IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI
Subramonium Prasad, J.
Bhupender Singh @ Bhuttan - Appellant
Versus
State (NCT of Delhi) - Respondent
Bail Appln. 2991 of 2021
Decided On : 16-11-2021
Conspiracy to aid escape from lawful custody - IPC Sections 216, 225, 120B - The petitioner is charged with offenses under Sections 216, 225, and 120B of the Indian Penal Code, which relate to conspiracy and abetment of escape from lawful custody. The charges carry a maximum punishment of seven years imprisonment. The court considers the gravity of the conspiracy and its potential impact on public safety in deciding the bail application.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner is seeking regular bail in a case where he is accused of conspiring and abetting the escape of an under-trial gangster from lawful custody. The petitioner allegedly took the gangster on his scooty to a safe house after he escaped from the hospital. The petitioner's bail application was rejected by the Sessions Court, and the petitioner is now seeking bail from the High Court. The prosecution argues that the petitioner played an active role in the conspiracy, and his involvement is supported by CCTV footage and his own confession. The defense argues for bail on the grounds of parity with a co-accused who was granted bail, the petitioner's clean track record, and the fact that charges are about to be framed. The High Court dismisses the bail application, considering the gravity of the conspiracy and the potential impact on public safety and the criminal justice system. The court also notes the possibility of tampering with evidence and influencing witnesses. Bail is denied at this stage.
Finding of the Court:
The court analyzes the evidence presented by both the prosecution and the defense, including the CCTV footage and the petitioner's confession. The court also considers the principles governing the grant of bail, such as the nature of the offense, the severity of the punishment, the likelihood of tampering with evidence or influencing witnesses, and the genuineness of the prosecution. The court concludes that the gravity of the conspiracy and its potential impact on public safety outweigh the arguments for bail at this stage.
Ratio Decidendi: The court determines that no case for bail is made out at this stage due to the gravity of the conspiracy, the potential impact on public safety, and the possibility of tampering with evidence and influencing witnesses.
Result: The petition for bail is dismissed.
JUDGMENT
Subramonium Prasad, J. This petition under Section 439 CrPC is for grant of regular bail to the Petitioner in FIR No. 85/2021 registered at Police Station GTB Enclave for offences under Sections 186, 353, 332, 307, 224, 225, 482, 392, 397 and 120B IPC read with Sections 25 and 27 Arms Act. The Petitioner was arrested on 28.03.2021.
2. Briefly stated, the facts, as given in the FIR are that on the statement of ASI Braham Pal posted at Mandoli jail, the instant FIR was registered. It is stated that under-trial high risk prisoner Kuldeep @ Fajja, belonging to Gogi Gang, was taken to the OPD at GTB Hospital from Mandoli Jail. It is stated that after the check-up, Kuldeep @ Fajja was being taken back, and outside the building a group of 10-12 boys attacked the group of policemen. Two of the accused persons, who were minors, threw chilly powder in the eyes of the police. Two persons were injured badly in the cross-firing at the hospital and one of the injured passed away. The scene of crime was seized and the bullet shells, cartridges, samples of blood stains, earth from the site and a Scorpio car bearing number plate DL-4C-NB- 5751, were taken into police custody and were sent for forensic examination. The assailants succeeded in helping Kuldeep @ Fajja escape from the jail custody. It is stated that Kuldeep @ Fajja reached Jaipur Golden Hospital where the petitioner herein met him and he took him to the residence of one Yogender Dahiya on his scooty at Rohini.
3. The petitioner was arrested on 28.03.2021. It is stated that the scooty on which the petitioner and Kuldeep @ Fajja escaped was seized by the Police.
4. Chargesheet in the present FIR has been filed. The chargesheet sums up the entire incident where it states that a deep conspiracy was hatched between 15-20 persons to get Kuldeep @ Fajja escape from prison. The police team was dislodged by two persons throwing chili powder at them and creating confusion whereafter gun firing started from both sides. During the firing that took place at the hospital, two people got seriously injured and one of them died It states that after escaping from the Police at the Hospital, Kuldeep @ Fajja was taken from GTB Hospital. It is stated that Kuldeep @ Fajja was taken to a safe house at Sector 14 Rohini by the Petitioner herein for hiding. Kuldeep @ Fajja was encountered by the Police after a high- voltage gunfight that happened.
5. It states that the role of the Petitioner in the escape of Kuldeep @ Fajja was instrumental as he took the ill-famed gangster on his scooty/bike bearing registration number DL-11-SS-5507 from Jaipur Golden Hospital towards Sector 3 Rohini. It states that the incident has been captured by different CCTV cameras, where the scooty/bike can be seen with two persons riding it wearing helmets. It states that the Petitioner took Kuldeep Fajja to a hiding house belonging to another accused Yogender Dahiya, No. D-9 Tulsi Apartments Sector 14 Rohini for sheltering him. It states that the clothes worn by the Petitioner which had been seen on the CCTV footage were seized by the Police with the scooty.
6. The Chargesheet also states that a disclosure statement was taken from the Petitioner. In his disclosure statement, the petitioner herein stated that he received an international call on 24.03.2021 from Kuldeep @ Fajja stating that he will escape from Police custody and he asked the petitioner to make arrangements for his stay. The statement stipulates that the plot for this escape was hatched in January/February 2021 and he was communicating the plan of executing the escape with the other co-accused through frequent WhatsApp calls. It states that the Petitioner picked Kuldeep @ Fajja from Jaipur Golden Hospital, took him on his scooty and headed towards Village Naharpur, Sector 3 Rohini. This information revealed by the petitioner led the police to check CCTV footages which shows the Petitioner and deceased gangster Kuldeep @ Fajja, escaping on a scoot
The gravity of the conspiracy and its potential impact on public safety outweigh the arguments for bail at this stage.
The nature and gravity of the offence, the potential impact on public safety, and the likelihood of the accused fleeing from justice are key considerations in bail decisions.
Point of Law : Grant of Bail - Petitioner cannot be made to languish behind bars for a longer period of time, and that veracity of allegations levelled against him can be tested during trial.
The seriousness of the offences, the accused's active involvement, and the likelihood of the accused repeating the offence if released are crucial factors in determining bail applications.
The presumption of innocence at the pre-conviction stage and the need for a complete chain of evidence in cases involving circumstantial evidence are crucial legal principles established in the judgm....
Bail is the rule and jail is the exception, and Courts must exercise their jurisdiction to uphold the tenets of personal liberty, subject to rightful regulation of the same by validly enacted legisla....
The court emphasized the seriousness of the accusations, the continuing nature of the conspiracy, and the likelihood of the accused influencing witnesses and interfering with the investigation in rej....
Bail is the rule and jail is the exception, and Courts must exercise their jurisdiction to uphold the tenets of personal liberty, subject to rightful regulation of the same by validly enacted legisla....
The main legal point established in the judgment is the intricate balance between securing the personal liberty of an individual and ensuring that this liberty does not lead to an eventual disturbanc....
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