down in the
provisions, the alleged sections made in the present are serious in nature
on top of that the nature of allegation set out in the prosecution case as
extracted above, the offence alleged against the accused/petitioner is of
serious in nature. For this matter, this Court is relying on the guidelines set
out in the above mentioned citations which were reproduced hereinabove.
Mayanglambam Prabha Devi v. State of Manipur and
others, 2022 SCC Online Mani 449- para 28
"28. In so far as the grant of refusal of the anticipatory bail, the
Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of Siddharam Satlingappa
Page
22
Mhetre v. State of Maharashtra, (2011) 1 SCC 694 has laid
down the parameters as under:
"112. The following factors and parameters can be taken into
consideration while dealing with the anticipatory bail:
(i) The nature and gravity of the accusation and the exact
role of the accused must be properly comprehended
before arrest is made;
(ii) The antecedents of the applicant including the fact as
to whether the accused has previously undergone
imprisonment on conviction by a court in respect of
any cognizable offence;
(iii) The possibility of the applicant to flee from justice;
(iv) The possibility of the accused's likelihood to repeat
similar or other offences;
(v) Where the accusations have been made only with the
object of injuring or humiliating the applicant by
arresting him or her;
(vi) Impact of grant of anticipatory bail particularly in cases
of large magnitude affecting a very large number of
people;
(vii) The courts must evaluate the entire available material
against the accused very carefully. The court must also
clearly comprehend the exact role of the accused in
the case. The cases in which the accused is implicated
with the help of Sections 34 and 149 of the Penal
Code, 1860 the court should consider with even
greater care and caution because over implication in
the cases is a matter of common knowledge and
concern;
(viii) While considering the prayer for grant of anticipatory
bail, a balance has to be struck between two factors,
namely, no prejudice should be caused to the free, fair
and full investigation and there should be prevention
of harassment, humiliation and unjustified detention of
the accused;
(ix) The court to consider reasonable apprehension of
tampering of the witness or apprehension of threat to
the complainant;
(x) Frivolity in prosecution should always be considered
and it is only the element of genuineness that shall
have to be considered in the matter of grant of bail
and in the event of there being some doubt as to the
genuineness of the prosecution, in the normal course
of events, the accused is entitled to an order of bail."
Srikant Upadhyay and others v. State of Bihar and another,
2024 SCC Online SC 282- para 16, 21, 24.
"16. The core contention of the appellants is that the rejection of
the application for anticipatory bail without considering the
Page
23
application on merits for the reason of issuance of proclamation
under Section 82, Cr.P.C., is unsustainable. It is the further
contended that at no stage, the appellants were "evading the
arrest" or "absconding" but were only exercising their legal right to
seek anticipatory bail. It is in the aforesaid circumstances that the
learned Senior Counsel appearing for the appellants raised the
contention that when an application for anticipatory bail is pending,
the issuance of proclamation, following issuance of non-bailable
warrant could not be a reason for non-considering the application
for anticipatory bail on merits.
21. We are in full agreement with the view taken by the Gujarat
High Court that filing of an anticipatory bail through an advocate
would not and could not be treated as appearance before a court
by a person against whom such proceedings, as mentioned above
are instituted. The meaning of the term "absconded" has been dealt
by us hereinbefore. We found that its etymological and original
sense is that the accused is hiding himself. What is required as
proof for absconding is the evidence to the effect that the person
concerned was knowing that he was wanted and also about
pendency of warrant of arrest. A detailed discussion is not
warranted in this case to understand that the appellants were
actually absconding. It is not in dispute that they were served with
the "summons". The fact that bailable warrants were issued against
them on 12.04.2022 is also not disputed, as the appellants
themselves have produced the order whereunder bailable warrants
were issued against them. We have already referred to Section 70
(2), Cr. P.C. which would reveal the position that once a warrant is
issued it would remain in force until it is cancelled by the Court
which issued it or until its execution. There is no case for the
appellants that either of such events had occurred in this case to
make the warrants unenforceable. They also got no case that their
application was interfered with by a higher Court. That apart, it is a
fact that the appellants themselves on 23.08.2022, moved a bail-
cum-surrender application before the Trial Court but withdrew the
same fearing arrest. It is also relevant to note that in the case on
hand even while contending that they were before a Court, the
appellants got no case that in terms of the provisions under Section
438 (1-B), Cr. P.C. an order for their presence before the Court was
ordered either suo motu by the Court or on an application by the
public prosecutor. When that be the circumstance, the appellants
cannot be allowed to contend that they were not hiding or
concealing themselves from arrest or that they were not knowing
that they were wanted in a Court of law.
