IN THE HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR
GOUTAM BHADURI, J.
XYZ and Another – Petitioners
Versus
Hemant Kumar Deshmukh S/o Daman Singh Deshmukh – Respondent
CRMP No. 576 of 2022
Decided On : 18-11-2022
Indian Penal Code, 1860 - Section 498A, 354 read with Section 34 - Dowry Prohibition Act. - Section 4 – Offence of Harassment of women – Act done by several persons – Common intention - Custody battle in between the husband & wife is pending, wherein the family Court by its order dated given visiting right to respondent/father to allow him to meet during the birthday of child - It is further stated that on the birthday the child fell sick, as such he was forced to admit to the hospital - At such point of time respondent No. 1 reached to hospital and tried to outrage modesty of the wife which was recorded in CCTV camera, which was seized by police, for which FIR was lodged - Consequently, respondent has flouted the condition imposed which mandate that the applicant shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement threat or promise to any person acquainted with facts of the case so as to dissuade him/her from disclosing such facts to Court or to any police officer; or applicant shall not act in any manner which will be prejudicial to fair and expeditious trial - He therefore submits that bail granted to him may be cancelled - Whether any supervening circumstances have rendered it no longer conducive to a fair trial to allow the accused to retain his freedom by enjoying the concession of bail during trial – Held, in a custody battle of child, family Court by its order dated has ordered that husband can meet son and visitation right was given and on the birthday he was allowed to go to home of the petitioner - While such visitation right was to be executed the incident happened as it is stated that on date of birthday when the child became sick he was admitted to the hospital - According to petitioner when respondent went there and misbehaved for which FIR has been lodged by wife which bears No. - If the facts are evaluated in backdrop of relation of parties, it appears that for a different offence charge-sheet was filed and since there would be a different yardstick for cancellation of bail and no supervening circumstances have been made out which would warrant for cancellation of bail as has been held by Supreme Court in the matter of X vs. State of Telangana and Another, (2018) 16 SCC 511, prima-facie nothing exists in case which would show that respondent No. 1 has done any act to make any inducement to any witness or has acted in a manner which would be prejudicial to a fair trial - Petition fails and is hereby dismissed.
ORDER :
1. The present petition is for cancellation of the bail granted to respondent No. 1.
2. The brief facts of this case are that the application has been filed by the complainant, who happens to be the wife of the respondent No. 1 and the matrimonial disputes and the battle for custody of the child are going on. This Court by order dated 09.03.2017 granted first bail to respondent No. 1 in M. Cr. C.A No. 1256 of 2016 under Section 498A, 354 read with Section 34 of IPC and Section 4 of Dowry Prohibition Act. Subsequently, Section 377 IPC was added and again on 26.07.2017 in M. Cr. C.A. No. 568/2017 anticipatory bail was granted to respondent No. 1 for which the trial is pending. The instant petition has been filed by the wife for cancellation of bail on the ground that the bail condition imposed by the bail order has been flouted.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioners would submit that the custody battle in between the husband & wife is pending, wherein the family Court by its order dated 07.10.2021 given the visiting right to the respondent/father to allow him to meet during the birthday of the child. It is further stated that on the birthday the child fell sick, as such he was forced to admit to the hospital. At such point of time the respondent No. 1 reached to the hospital and tried to outrage the modesty of the wife which was recorded in the CCTV camera, which was seized by the police, for which the FIR was lodged. Consequently, the respondent has flouted the condition imposed which mandate that the applicant shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him/her from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police officer; or the applicant shall not act in any manner which will be prejudicial to fair and expeditious trial. He therefore submits that the bail granted to him may be cancelled. He placed his reliance on the judgment of the Supreme Court in the matter of Vipan Kumar Dhir vs. State of Punjab and Another, CRA Nos. 1161-1162 of 2021, decided on 04.10.2021.
4. Per contra, learned counsel for the respondent No. 1 would submit that the reply would reflect that the conditions of the bail has not been flouted. He refers to the documents which is of the government hospital to show that it bears an endorsement that she herself has left the hospital of her own will and further refers to a letter which was filed in another proceeding to show that the false evidence was given by the wife. He further submits that the alleged incident though is of 11.10.2021 but after delay of six days, the second FIR was lodged. Therefore, only to harass the respondent/husband the FIR has been lodged. State has also filed the reply and it is stated that State agencies in discharge of their statutory duties have filed the final report and it is stated that dispute in between the parties is of matrimonial nature.
5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the documents.
6. The Supreme Court in the matter of Dolat Ram and Others vs. State of Haryana, (1995) 1 SCC 349, has observed that:
CBI vs. Subramani Gopalakrishnan
Dolat Ram and Others vs. State of Haryana
Bail cannot be cancelled solely for failing to comply with mediation terms; substantial evidence is required for cancellation.
The main legal point established is that the court will consider supervening circumstances or conduct of the accused post bail to justify cancellation, and will require evidence of violation of bail ....
The main legal point established in the judgment is the requirement for supervening circumstances and overwhelming reasons for the cancellation of bail, as outlined in Gurbaksh Singh Sibbia v. State ....
The court emphasized that the power to cancel bail demands overwhelming proof of changed circumstances or misuse of bail, maintaining that courts must be slow to intervene in bail decisions.
Bail once granted should not be cancelled without cogent reasons, and the court must consider supervening circumstances carefully.
Bail may be canceled when an accused violates conditions, especially if such violations threaten the integrity of a fair trial, as established by precedents.
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