SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img

2023 Supreme(Cal) 1308

IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA
BIBEK CHAUDHURI, J.
Shekhawati Enterprises – Petitioner
Versus
The State of West Bengal and Others – Respondents
CRM No. 5448 of 2021
Decided On : 14-03-2023

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Petitioners: Ayan Bhattachrya, Aditya Ratan Tiwari, Suman Majumder.
For the Respondents: Sandipan Ganguly, Dipanjan Dutta, Ayan Poddar, Poulami Bhowmick, Saswata Gopal Mukherji, Sudip Ghosh, Apurba Kumar Dutta, B. Banerjee.

IMPORTANT POINT
The main legal point established in the judgment is that consistent violation of court directions and non-compliance with previous court orders can warrant the cancellation of bail. Additionally, the court emphasized the importance of providing adequate reasoning for granting bail.

Headnote:

Cancellation of Bail - Criminal Procedure - Code of Criminal Procedure - Section 439(2)

Fact of the Case:

The petitioner filed a complaint against the private opposite parties for nonpayment and perceived misappropriation of money. The private opposite parties were granted bail, but they failed to comply with the conditions set by the court. The petitioner sought cancellation of the bail granted to the private opposite parties.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the private opposite parties consistently violated the court's directions and failed to comply with the conditions of their bail. The court also noted that the trial court failed to provide adequate reasoning for granting bail to the opposite parties, despite their non-compliance with previous court orders.

Issues: The main issue was whether the bail granted to the private opposite parties should be cancelled due to their non-compliance with court orders and the lack of adequate reasoning provided by the trial court for granting bail.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the private opposite parties' consistent violation of court directions and non-compliance with previous court orders warranted the cancellation of their bail. The court also emphasized the importance of providing adequate reasoning for granting bail.

Final Decision: The court cancelled the bail granted to the private opposite parties and directed the trial court to recall the order and decide it according to the guidelines provided.

JUDGMENT :

BIBEK CHAUDHURI, J.

1. This is an application for cancellation of bail under Section 439(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (hereinafter referred to as Cr.P.C.) granted in favour of private opposite parties No. 2-4 by the learned Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate-2, Calcutta in Bowbazar Police Station Case No. 191 of 2018 dated 25th June, 2018.

2. The petitioner filed a complaint before the court of the learned Magistrate seeking for a direction under Section 156(3) of the Cr.P.C. for investigation under chapter (XII) of the Code against the opposite parties as well as other accused persons. The private opposite parties are office bearers of M/s Amrit Hatcheries Pvt. Ltd. a company incorporated under the Companies Act. The petitioner being the sole proprietor of Shekhawati Enterprises used to supply maize to M/s Amrit Hacharies Pvt. Ltd. However, the private opposite parties being the office bearers of the accused No. 1 company did not pay the petitioner its dues amounting to Rs. 14,49,18,486/-. Nonpayment and perceived misappropriation of money led the complainant to lodge a complaint before the learned ACMM-2, Calcutta under Section 156(3) of the Cr.P.C. On the basis of the said complaint Bowbazar P.S. Case No. 191 of 2018 dated 25th June, 2018 under Sections 120B/420/506(II) of the Indian Penal Code was registered. On 17th May, 2018, the petitioner filed another complaint under Section 156(3) of the Code before the Learned Judicial Magistrate at Alipore, South 24 Pgs against the above named opposite parties and their company more or less on the same allegation for nonpayment of a sum of Rs. 2,52,25,138/-. On the basis of the said complaint police registered Ballygunge P.S. Case No. 75 dated 20th May, 2018 under Sections 120B/420/406/506 of the IPC. In connections with Ballygunge P.S. Case No. 75 of 2018 the private opposite parties filed an application for anticipatory bail which was registered as CRM No. 3807 of 2018 before this Court and by an order dated 19th June, 2018 the prayer for anticipatory bail of the opposite parties were allowed. The opposite parties also filed another petition for anticipatory bail in connection with Bowbazar P.S. Case No. 191 of 2018 which was registered as CRM No. 4821 of 2018. Upon certain conditions, an interim order was passed in favour of the opposite parties directing the police authority not to arrest them on condition that they would meet the Investigating Officer once in every week till the disposal of the application for anticipatory bail. The private opposite parties however did not comply with the said condition and failed to meet the I.O as directed by this court. On 11th October, 2018 the opposite parties filed supplementary affidavit explaining the circumstances as to why they were unable to attend the Investigating Officer and also giving assurance that they would deposit some amount due to the petitioner. As the opposite parties failed to comply with the directions passed by this Court, CRM 4821 and 2018 was rejected vide order dated 4th December, 2018. The opposite parties challenged the said order of rejection of the prayer for anticipatory bail by filing a special leave petition before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in SLP (Criminal) No. 10815 of 2018. Vide order dated 15th January, 2019 the Hon’ble Supreme Court dismissed the said special leave petition.

3. Under such circumstances, the petitioner herein filed an application which was registered as CRM 1080 of 2019 of 22nd January, 2019 praying for cancellation of pre-arrest bail of the private opposite parties passed by this Court in CRM No. 3807 of 2018. In course of hearing of CRM 1080 of 2019 this court by an order dated 29th March, 2019 directed the private opposite parties to surrender and seek regular bail within seven days. On 5th April, 2019 the opposite parties surrendered before the jurisdictional magistrate with a prayer for bail. Such prayer for regular bail was allowed by the learned Addi

          Click Here to Read the rest of this document
          1
          2
          3
          4
          5
          6
          7
          8
          9
          10
          11
          SupremeToday Portrait Ad
          supreme today icon
          logo-black

          An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

          Please visit our Training & Support
          Center or Contact Us for assistance

          qr

          Scan Me!

          India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

          For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

          whatsapp-icon Back to top