24. There can be no room for raising a contention that when an
application is filed for anticipatory ball, it cannot be adjourned-
without passing an order of Interim protection. A bare perusal of
Section 438 (1), Cr. P.C., would reveal that taking into consideration
the factors enumerated thereunder the Court may either reject the
application forthwith or issue an interim order for the grant of
anticipatory ball. The proviso thereunder would reveal that if the
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24
High Court or, the Court of Sessions, as the case may be, did not
pass an interim order under this Section or has rejected the
application for grant of anticipatory ball, it shall be open to an
officer in-charge of a police station to arrest the person concerned
without warrant, on the basis of the accusation apprehended in
such application. In view of the proviso under Section 438(1), Cr.
P.C., it cannot be contended that if, at the stage of taking up the
matter for consideration, the Court is not rejecting the application,
it is bound to pass an interim order for the grant of anticipatory
bail. In short, nothing prevents the court from adjourning such an
application without passing an interim order. This question was
considered in detail by a Single Bench of the High Court of Bombay,
in the decision in Shrenik Jayantilal Jain v. State of Maharashtra
Through EOW Unit II, Mumbai and answered as above and we are
in agreement with the view that in such cases, there will be no
statutory inhibition for arrest. Hence, the appellants cannot be
heard to contend that the application for anticipatory bail filed in
November, 2022 could not have been adjourned without passing
interim order. At any rate, the said application was rejected on
04.04.2023. Pending the application for anticipatory ball, in the
absence of an interim protection, if a police officer can arrest the
accused concerned how can it be contented that the court which
issued summons on account of non-obedience to comply with its
order for appearance and then issuing warrant of arrest cannot
proceed further in terms of the provisions under Section 82, Cr..
P.C., merely because of the pendency of an application for
anticipatory bail. If the said position is accepted the same would be
adopted as a ruse to escape from the impact and consequences of
issuance of warrant for arrest and also from the issuance of
proclamation under Section 82, Cr. P.C., by filing successive
applications for anticipatory bail. In such circumstances, and in the
absence of any statutory prohibition and further, taking note of the
position of law which enables a police officer to arrest the applicant
for anticipatory bail if pending an application for anticipatory bail
the matter is adjourned but no interim order was passed. We have
no hesitation to answer the question posed for consideration in the
negative. In other words, it is made clear that in the absence of any
interim order, pendency of an application for anticipatory bail shall
not bar the Trial Court in issuing/proceeding with steps for
proclamation and in taking steps under Section 83, Cr. P.C., In
accordance with law."
In Jai Prakash Singh v. State of Bihar, (2012) 4 SCC
379, the Hon'ble Apex Court elucidated the principles for consideration of
grant of anticipatory bail, which are as under:
"19. Parameters for grant of anticipatory bail in a serious offence
are required to be satisfied and further while granting such relief,
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25
the court must record the reasons therefor. Anticipatory bail can be
granted only in exceptional circumstances where the court is prima
facie of the view that the applicant has falsely been enroped in the
crime and would not misuse his liberty. (See D.K. Ganesh Babu v.
P.T. Manokaran, (2007) 4 SCC 434, State of Maharashtra v. Mohd.
Sajid Hussain, (2008) 1 SCC 213, and Union of India v. Padam
Narain Aggarwal, (2008) 13 SCC 305)."
[13] Considering the guidelines set out in the above mentioned
Hon'ble Supreme Court's judgments, this Court is of the view that the
nature and allegations made in the present prosecution case alleged
against the accused/petitioner is of such a serious offence that the present
case is squarely covered by the observation made herein above by the
Hon'ble Supreme Court because:
(i) The alleged offences made in the FIR are serious in
nature.
(ii) There are four FIR cases registered against the
accused person.
(iii) After getting the interim order from the Sessions
Judge, Thoubal, the present accused/petitioner failed
to comply with the conditions imposed in the said bail
order.
(iv) As per the accusation made in the FIR and nature of
the facts mentioned therein does not seem that the
object of the police for trying to arrest does not seem
to be for injury or humiliating the accused/petitioner.
Considering the prayer of the petitioner, the balance is in
favour of the prosecution.
[14] On over all analysis of the materials produced by both sides,
this Court is of the view that considering the nature and gravity of the
offence leveled against the petitioner, this Court is of the view that granting
Page
26
anticipatory bail to the petitioner who is not cooperating with the
investigation is in-appropriate.
[15] As per the submission of the learned counsel for the
petitioner, the accused/petitioner went to Kakching Police Station on
03.12.2024 at 3:00 pm but no one was found in the police station. And the
petitioner did not report his visit to the police station. The learned counsel
for the petitioner fervenlently submits that there is no disobedient of the
Court's order on the part of the petitioner as directed he appear before the
Police Station on the mentioned date.
But, it was admitted that other than the above mentioned
date the petitioner/accused did not visit/go to the police station again.
