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IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI
Subramonium Prasad, J.
Jai Kumar Goel - Appellant
Versus
State of NCT of Delhi - Respondent
Bail Appln. 1702 of 2019
Decided On : 16-11-2021




Ambiguity in a settlement agreement does not justify the cancellation of anticipatory bail when neither party has clearly breached its terms.

Headnote:(A) Indian Penal Code, 1860 - Sections 419, 420, 468, 471, read with Section 34 - Anticipatory bail - Recall application moved due to alleged violation of settlement agreement by Petitioner - Court clarifies that terms of settlement were ambiguous and conditions not met by either party do not justify cancellation of bail. (Paras 17, 22, 24)

Facts of the case:
The FIR was lodged by Respondent No.2 against Petitioner alleging forgery to secure a loan against jointly owned property, with prior similar allegations made by Respondent No.2. A settlement agreement was reached wherein Petitioner was to transfer property, which he claims to have fulfilled. (Paras 2, 15)

Findings of Court:
No grounds established for the cancellation of bail; the terms of the settlement do not emphasize liability for stamp duty on Petitioner. (Paras 22, 24)

Issues: Interpretation of settlement obligations regarding property transfer and the legal viability of canceling anticipatory bail based on alleged non-compliance. (Paras 17, 24)

Ratio Decidendi: Bail cancellation requires clear evidence of new circumstances justifying revoking freedom secured previously; the terms of the settlement were not breached in a manner warranting bail cancellation. (Paras 18, 22)

Result: Application dismissed.

Table of Content
1. factual background of the case (Para 2)
2. arguments made in the proceedings (Para 3 , 4 , 6 , 10)
3. details regarding complaints and counterarguments (Para 7 , 8 , 9)
4. court's reasoning concerning bail conditions (Para 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17)
5. legal standards for bail cancellation (Para 18 , 20 , 22)
6. final court decision on bail application (Para 24 , 35)
7. inquiry concerning alleged document forgery (Para 30 , 31 , 32 , 33)

JUDGMENT

Subramonium Prasad, J.

CRL.M.A. 17068/2020

1. This application under Section 482 Cr.P.C. has been filed by Respondent No.2/Complainant seeking recall of the Order dated 27.11.2019 passed by this Court in BAIL APPLN.1702/2019 granting anticipatory bail to the Petitioner in FIR No. 474/2017 dated 16.09.2017 registered at Police Station Vivek Vihar for offences under Sections 419 /420/468/471 read with Section 34 of the INDIAN PENAL CODE , 1860.

2. Facts, in brief, leading to the present application are stated as under:

a) The instant FIR was registered on the complaint of Respondent No.2, who is the real younger brother of the Petitioner herein. It is stated that the Complainant and his wife, along with the Petitioner and his wife, purchased a residential property bearing No. D-64, Kaushambi, Ghaziabad, UP measuring 437.69 sq. mtrs. (hereinafter, 'the property in question'). It is stated that the original title documents, i.e. the registry documents, were kept by the Petitioner and his wife in their custody. It is stated that the Complainant came to know that the Petitioner herein had mortgaged the property in question by forging documents and had taken a loan worth Rs.1,86,01,534/- from Aditya Birla Finance Ltd. on 01.02.2013. It is further stated that there is a pending liability of Rs.1,77,67,349/- against the Petitioner that is to be repaid to Aditya Birla Finance Ltd. with regard to the abovementioned loan.

b) It is stated that when the Complainant confronted the Petitioner with regard to the loan, the Petitioner threatened the Complainant, and proceeded to abuse and humiliate him. It is alleged that a similar act was done by the Petitioner in the past wherein he borrowed a loan using forged signatures of the Complainant and his wife from Religare Finance Ltd. on 23.08.2010. It is stated that the Complainant had sent a notice to Religare Finance Ltd. on 11.07.2012 and then on 19.01.2013. It is further stated that documents of other properties of the Complainant and his wife are also in the custody of the Petitioner and his wife and the same can be misused by them.

c) On this complaint FIR No. 474/2017 was registered on 16.09.2017 at Police Station Vivek Vihar for offences under Sections 419 /420/468/471 read with Section 34 IPC.

d) With regard to the instant FIR, the Petitioner approached the Trial Court by filing an application for grant of anticipatory bail. The learned Additional Session Judge - 05, Karkardooma Court, vide Order dated 04.07.2019 dismissed the application of the Petitioner.

e) It is stated that thereafter the Petitioner approached this Court by filing an application for anticipatory bail, being BAIL APPLN. 1702/2019. It is stated that the wife of the Petitioner also approached this Court by filing an application under Section 482 Cr.P.C. being CRL.M.C. 4362/2019, seeking quashing of FIR No. 474/2017. It is stated that vide Order dated 02.09.2019, this Court referred CRL.M.C. 4362/2019 and BAIL APPLN.1702/2019 to the Delhi High Court Mediation and Conciliation Centre for the possible settlement of the dispute. It is stated that the parties amicably settled the dispute by entering into a settlement agreement dated 08.11.2019. Relying on the settlement agreement, this Court granted anticipatory bail to the Petitioner vide order dated 27.11.2019 and disposed of the bail application.

f) The relevant portion of the settlement agreement dated 08.11.2019 reads as follows:-

    "1. It is agreed by the Second Party that property bearing no.D-64, Kaushambi, District-

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