Bail cannot be denied solely on the risk of flight; individual circumstances must be considered to uphold constitutional rights to personal liberty.

JUDGMENT

Anoop Kumar Mendiratta, J. (ORAL)

Crl. M.A. No.4032/2022 in BAIL APPLN. 1960/2020

1. This is an application under Section 445 read with Section 482 Cr.P.C. for modification of order dated 15.12.2021 in Criminal Bail Application No.1960/2020 and for direction to release the applicant on furnishing personal bond.

2. Issue notice. Learned Senior Standing Counsel for the respondent accepts notice.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the applicant/petitioner is a woman and a foreign national, who was directed to be released on bail on furnishing personal bond in the sum of Rs. 1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh Only) with 02 (two) solvent sureties in the like amount vide order dated 20.04.2021. The said order was further modified vide order dated 14.09.2021 for releasing the applicant on personal bond for a sum of Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh Only) with 02 (two) sureties in the sum of Rs.50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Thousand Only) each, since the petitioner was unable to furnish the surety bonds.

Further, since the petitioner could not arrange even the surety bonds at reduced amount and continued to remain in custody, the order was further modified vide order dated 15.12.2021, directing the petitioner to be released on her furnishing personal bond in the sum of Rs. 50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Thousand Only) with one surety in the like amount to the satisfaction of learned trial court.

4. It is submitted by learned counsel for the petitioner that the case is at the initial stage of prosecution and the petitioner is in custody since about 02 (two) years and 08 (eight) months. Further, the petitioner is unable to discharge her obligation of furnishing even reduced surety bond being a foreign national and has not been able to avail the benefit of bail despite repeated modifications by this Court.

5. The application has been opposed by learned Senior Standing Counsel for the respondent. It is submitted that the possibility of petitioner fleeing the course of justice cannot be ruled out, in case she is released on furnishing of cash in lieu of surety. Leaned Senior Standing Counsel for the respondent has further submitted that in order dated 14.09.2021, the prayer for releasing the petitioner on personal bond was declined.

6. The petitioner is facing trial for possession of controlled substance arising out of SC No. 411 of 2019 in FIR No.VIII/27/DZU/2019 under Section 9A/25A of the Narcotic Drugs And Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, registered at P.S.: Narcotics Control Bureau (DZU), New Delhi.

I am of the considered opinion that vide order dated 14.09.2021, only prayer qua releasing the petitioner on personal bond was declined but the petitioner was allowed to furnish two sureties in the sum of Rs.50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Thousand Only) each. The question of releasing the petitioner on deposit of cash in lieu of personal bond/surety bond was not considered, at that stage.

7. It has been submitted on behalf of the petitioner that applicant has contacted Embassy of Zimbabwe multiple times but has not been able to obtain surety and she does not know anyone in this country, who can discharge the obligation of surety.

It may be observed that it would be a negation of the principle of rule of law and violative of constitutional mandate and principles of human rights in case benefit of Section 445 Cr.P.C. is denied to a foreign national merely on the ground that a foreign national is likely to escape, if released on bail. This would lead to incarceration of accused for an unlimited period till conclusion of trial even despite being granted the discretion of bail by the courts. A mere apprehension expressed by the prosecution that the accused may flee the course of justice, cannot be the sole determinative factor for denying benefit of Section 445 Cr.P.C. without consideration of other circumstances and balancing factors in this regard. This apprehension may still theoretically persist even in a case where surety bond is f