[16] As per the prosecution and as mentioned in the bail objection
report and as reflected in the order of the Ld. Sessions Judge, Thoubal the
petitioner/accused visited the Kakching Police Station on 03.12.2024 at
3:00 pm but at that OC Kakching and IO of the case were engaged heavily
in numerous other case and inform the petitioner/accused to appear before
the I.O. on the next date but the petitioner/accused didn't appear again.
After going through the above mentioned development other than the facts
and circumstances of the case and considering the conditions imposed on
the petitioner/accused by the Ld. Sessions Judge, Thoubal while granting
interim bail, this Court is of the considered view that assuming but not
admitting that the petitioner visited Kakching Police Station on 03.12.2024
at 3:30 pm with his lawyer he should atleast registered his appearance
before the Police Station by informing the police station. However, the
Page
27
petitioner has not done the basic necessary requirement of his visit before
the police station inspite of his visiting there with his lawyer.
[17] Mention is also made here that there are 4(four) FIRs
registered against the accused/petitioner including the present FIR and 3
others one is registered in the year 2023.
[18] As reported by the prosecution that the accused/petitioner
appeared before the police station on 03.12.2024 but as both IO as well as
the OC were heavily engaged in some other cases he was advised to visit
the next date. As discussed earlier and as reflected in the order of the Ld.
Sessions Judge, Thoubal the interim protection was granted till 06.12.2024,
the accused/petitioner if at all desired to assist the investigation of the case
he should have visit the police station in subsequent days. In this
circumstances, this court is of the view that the accused/petitioner
violate/disobeyed the condition put forth by the Ld. Sessions Judge,
Thoubal in this regards the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the catena of
judgment observed as thus.
[19] In Srikant Upadhay and others vs. State of Bihar & Another,
[(2024) SCC Online SC 282], the Hon'ble Supreme Court observed that:
"10. When a Court grants anticipatory bail what it actually does is
only to make an order that in the event of arrest, the arrestee shall
be released on bail, subject to the terms and conditions. Taking
note of the fact the said power is to be exercised in exceptional
circumstances and that it may cause some hindrance to the normal
flow of investigation method when called upon to exercise the
power under section 438, Cr.P.C., courts must keep reminded of the
position that law aides only the abiding and certainly not its
resistant. By saying so, we mean that a person, having subjected to
investigation on a serious offence and upon making out a case, is
included in a charge sheet or even after filing of a refer report,
later, in accordance with law, the Court issues a summons to a
person, he is bound to submit himself to the authority of law. It
Page
28
only mean that though he will still be at liberty, rather, in his right,
to take recourse to the legal remedies available only in accordance
with law, but not in its defiance. We will dilate this discussion with
reference to the factual matrix of this case. However, we think that
before dealing with the same, a small deviation to have a glance at
the scope and application of the provisions under Section 82,
Cr.P.C. will not be inappropriate.
16.The core contention of the appellants is that the rejection of the
application for anticipatory bail without considering the application
on merits for the reason of issuance of proclamation under Section
82, Cr.P.C., is unsustainable. It is the further contended that at no
stage, the appellants were "evading the arrest" or "absconding" but
were only exercising their legal right to seek anticipatory bail. It is
in the aforesaid circumstances that the learned Senior Counsel
appearing for the appellants raised the contention that when an
application for anticipatory bail is pending, the issuance of
proclamation, following issuance of nonbailable warrant could not
be a reason for non-considering the application for anticipatory bail
on merits.
18. Section 70 (2), Cr.P.C. mandates that every warrant issued
under Section 70(1), Cr.P.C. shall remain in force until it is cancelled
by the Court which issued it, or until it is executed. In this case, as
noticed hereinbefore, the bailable warrants and thereafter the non-
bailable warrants, were issued against the appellants. They were
neither cancelled by the Trial Court nor they were executed. It is
not their case that they have successfully challenged them. Sections
19, 20, 21, 174 and 174 A, IPC assume relevance in this context.
They insofar as relevant read thus:
19. "Judge". The word "Judge" denotes not only every personwho is
officially designated as a Judge, but also every person who is
empowered by law to give, in any legal proceeding, civil or criminal,
a definitive judgment, or a judgment which, if not appealed against,
would be definitive, or a judgment which, if confirmed by some
other authority, would be definitive, or who is one of a body or
persons, which body of persons is empowered by law to give such a
judgment.
20. "Court of Justice". The words "Court of Justice" denote a Judge
who is empowered by law to act judicially alone, or a body of
Judges which is empowered by law to act judicially as a body, when
a Judge or body of Judges is acting judicially.
21 "Public servant". The words "public servant denote a person
falling under any of the descriptions hereinafter following, namely:-
[Third-Every Judge including any person empowered by law to
discharge, whether by himself or as a member of any body of
persons, any adjudicatory functions:]
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29
3/4. Non-attendance in obedience to an order from public servant.
