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2015 Supreme(Chh) 74

IN THE HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR
Sanjay K. Agrawal, J.
Rajesh Kumar Minocha - Appellant
Vs.
State of C.G. - Respondent
M.Cr.C. No. 503 of 2015
Decided On: 12.02.2015

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Appellant: Kanak Tiwari, Varun Sharma
For the Respondent:S.P. Kale, Deputy Advocate General

Headnote:

Indian Penal Code - Sections 406, 407, 420, 120-B, 379 & 411/34 – Criminal Procedure Code - Section 439 – First Information Report - not contain any evidence - Learned senior counsel appearing for applicant would submit that first bail application filed by applicant was dismissed by this court on merit thereafter, there is change in circumstances as charge-sheet has been filed after rejection of the first bail application - He would further submit that applicant is a transporter and he has been arrested for such an offence which has not committed as Truck bearing registration which was allegedly seized from his possession was owned by one Singh owner of Coal Depot - He would also submit that charge-sheet does not contain any evidence at all against the applicant as FIR clearly states that concerned driver of said Truck has committed the offence in collusion with owner of Coal Depot – Held, Bearing in mind the principles of law laid down by their Lordships of Supreme Court in the aforesaid cases, it is quite vivid that second bail application can be entertained upon establishment of change in circumstances like filing of charge-sheet, on completion of investigation, framing of charges and commencement of trial etc. If the facts of present case are examined in the light of aforesaid decisions, it would appear that when the first bail application was considered and decided by this court on merits investigation was in progress and thereafter only charge-sheet has been filed by the prosecution with a copy of same to the applicant/accused and upon filing of such charge-sheet, the applicant has approached before this court in second bail application with more material which is certainly a change in circumstances which entitles the accused/applicant to maintain second bail application and such second application for bail is quite maintainable in law, and as such, the objection of state counsel on this count deserves to be and is hereby rejected - Be that as it may, taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case and considering the fact that charge sheet has already been filed and the applicant is in custody since and no further custodial interrogation is required and also keeping in view the ratio of law laid down by their Lordships of Supreme Court in afore-stated cases Court consider it a fit case, in which, the applicant should be enlarged on regular bail - Accordingly second bail application filed under Section 439 of is allowed - It is directed that applicant shall be released on bail on furnishing a personal bond in the sum of with one surety in the like sum to the satisfaction of the concerned Court for his appearance as and when directed, subject to following conditions – Order accordingly

Judgement Key Points

Key Points: - (!) - (!) - (!) - (!) - (!) - (!) - (!) - (!) - (!) - (!) - (!) - [10000051040013] - [10000051040014]

What is the maintainability of a second bail application under Section 439 Cr.P.C. after filing of a charge-sheet when the first bail application was rejected on merit?

What are the circumstances that constitute a change in circumstances justifying a second bail application as per Supreme Court and High Court precedents?

What factors and conditions should a court consider in granting regular bail at the second bail stage where charge-sheet has been filed and custody is ongoing?


Order

Sanjay K. Agrawal, J.

1. The applicant has filed this second bail application under Section 439 of Cr.P.C. for grant of regular bail as he has been arrested in connection with crime No. 286/2014 registered at Police Station, Hirri, District Mungeli, for the offence punishable under Sections 406, 407, 420, 120-B, 379 & 411/34 of the IPC. Case of the prosecution, in brief, is that the present applicant in the capacity of Transporter hired 12 Trucks and took delivery of different qualities of Coal from SECL Rajgamar area for transporting the coal to M/s. SKS Ispat & Power Ltd. Siltara, Raipur, but only eight trucks reached the destination and remaining four trucks including truck bearing registration No. CG-04-JC-9841 were found at Gurukripa Coal Depot, Sargaon, with coal in question. It is further case of the applicant that said truck No. CG-04-JC-9841 with coal was seized on 04.12.2014 from the possession of the present applicant.

2. Shri Kanak Tiwari, learned senior counsel appearing for the applicant would submit that first bail application filed by the applicant was dismissed by this court on merit on 05.01.2015, thereafter, there is change in circumstances as charge-sheet has been filed on 20.01.2015 i.e. after rejection of the first bail application. He would further submit that applicant is a transporter and he has been arrested for such an offence which has not committed as the Truck bearing registration No. CG-04-JC-9841 which was allegedly seized from his possession was owned by one Surendra Singh i.e. owner of Gurukripa Coal Depot, Sargaon. He would also submit that charge-sheet does not contain any evidence at all against the applicant as FIR clearly states that concerned driver of said Truck has committed the offence in collusion with owner of Gurukripa Coal Depot, Sargaon. He also submits that P.N. Mishra, claiming to be General Manager of SKS Ispat Ltd. has stated in his statement recorded under Section 161 of Cr.P.C. that drivers of three Trucks and one Trailer have committed the aforesaid offences. He would next submit that after the said incident, SKS Ispat Ltd. has further issued two work orders in favour of present applicant for transportation of Coal from Banki and Rajgamar depot of SECL which clearly indicates that applicant has not committed any such offence and he has falsely been implicated in the case. He would lastly submit that since the charge-sheet has been filed and no custodial interrogation is required and question of tampering with the prosecution witnesses also does not arise, the applicant be released on bail as he is in jail from 05.12.2014. In support of his contention, reliance has been placed upon the judgment of Sanjay Chandra Vs. CBI, 2012 (1) SCC 40.

3. Shri SP Kale, learned Deputy Advocate General appearing for the State would submit that first bail application was considered and decided on merits on 05.01.2015 and therefore second bail application is not entertainable as there is no change in circumstances warranting consideration of second bail application. He would also submit that one Truck loaded with coal has been seized by the Investigating Officer from the possession of applicant which goes to show that applicant is actively involved in commission of said offence.

4. I have heard the counsel appearing for the parties and perused the order impugned and case diary with utmost circumspection.

5. The first question for consideration would be, whether the first bail application having been rejected on merit, second bail application filed would be maintainable after submission of charge sheet?

6. The question of maintainability of second bail application upon establishing the change of circumstances is no longer res integra and stand concluded by decision of their Lordships of Supreme Court in following cases:

6.1. In a decision reported in Babu Singh and Others Vs. State of Uttar Pradesh, AIR 1978 SC 527, the Supreme Court has held that updated consideration with further development i




























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