IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
Swarana Kanta Sharma, J.
Rajeev Dhingra - Petitioner
Versus
State NCT of Delhi - Respondent
BAIL APPLN. 1275 of 2025 & CRL.M.(BAIL) 719 of 2025
Decided On : 08-04-2025
(A) Indian Penal Code, 1860 - Sections 420, 406, and 34 - Anticipatory bail application - Applicant apprehends arrest in FIR for cheating and criminal breach of trust - Allegations of fraudulent sale of property without ownership - Court grants anticipatory bail, noting the case's civil nature and the applicant's willingness to cooperate with the investigation. (Paras 1, 3, 13)
(B) Bail - Grant of anticipatory bail is discretionary, even when Non-Bailable Warrants are issued, depending on the case's facts and circumstances. (Paras 12, 13)
Facts of the case:
The applicant, along with co-accused, allegedly defrauded the complainant by selling property they did not own, leading to a substantial financial loss. The complainant paid ₹1,96,00,000/- based on misrepresentations. (Paras 3, 8)
Findings of Court:
The police inquiry found the Agreement to Sell dubious, and the dispute appears to be civil in nature. The applicant is willing to cooperate with the investigation. (Paras 9, 10, 13)
Issues: Whether the applicant is entitled to anticipatory bail despite the issuance of Non-Bailable Warrants and the nature of the allegations. (Paras 12, 13)
Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized that anticipatory bail can be granted even when Non-Bailable Warrants are issued, based on the specifics of the case and the applicant's cooperation. (Paras 12, 13)
Result: Anticipatory bail granted.
JUDGMENT :
SWARANA KANTA SHARMA, J.
1. The applicant, by way of this application, has sought anticipatory bail as he apprehends his arrest in case arising out of FIR No. 114/2025, registered at Police Station Greater Kailash, Delhi, for offences punishable under Sections 420/406/34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 [hereafter ‘IPC’].
2. Issue notice. Mr. Naresh Kumar Chahar, learned APP accepts notice on behalf of the State.
3. Briefly stated, the facts of the case are that the present FIR was registered on the complaint of Mr. Nikhil Bajaj against the accused persons, namely Mr. Rajeev Dhingra (the applicant herein), Mrs. Ruchika Dhingra, and Mr. Raj Kumar Dhingra. In the complaint, the complainant stated that in the month of May 2023, the applicant had approached him, expressing his desire to sell a property in Greater Kailash-I, being the Ground Floor with a Front Lawn and Rear Courtyard along with 32.5% undivided, indivisible, and impartible ownership rights in land measuring 300 sq. yards, bearing No. S-28, Greater Kailash Part I, New Delhi-110048. Upon the assurances and undertakings given by the applicant that he had the requisite title and right to transfer the said property, the complainant, solely relying on the representations made by the applicant, had agreed to purchase the said property for a total sale consideration of Rs.2,30,00,000/-, including all rights, title and interest, easements, privileges, and appurtenances. It is alleged that the applicant had also attended various meetings to assure the complainant and his family of their bona fides and to build a familial relationship so that the complainant had no reason to doubt their intention. Thereafter, an Agreement to Sell dated 03.06.2023 was executed between the parties, encapsulating the understanding between them. It is stated that at the time of execution of the Agreement to Sell, an amount of Rs.1,96,00,000/- was paid by the complainant towards partial payment of the sale consideration. It is further stated that since a substantial amount of money had been paid, the original title deeds of the said property were also handed over to the complainant, and it was agreed that the balance of the sale consideration would be paid by the complainant to the accused persons, including the applicant herein, at the time of registration of the said property. Furthermore, as alleged, at the time of execution of the Agreement itself, the accused persons had unequivocally agreed to finish the work as per the specifications discussed between them within three months. However, despite the lapse of more than a year since the execution of the Agreement, the accused persons had failed to honour their commitments under the aforesaid Agreement. The complainant had allegedly sent multiple reminders to the accused persons to perform their obligations; however, they had kept evading and misrepresenting to the complainant that a date for registration would soon be given. The complainant had also approached Mrs. Ruchika seeking an update; however, she also had fallaciously misled the complainant by stating that the registration would soon be completed. However, no response had been received by the complainant. It is further alleged that the complainant had later learnt that the accused persons had already sold the said property to a third party in 2022, even prior to the execution of the Agreement to Sell with the complainant. Thus, at the time of execution of the Agreement to Sell in June 2023, the accused persons were fully aware that they were defrauding and misrepresenting to the complainant and his family regarding the sale of the said property, without even having title at that time. Furthermore, as part of the entire conspiracy, Mrs. Ruchika Dhingra specifically, during one of the meetings, had deceitfully shown the complainant documents pertaining to previous owners and also handed over the original documents of the said property to the complainant with the sole intention to dece
Anticipatory bail can be granted even when Non-Bailable Warrants are issued, depending on the specifics of the case and the applicant's willingness to cooperate with the investigation.
The court emphasized the seriousness of the allegations, the importance of cooperation with the investigation, and the relevance of pending criminal cases in deciding on anticipatory bail application....
The power of anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the Cr.P.C. is to be exercised in exceptional cases, and custodial interrogation may be necessary for effective investigation in certain cases.
The main legal point established in the judgment is that the grant of anticipatory bail is not warranted when the accused persons are alleged to have cheated multiple parties and have a modus operand....
The court considered the pending civil suit and the petitioner's cooperation with the investigation in granting anticipatory bail.
Anticipatory bail granted when pre-trial incarceration is not justified, emphasizing that such incarceration should not replicate post-conviction sentencing.
The main legal point established in the judgment is that allegations, even if true, may constitute a civil liability rather than a criminal offense, and the pendency of a civil suit for specific perf....
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