Whoever, being legally bound to attend in person or by an agent at
a certain place and time in abedience to a summons, notice, order,
or proclamation proceeding from any public servant legally
competent, as such public servant, to issue the same, intentionally
omits to attend at that place or time, or departs from the place
where he is bound to attend before the time at which it is lawful for
him to depart, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a
term which may extend to one month, or with fine which may
extend to five hundred rupees, or with both,or, if the summons,
notice, order or proclamation is to attend in person or by agent in a
Court of Justice, with simple imprisonment for a ferm which may
extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one
thousand rupees, or with both.
174A. Non-appearance in response to a proclamation under section
82 of Act 2 of 1974. Whoever fails to appear at the specified place
and the specified time as required by a proclamation published
under sub-section (1) of section 82 of the Criminal Procedure Code,
1973 shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may
extend to three years or with fine or with both, and where a
declaration has been made under sub-section (4) of that section
pronouncing him as a proclaimed offender, he shall be punished
with Imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and
shall also be liable to fine.
19. Taking note of the aforesaid facts with respect to the issuance
of summons, warrants and subsequently the proclamation, a
conjoint reading of Sections 19, 20 and 21, IPC containing the
terms "Judge", "Court of Justice" and "Public Servant" and Sections
174 and 174A, IPC can make them liable even to face further
proceedings. Same is the position in case of non-attendance in
obedience to proclamation under Section 82, Cr. P.C.
20. Bearing in mind the aforesaid provisions and position, we will
refer to certain relevant decisions. In Savitaben Govindbhai Patel v.
State of Gujarat, the High Court of Gujarat observed thus:-
"9. Filing of an Anticipatory Ball Application by the petitioners-
accused through their advocate cannot be said to be an
appearance of the petitioners-accused in a competent Court, so
far as proceeding initiated under Section 82/83 of the Code is
concerned: otherwise each absconding accused would try to
create shelter by filing an Anticipatory Bail Application to avoid
obligation to appear before the court and raises the proceeding
under Section 83 of the Code claiming that he cannot be
termed as an absconder in the eve of law. Physical appearance
before the Court is most important, if relevant scheme of
Sections 82 and 83, is read closely."
(underline supplied)
21. We are in full agreement with the view taken by the Gujarat
High Court that filing of an anticipatory bail through an advocate
would not and could not be treated as appearance before a court
by a person against whom such proceedings, as mentioned above
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30
are instituted. The meaning of the term "absconded" has been dealt
by us hereinbefore. We found that its etymological and original
sense is that the accused is hiding himself. What is required as
proof for absconding is the evidence to the effect that the person
concerned was knowing that he was wanted and also about
pendency of warrant of arrest. A detailed discussion is not
warranted in this case to understand that the appellants were
actually absconding. It is not in dispute that they were served with
the "summons". The fact that bailable warrants were issued against
them on 12.04.2022 is also not disputed, as the appellants
themselves have produced the order whereunderbailable warrants
were issued against them. We have already referred to Section 70
(2), Cr. P.C. which would reveal the position that once a warrant is
issued it would remain in force until it is cancelled by the Court
which issued it or until its execution. There is no case for the
appellants that either of such events had occurred in this case to
make the warrants unenforceable. They also got no case that their
application was Interfered with by a higher Court. That apart, it is a
fact that the appellants themselves on 23.08.2022, moved a bail-
cum-surrender application before the Trial Court but withdrew the
same fearing arrest. It is also relevant to note that in the case on
hand even while contending that they were before a Court, the
appellants got no case that in terms of the provisions under Section
438 (1-B), Cr. P.C. an order for their presence before the Court was
ordered either suo motu by the Court or on an application by the
public prosecutor. When that be the circumstance, the appellants
cannot be allowed to contend that they were not hiding or
concealing themselves from arrest or that they were not knowing
that they were wanted in a Court of law.
24. There can be no room for raising a contention that when an
application is filed for anticipatory ball, it cannot be adjourned-
without passing an order of Interim protection. A bare perusal of
Section 438 (1), Cr. P.C., would reveal that taking into consideration
the factors enumerated thereunder the Court may either reject the
application forthwith or issue an interim order for the grant of
anticipatory ball. The proviso thereunder would reveal that if the
High Court or, the Court of Sessions, as the case may be, did not
pass an interim order under this Section or has rejected the
application for grant of anticipatory ball, it shall be open to an
officer in-charge of a police station to arrest the person concerned
without warrant, on the basis of the accusation apprehended in
such application. In view of the proviso under Section 438(1), Cr.
