Bail can be granted based on absence of direct evidence and parity with co-accused who have been released, emphasizing presumption of innocence.

Headnote:(A) Indian Penal Code - Sections 147, 148, 149, 302, 153A, 505, 120B, 34 - Arms Act - Sections 27, 30 - Bail application - The petitioner, in custody since 20.03.2020, claimed to be falsely implicated in the FIR regarding riots causing grievous injury and subsequent death of an individual - Evidence against him includes witness statements and video footage of the incident, with no direct evidence like CCTV available - Co-accused have been granted bail, and the petitioner similarly deserves bail on grounds of parity and absence of direct evidence for the charge - The bail order does not comment on the merits of the case but emphasizes the presumption of innocence at the stage of bail. (Paras 1, 12, 15, 16)

(B) Principles governing bail - The court highlighted that the absence of direct evidence and the granting of bail to co-accused support the argument for bail; the fundamental principle that all accused are entitled to presumption of innocence - The judge exercised discretion favorably by directing bail based on merits and fairness, while ensuring the petitioner complies with certain conditions. (Paras 10, 15)

JUDGMENT (Oral)

The hearing has been conducted through video conferencing.

1. Petitioner is seeking bail in FIR No. 119/2020, registered at police station Khajuri Khas, Delhi for the offences under Sections 147 /148/149/302/153A/505/120B/34 IPC and Sections 27 /30 ARMS ACT on the ground that he is innocent and has been falsely implicated in this case. He is in custody since 20.03.2020.

2. Notice issued.

3. Mr. Amit Mahajan, learned Special Public Prosecutor for respondent/State accepts notice.

4. With the consent of both the sides, the present petition has been taken up for final hearing and disposal.

5. The crux of the prosecution case is that FIR in question has been registered at the instance of one Pappu, who has alleged that on 25.02.2020 at about 02:15 PM, when his brother, Babu, who is an auto driver by profession, reached Khajuri Khas, he was attacked by the mob and received grievous injuries. Thereafter, on 27.02.2020 he succumbed to the injuries sustained during treatment in the hospital.

6. As per the charge sheet, during investigation in the present case, through some source in social media, one video of riots dated 25.02.2020 came on record and the said was shown to the complainant of this FIR. In the said video a person could be seen lying on the ground, who was identified as deceased Babu by the complainant. The place of rioting was identified as Pusta Road, 40-50 meters away from Khajuri Khas, Delhi. In the course of further investigation, it was revealed that one official witness Constable Amit had also sustained injuries in the said incident.

7. Thereafter, statements under Section 161 Cr.P.C. of official witnesses who were on duty in the said area on the day of riots, were recorded and after further investigation, on 21.03.2020 two days PC remand of Shahbudin (petitioner herein), Bharat Bhushan and Tayyab was obtained. The disclosure statement of petitioner was recorded on the same day, wherein petitioner admitted that on 25.02.2020 he was involved in riots with the mob.

8. The role attributed to the petitioner is that he in conspiracy with the other members of the mob, committed riots on the alleged day and pelted stones on the other persons of the community. He has been duly identified by the police officials who were on duty on that day. Besides, there are statement of public eyewitnesses Dalip Sharma and Deepak Kumar against him.

9. At the hearing, learned counsel for petitioner submitted that petitioner is innocent and he has been falsely implicated in this case. Further submitted that statement of official witness Head Constable Anil, who is allegedly the eye witness of the incident, was recorded on 12.03.2020 and no PCR call of the incident was made by the said witness. Also submitted that statement of public witness Dalip was recorded on 15.04.2020 and that of Deepak was recorded on 23.04.2021 and no PCR call was made by them too regarding the alleged incident.

10. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the case of petitioner is at par with other accused who have been granted bail in this case. Learned counsel also submits that there is no electronic evidence i.e. CCTV footage etc. in this case, which further strengthens the case of petitioner for bail. Lastly, he submitted, that this petition deserves to be allowed and petitioner be released on bail.

11. On the other hand, learned Additional Public Prosecutor for State has opposed the present petition and submits that the role attributed to the petitioner is different from the other accused and the evidence available on record is highly reliable and, therefore, petitioner does not deserve to be released on bail.

12. A perusal of material placed on record reveals that the statement under Section 161 Cr.P.C. of public witness, namely, Dilip, who had allegedly identified petitioner, was recorded on 15.04.2020 i.e. after a lapse of around 40 days and the said witness had not made a PCR call or complaint on the day of the

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