IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
Bhaskaran Pillai Sudheendra Kumar, J.
Mahesh K. - Appellant
Vs.
The Station House Officer and Ors. - Respondents
Crl. Rev. Pet. No. 1270 of 2015
Decided On : 11-11-2015
Bail - Violation of Conditions - Sections 143, 147, 148, 341, 449, 120(B), 202, 212, 153(A) and 302 read with Section 149 of IPC - Summary
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner was granted bail under proviso to Section 167(2) of the Code, with conditions to appear before the Investigating Officer and not to commit similar offences. The respondent filed for bail cancellation, alleging violation of conditions due to the petitioner's involvement in subsequent crimes.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the petitioner violated the bail conditions by not appearing before the Investigating Officer as directed and by being involved in multiple subsequent crimes.
Issues: Violation of bail conditions, Jurisdiction to cancel bail under Section 437(5) of the Code.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the Magistrate has the power to cancel bail under Section 437(5) of the Code, even if the bail was granted under proviso to Section 167(2). The petitioner's actions constituted a violation of bail conditions.
Final Decision: The petition was dismissed, upholding the cancellation of bail.
Bhaskaran Pillai Sudheendra Kumar, J.
1. The petitioner is the first accused in Crime No. 1048 of 2014 of Kasaragod Police Station. The petitioner was granted bail by the court below under proviso to Section 167(2) of the Code, imposing certain conditions. Thereafter, CMP No. 1789 of 2015 was filed by the first respondent before the court below praying for canceling the order of bail, stating that the petitioner violated the conditions of the order granting bail.
2. Heard both sides.
3. The offences alleged against the petitioner in Crime No. 1048 of 2015 of Kasaragod Police Station are offences under Sections 143, 147, 148, 341, 449, 120(B), 202, 212, 153(A) and 302 read with Section 149 of IPC.
4. It appears that at the time of granting bail, the court below directed the petitioner to appear before the Investigating Officer between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. on every Monday and Wednesday till the filing of the final report. It was further directed by the court below that the petitioner should not get involved in similar offences while on bail.
5. The respondent would contend that the petitioner never appeared before the Investigating Officer on any Monday, as directed by the court below, eventhough the petitioner used to appear on every Wednesday before the Investigating Officer. That apart, the petitioner was involved in four other crimes after the granting of bail by the court below. Thus, the petitioner violated the conditions of the order granting bail by the court below, and in the said circumstances, the respondent filed the above CMP for cancellation of the bail.
6. The learned counsel for the petitioner has argued that the direction of the court below was not to commit similar offences and not to commit any offence while on bail and since the offences alleged in the subsequent crimes are not similar offences, it cannot be said that there was violation of the condition of the order granting bail. It was further argued by the learned counsel for the revision petitioner, relying on the decision in James George @ Basaliyos Marthoma Yakob-Pradaman v. State of Kerala [2015(4) KHC 943], that the provisions under Section 437(5) of the Code is not meant for cancellation of bail and hence the court below had no power to cancel the bail invoking the provisions under Section 437(5) of the Code. The learned counsel for the petitioner has further argued that since the bail was granted by the court below under the proviso to Section 167(2) of the Code, the court below had no jurisdiction to cancel the bail invoking the provisions of Section 437(5) of the Code even if it is assumed that the Court is having the jurisdiction to cancel the bail granted under sub-section (1) or (2) of Section 437 of the Code, invoking the provisions of Section 437(5) of the Code.
7. The records would show that the petitioner was involved in the following crimes subsequent to the granting of bail:-
"1) Crime No. 538 of 2015 of Kasaragod Police Station registered under Section 151 Cr.P.C.
2) Crime No. 540 of 2015 of Kasaragod Police Station registered under Sections 353, 294(b) IPC & Section 3(1) of PDPP Act.
3) Crime No. 472 of 2015 of Kasaragod Police Station registered under Section 117(e) of KP Act.
4) Crime No. 248 of 2015 of Hosdurg Police Station registered under Sections 143, 147 and 353 read with Sec. 149 IPC and Section 3(1) of PDPP Act."
8. The offences involved in this case are offences under Sections 143, 147, 148, 341, 449, 202, 212, 120(B), 153(A) and 302 read with Section 149 of IPC. The offence under Section 302 IPC comes under Chapter 16 of the Code, which deals with offences affecting the human body. Section 353 IPC, which is one of the offences in Crime No. 540 of 2015 of Kasaragod Police Station, also falls under the same Chapter. The offence under Section 449 IPC falls under Chapter 17 of the Code which deals with offences against property. Therefore, there is no substance in the argument of the learned counsel for the revision petitioner that t
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