P.C., it cannot be contended that if, at the stage of taking up the
matter for consideration, the Court is not rejecting the application,
it is bound to pass an interim order for the grant of anticipatory
bail. In short, nothing prevents the court from adjourning such an
application without passing an interim order. This question was
considered in detall by a Single Bench of the High Court of Bombay,
in the decision in ShrenikJayantilal Jain v. State of Maharashtra
Through EOW Unit II, Mumbai and answered as above and we are
in agreement with the view that in such cases, there will be no
statutory inhibition forarrest. Hence, the appellants cannot be heard
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31
to contend that the application for anticipatory bail filed in
November, 2022 could not have been adjourned without passing
interim order. At any rate, the said application was rejected on
04.04.2023. Pending the application for anticipatory ball, in the
absence of an interim protection, if a police officer can arrest the
accused concerned how can it be contented that the court which
issued summons on account of non-obedience to comply with its
order for appearance and then issuing warrant of arrest cannot
proceed further in terms of the provisions under Section 82, Cr..
P.C., merely because of the pendency of an application for
anticipatory bail. If the said position is accepted the same would be
adopted as a ruse to escape from the impact and consequences of
issuance of warrant for arrest and also from the issuance of
proclamation under Section 82, Cr. P.C., by filing successive
applications for anticipatory bail. In such circumstances, and in the
absence of any statutory prohibition and further, taking note of the
position of law which enables a police officer to arrest the applicant
for anticipatory bail if pending an application for anticipatory bail
the matter is adjourned but no interim order was passed. We have
no hesitation to answer the question posed for consideration in the
negative. In other words, it is made clear that in the absence of any
interim order, pendency of an application for anticipatory bail shall
not bar the Trial Court in issuing/proceeding with steps for
proclamation and in taking steps under Section 83, Cr. P.C., In
accordance with law.
25. We have already held that the power to grant anticipatory bail
is an extraordinary power. Though in many cases it was held that
ball is said to be a rule, it cannot, by any stretch of imagination, be
said that anticipatory bail is the rule. It cannot be the rule and the
question of its grant should be left to the cautious and judicious
discretion by the Court depending on the facts and circumstances of
each case. While called upon to exercise the said power, the Court
concerned has to be very cautious as the grant of interim protection
or protection to the accused in serious cases may lead to
miscarriage of justice and may hamper the investigation to a great
extent as it may sometimes lead to tampering or distraction of the
evidence. We shall not be understood to have held that the Court
shall not pass an interim protection pending consideration of such
application as the Section is destined to safeguard the freedom of
an individual against unwarranted arrest and we say that such
orders shall be passed in eminently fit cases. At any rate, when
warrant of arrest or proclamation is issued, the applicant is not
entitled to invoke the extraordinary power. Certainly, this will not
deprive the power of the Court to grant pre-arrest bail in extreme,
exceptional cases in the interest of justice. But then, person(s)
continuously, defying orders and keep absconding is not entitled
to...."
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32
[20] In Sushila Aggarwal v. State (NCT of Delhi), [(2020) 5 SCC
1] the Hon'ble Supreme Court observed that:
"34. It was argued that undoubtedly violation of a condition
imposed in an order passed under Section 438 can lead to a
direction of arrest under Section 439(2). However, the scope of
Section 439(2) is not limited to only cancellation of bail. The
counsel stated that this proposition of law was considered by this
Court in Pradeep Ram v. State of Jharkhand, 2016 SCC Online Jhar
3254. In this case, this Court while considering an earlier judgment
in Mithabhai Pashabhai Patel v. State of Gujarat, (2009) 6 SCC 332
held that by virtue of Sections 437(5) and 439(2), a direction to
take a person into custody could be passed despite his being
released on bail, by a previous order. The Court held that under
Sections 437(5) and 439(2) a person could be directed to be taken
into custody without necessarily cancelling his earlier bail. The
difference between cancellation of bail and a direction to take a
person into custody under Section 439(2) was recognised. It was
also held in this case that if a graver offence is added to the FIR or
to the case after the person has been granted bail, a direction
under Section 439(2) or 437(5) is required before such person can
be arrested again for the new offences added to the case.
Therefore, this Court recognised the need for the court's
supervision after the bail had been granted.
............................................................................................................
………………………………………………………………………………………………
68. The imposition of conditions under Section 438(2) with
reference to Section 437(3), in the opinion of this Court, is enough
safeguard for the authorities — including the police and other
investigating agencies, who have to investigate into crimes and the
possible complicity of the applicants who seek such relief. Taking
each concern i.e. the addition of more serious offences; presence of
a large number of individuals or complainants; possibility of non-
cooperation — non-cooperation in the investigation or the
requirement of the accused’s statement to aid the recovery of
articles and incriminating articles in the course of statements made
during investigations — it is noticeable, significantly, that each of
these is contemplated as a condition and is invariably included in
every order granting anticipatory bail. In the event of violation or
alleged violation of these, the authority concerned is not remediless
: recourse can be had to Section 438(2) read with Section 437(3).
