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2005 Supreme(Ori) 68

2005 (I) OLR — 251
A. K. PATNAIK AND M. M. DAS, JJ.
Sri Prasanta Kumar Das...Petitioner
Versus
Republic of India and another...Opp. Parties
CRMC No.8479 of 2001
Decided on 20th January, 2005.

Advocates:
For Petitioner:Mr. M. S. Panda
For Opp.Parties:Mr. S. K. Padhi (For the CBI)
M/s. Debasis Panda, G. R. Mohanty, D. Pr. Dhal, A. Parida, M. K. Swain and R. K. Samantaray. (For O.P. No.2)

Headnote:CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE, 1908 - Sec. 439(2) - Bail - Granted under Sec. 167(2), Cr.P.C. - Cancellation of - Power to take back in custody an accused who has been enlarged on bail has to be exercised with great care and circumspection and is meant to be exercised in appropriate cases when, by a preponderance of probabilities, it is clear that the accused is interfering with the course of justice by tampering with witnesses - In the present case, allegations have not been substantiated by material particulars giving specific instances - Bail has been granted more than three years back - At this stage, not proper to cancel bail - Directions issued. (Paras - 6 and 7)

JUDGMENT

A. K. PATNAIK, J. — This is an application filed under Section 439(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (for short “the Cr.P.C.") for cancellation of the bail granted to Srimati Prabasini Kar by the learned Special C.J.M. (CBI), Bhubaneswar under Section 167(2) of the Cr.P.C. in connection with RC No.8/S/2000-Cal under Sections 120-B, 292, 342, 354, 363, 376 read with Section 511 of the Indian Penal Code (for short “the IPC”).

2. The facts briefly are that the petitioner Sri Prasanta Kumar Das filed a writ petition in OJC No.13305 of 1999 praying for investigation into the Balasore Sex Scandal case in which it was alleged that a Physical Training Instructor of Balasore was luring young girls from Balasore on false pretence for high offi¬cials. The High Court passed orders on 9.5.2000 for investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (for short, “CBI”) into the said case and pursuant to the said order passed by the High Court, the CBI registered an F.I.R. in the aforesaid case treat¬ing the petitioner Sri Prasanta Kumar Das as the informant. Srimati Prabasini Kar who was working as a Physical Training Instructor in Balasore was arrested by the CBI in course of investigation on 14.3.2001 but was released on bail by the Spe¬cial C.J.M. (CBI), Bhubaneswar by order dated 16.7.2001 on a petition filed by her under Section 167(2) of the Cr.P.C. for non-filing of charge sheet by the CBI within the statutory period of 120 days.

3. Mr M. S. Panda, learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the language of Proviso (a) to Section 167(2) of the Cr.P.C. would show that the person released on bail under Section 167(2) of the Cr.P.C. shall be deemed to be so released under the provisions of Chapter XXXIII for the purpose of that Chapter and Section 437(3) in Chapter XXXIII provides that the Court may impose any condition which the Court considers neces¬sary but the order dated 16.7.2001 of the learned Special C.J.M., CBI, Bhubaneswar would show that no such condition for bail was actually imposed by the Court. He pointed out that Srimati Praba¬sini Kar who has been placed under suspension by the State Gov¬ernment with the headquarters at Baripada, is actually residing at Balasore and is threatening witnesses and trying to gain them over by various tactics. In this context, he referred to the allegations in paragraphs 5 and 6 of the petition as well as the First Information Report dated 30.10.2004 lodged by Harapriya Barik, the victim girl herself, and her statement recorded under Section 164 Cr.P.C. on 8.10.2004 as well as the First Information Report dated 8.10.2001 lodged by Ashok Kumar Tarai, the husband of Harapriya Barik. He cited a decision of this Court in Sri Pitambar Swain v. Ainthu alias Ashok Kumar Sahu and another, 66 (1988) CLT 820, for the proposition that bail granted to the accused can be cancelled if it was granted illegally and/or improperly by wrong and arbitrary exercise of judicial discretion and if the accused abuses his freedom by violating the conditions imposed in the bail order or tampers with the prosecution evi¬dence or commits such illegal or criminal acts which would make his freedom undesirable. He vehemently submitted that since the bail order was granted to Srimati Prabasini Kar illegally and improperly and she has abused her freedom and tampered with the prosecution evidence, this Court should cancel the bail granted in her favour.

4. In reply to the aforesaid submission, Mr. Debasis Panda, learned counsel for Srimati Prabasini Kar, the opposite party No.2, submitted that the petitioner Sri Prasanta Kumar Das has no locus standi to move for cancellation of bail and the CBI or the victim girl Harapriya Barik has not filed any application before the Court for cancellation of bail. He submitted that the use of the word “may” in Section 437(3) of the Cr.P.C. indicates that the Court may or may not impose any condition for bail and therefore the order of the Special C.J.M., CBI, Bhuban










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