Any violation of these terms would attract a direction to arrest him.
This power or direction to arrest is found in Section 437(5).
However, that provision has no textual application to regular bail
granted by the Court of Session or High Courts under Section 439
or directions not to arrest i.e. order of anticipatory bail under
Section 438. Secondly, Section 439(2) which is cast in wide terms,
adequately covers situations when an accused does not cooperate
during the investigation or threatens to, or intimidates witness[es]
or tries to tamper with other evidence.
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33
………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………..
77.4. At the same time, however, at any time during the
investigation were any occasion to arise calling for intervention of
the court for infraction of any of the conditions imposed under
Section 437(3) read with Section 438(2) or the violation of any
other condition imposed in the given facts of a case, recourse can
always be had under Section 439(2).
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
85.8. It is open to the police or the investigating agency to move
the court concerned, which granted anticipatory bail, in the first
instance, for a direction under Section 439(2) to arrest the accused,
in the event of violation of any term, such as absconding, non-
cooperating during investigation, evasion, intimidation or
inducement to witnesses with a view to influence outcome of the
investigation or trial, etc. The court, in this context, is the court
which grants anticipatory bail, in the first instance, according to
prevailing authorities.”
[21] In Himanshu Sharma v. State of M.P., [(2024) 4 SCC 222]
the Hon’ble Supreme Court observed that:
“11. Law is well settled by a catena of judgments rendered by this
Court that the considerations for grant of bail and cancellation
thereof are entirely different. Bail granted to an accused can only
be cancelled if the Court is satisfied that after being released on
bail:
(a) the accused has misused the liberty granted to him;
(b) flouted the conditions of bail order;
(c) that the bail was granted in ignorance of statutory
provisions restricting the powers of the Court to grant
bail;
(d) or that the bail was procured by misrepresentation or
fraud.”
[22] In Puran v. Rambilas, [(2001) 6 SCC 338] the Hon’ble
Supreme Court observed that:
“10. Mr Lalit next submitted that once bail has been granted it
should not be cancelled unless there is evidence that the conditions
of bail are being infringed. In support of this submission he relies
upon the authority in the case of Dolat Ram v. State of Haryana,
(1995) 1 SCC 349. In this case it has been held that rejection of bail
in a non-bailable case at the initial stage and the cancellation of bail
already granted have to be considered and dealt with on differentPage
34
basis. It has been held that very cogent and overwhelming
circumstances are necessary for an order directing the cancellation
of the bail already granted. It has been held that generally speaking
the grounds for cancellation of bail broadly are interference or
attempt to interfere with the due course of administration of justice
or evasion or attempt to evade the due course of justice or abuse of
the concession granted to the accused in any manner. It is,
however, to be noted that this Court has clarified that these
instances are merely illustrative and not exhaustive. One such
ground for cancellation of bail would be where ignoring material
and evidence on record a perverse order granting bail is passed in a
heinous crime of this nature and that too without giving any
reasons. Such an order would be against principles of law. Interest
of justice would also require that such a perverse order be set aside
and bail be cancelled. It must be remembered that such offences
are on the rise and have a very serious impact on the society.
Therefore, an arbitrary and wrong exercise of discretion by the trial
court has to be corrected.”
[23] In 2023 Livelaw (SC) 731 : 2023 INSC 779 [Abhishekvs
State of Madhya Pradesh], the Hon’ble Supreme Court observed that:
“17. In Bhajan Lal (Supra), this Court had set out, by way of
illustration, the broad categories of cases in which the inherent
power under section 482 Cr.P.C. could be exercised. Para 102 of
the decision reads as follows:
“102. In the backdrop of the interpretation of the various
relevant provisions of the Code under Chapter XIV and of the
principles of law enunciated by this Court in a series of
decisions relating to the exercise of the extraordinary power
under Article 226 or the inherent powers under Section 482 of
the Code which we have extracted and reproduced above, we
give the following categories of cases by way of illustration
wherein such power could be exercised either to prevent
abuse of the process of any court or otherwise to secure the
ends of justice, though it may not be possible to lay down any
precise, clearly defined and sufficiently channelized and
inflexible guidelines or rigid formulae and to give an
exhaustive list of myriad kinds of cases wherein such power
should be exercised.
(1) Where the allegations made in the first information
report or the complaint, even if they are taken at their
face value and accepted in their entirety do not prima
facie constitute any offence or make out a case
against the accused.
(2) Where the allegations in the first information
report and other materials, if any, accompanying the
FIR do not disclose a cognizable offence, justifying an
investigation by police officers under Section 156(1) ofPage
35
the Code except under an order of a Magistrate within
the purview of Section 155(2) of the Code.
(3) Where the uncontroverted allegations made in the
FIR or complaint and the evidence collected in support
of the same do not disclose the commission of any
offence and make out a case against the accused.
(4) Where the allegations in the FIR do not constitute
a cognizable offence but constitute only a non-
cognizable offence, no investigation is permitted by a
police officer without an order of a Magistrate as
contemplated under Section 155(2) of the Code.
(5) Where the allegations made in the FIR or
complaint are so absurd and inherently improbable on
the basis of which no prudent person can ever reach a
just conclusion that there is sufficient ground for
proceeding 9 against the accused.
(6) Where there is an express legal bar engrafted in
any of the provisions of the Code or the Act concerned
(under which a criminal proceeding is instituted) to the
institution and continuance of the proceedings and/or
where there is a specific provision in the Code or the
Act concerned, providing efficacious redress for the
grievance of the aggrieved party.
(7) Where a criminal proceeding is manifestly attended
with mala fides and/or where the proceeding is is
maliciously instituted with an ulterior motive for
wreaking vengeance on the accused and with a view
to spite him due to private and personal grudge.”
[24] In 2022 SCC Online Mani 449 : (2023) 1 GLT 187 in
Mayanglambam Prabha Devi vs. State of Manipur, the High Court of
Manipur observed as follows:
“28. In so far as the grant of refusal of the anticipatory bail, the
Hon’ble Apex Court in the case of Siddharam Satlingappa
Mhetre v. State of Maharashtra, (2011) 1 SCC 694 has laid
down the parameters as under:
“112.The following factors and parameters can be taken into
consideration while dealing with the anticipatory bail:
(i) The nature and gravity of the accusation and the
exact role of the accused must be properly
comprehended before arrest is made;
(ii) The antecedents of the applicant including the fact
as to whether the accused has previously
undergone imprisonment on conviction by a court in
respect of any cognizable offence;
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36
(iii) The possibility of the applicant to flee from justice;
(iv) The possibility of the accused’s likelihood to repeat
similar or other offences;
(v) Where the accusations have been made only with
the object of injuring or humiliating the applicant by
arresting him or her;
(vi) Impact of grant of anticipatory bail particularly in
cases of large magnitude affecting a very large
number of people;
(vii) The courts must evaluate the entire available
material against the accused very carefully. The
court must also clearly comprehend the exact role
of the accused in the case. The cases in which the
accused is implicated with the help of Sections 34
and 149 of the Penal Code, 1860 the court should
consider with even greater care and caution
because over implication in the cases is a matter of
common knowledge and concern;
(viii) While considering the prayer for grant of
anticipatory bail, a balance has to be struck
between two factors, namely, no prejudice should
be caused to the free, fair and full investigation and
there should be prevention of harassment,
humiliation and unjustified detention of the
accused;
(ix) The court to consider reasonable apprehension of
tampering of the witness or apprehension of threat
to the complainant;
(x) Frivolity in prosecution should always be considered
and it is only the element of genuineness that shall
have to be considered in the matter of grant of bail
and in the event of there being some doubt as to
the genuineness of the prosecution, in the normal
course of events, the accused is entitled to an order
of bail.
29. In Jai Prakash Singh vs State of Bihar, (2012) 4 SCC 379,
the Hon’ble Apex Court elucidated the principles for consider of
grant of anticipatory bail, which are as under:
“19. Parameters for grant of anticipatory bail in a serious
offence are required to be satisfied and further while
granting such relief, the court must record the reasons
therefor. Anticipatory bail can be granted only in
exceptional circumstances where the court is prima facie
of the view that the applicant has falsely been enroped in
the crime and would not misuse his liberty. (See D.K.
Ganesh BabuVs. P.T. Monokaran, (2007) 4 SCC 434,
State of Maharashtra v. Mohd. Sajid Husain Mohd. S.
Susain, (2008) 1 SCC 213, and Uniond of India v
PadamNarainAggarwal, (2008) 13 SCC 305).””
Page
37
[25] The factual narration made herein before reveal the
consistence disobedience of the accused/petitioner to comply with the
orders of the Ld. Sessions Judge, Thoubal as even knowing about the
protection given by the Ld. Sessions Judge, Thoubal is given till
06.12.2024, the accused/petitioner did not try to appear before the IO of
the case on the subsequent date i.e. after 03.12.2024. Such conduct of the
accused/petitioner in the light of the aforesaid circumstance leaves this
Court with no hesitation to hold that the accused/petitioner is not entitled
to seek the benefit of pre-arrest bail.
[26] As the guidelines relied by the Hon’ble Supreme Court made
in Gurbaksh Singh Sibbia case are totally against the petitioner to get
his relief as considering the nature of power given under Section 438 which
is of an extraordinary character and the same must be exercised sparingly
in exceptional cases, the present case as set out by the petitioner for
getting relief does not come under exceptional cases, the limitation
imposed in the preceding Section 437, limits the exercise of Section 438,
the petitioner failed to make out a special case for exercise of the power to
grant anticipatory bail, considering the serious nature of the case, the
discretion under Section 438 of the Code should not be exercised, the
investigating authority as well as the orders of Ld. Sessions Judge, Thoubal
did not commit malafide in their investigation as well as in the order.
[27] The present application for anticipatory bail is filed under
Section 482 of BNSS, 2023. The legal principles applicable apropos Section
82 therein, it was observed that an accused comes before the High Court,
Page
38
invoking the inherent power under Section 482 Cr.P.C. essentially on the
ground that the Ld. Sessions Judge, Thoubal failed to appreciate the
affidavit submitted by the counsel for the petitioner that the petitioner had
appeared before the I.O. of the case on 03.12.2024, the I.O. failed to
reflect the report that he appeared before the I.O. on 03.12.2024, no
summon/notice was served to the accused/petitioner by the police, the
similarly situated incumbents were already released by the Judicial
Magistrate First Class, Kakching, this Court considered the grounds taken
herein above by the accused/petitioner, but as per the available facts and
circumstances of the case and submissions made herein above by the
learned counsel for the petitioner, this Court is of the view that the grounds
taken herein above by the accused/petitioner are not acceptable.
In this regard, this Court is relying on the categories of cases
in which, the inherent power under Section 482 of Cr.P.C. couyld be
exercised by the High Court as set out in Bhajan Lal’s case made at Para
No. 102 and the same is reproduced herein below:
“17. In Bhajan Lal (supra), this Court had set out, by way of
illustration, the broad categories of cases in which the inherent
power under Section 482 Cr.P.C. could be exercised. Para 102 of
the decision reads as follows:
‘102. In the backdrop of the interpretation of the various
relevant provisions of the Code under Chapter XIV and of
the principles of law enunciated by this Court in a series of
decisions relating to the exercise of the extraordinary power
under Article 226 of the inherent powers under Section 482
of the Code which we have extracted and reproduced above,
we give the following categories of cases by way of
illustration wherein such power could be exercised either to
prevent abuse of the process of any court or otherwise to
secure the ends of justice, though it may not be possible to
lay down any precise, clearly defined and sufficiently
channelized and inflexible guidelines or rigid formulae and toPage
39
give an exhaustive list of myriad kinds of cases wherein such
power should be exercised.
(1) Where the allegations made in the first information
report or the complaint, even if they are taken at their
face value and accepted in their entirely do not prima
facie constitute any offence or make out a case against
the accused.
(2) Where the allegations in the first information report
and other materials, if any, accompanying the FIR do
not disclose a cognizable offence, justifying an
investigation by police officers under Section 156(1) of
the Code except under an order of a Magistrate within
the purview of Section 155(2) of the Code.
(3) Where the uncontroverted allegations made in the
FIR or complaint and the evidence collected in support
of the same do not disclose the commission of any
offence and make out a case against the accused.
(4) Where, the allegations in the FIR do not constitute a
cognizable offence but constitute only a non-cognizable
offence, no investigation is permitted by a police officer
without an order of a Magistrate as contemplated under
Section 155(2) of the Code.
(5) Where the allegations made in the FIR or complaint
are so absurd and inherently improbable on the basis of
which no prudent person can ever each a just
conclusion that there is sufficient ground for proceeding
against the accused.
(6) Where there is an express legal bar engrafted in any
of the provisions of the Code or the Act concerned
(under which a criminal proceeding is instituted) to the
institution and continuance of the proceedings and/or
where there is a specific provision in the Code or the Act
concerned, providing efficacious redress for the
grievance of the aggrieved party.
(7) Where a criminal proceeding is manifestly attended
with malafide and/or where the proceeding is
maliciously instituted with an ulterior for wreaking
vengeance on the accused and with a view to spite him
due to private and personal grudge.”
[28] On over all analysis of the materials produced by both sides
and reliance made by both parties on the cited Hon’ble Supreme Court’s
cases and discussion and observation in this regard made by this Court, this
Court is of the view that the present application for granting anticipatory
bail is liable to be dismissed.
Page
40
[29] Accordingly, this Court finds the accused/petitioner commits
violation of the condition imposed in the anticipatory bail orders passed by
the Ld. Sessions Judge, Thoubal. This Court is of the view that the above
extracted observation made in the Supreme Court Judgments are wholly
sufficient for this Court to come to the conclusion that the present
application filed by the accused/petitioner for anticipatory bail liable to be
dismissed.
[30] Accordingly, the present anticipatory bail application filed by
the accused/petitioner is rejected.
JUDGE
FR/NFR
Lucy/Bipin
Page
41
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