The main legal point established in the judgment is that the accused is entitled to a reasonable opportunity to fulfil the bail conditions, and the right to be released on default bail cannot be defeated merely because the prosecution files the charge sheet prior to furnishing of bail.

JUDGMENT :

SUVIR SEHGAL, J.

1. The hearing of this petition has been taken up through video conferencing on account of outbreak of Covid-19 Pandemic.

2. Vide instant petition filed under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, (for short - “the Code”), the petitioner has sought quashing of order dated 05.04.2021, Annexure P-7, passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Fazilka vide which, the trial court has declined the application filed by the petitioner for furnishing of surety/bail bonds.

3. Facts, in a nutshell, are that FIR No.136 dated 24.08.2020, Annexure P-1, came to be registered on the complaint of one Sukhwinder Singh against Malkit Singh, Madan Lal and Gursahib Singh under Sections 384, 420, 34 IPC at Police Station City Jalalabad, Fazilka, on the allegation that the accused had extorted a sum of Rs.5 lacs from the petitioner and Surjit Singh under the threat that they will involve them in a false case of dealing in intoxicating substances. The petitioner was arraigned as an accused on 25.08.2020 vide General Dairy No.051, Annexure P-2, and offence under Section 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, was added on the allegation that the accused was a part of the gang, who had extorted the money from the complainant. Petition for grant of regular bail filed by the petitioner under Section 439 of the Code was rejected by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Fazilka, vide order dated 03.03.2021, Annexure P-3. The petitioner, who was arrested on 18.01.2021, filed an application on 01.04.2021, Annexure P-4, seeking grant of default bail under Section 167(2) of the Code on the ground that the challan has not been presented within the prescribed period. After notice to the prosecution, the application was allowed on 02.04.2021, Annexure P-5, and the petitioner was ordered to be admitted to bail on his furnishing bail bonds in the sum of Rs.1 lac with one surety of the like amount subject to certain additional conditions. The prosecution presented the challan before the trial court on the same day. On 05.04.2021, the petitioner filed an application, Annexure P-6, for furnishing the bail/surety bonds, which has been dismissed by the order impugned herein.

4. Counsel for the petitioner has contended that the petitioner was granted default bail at the close of the Court hours on 02.04.2021, which was a Friday and the Courts were closed over the weekend.

5. An application was submitted for accepting the bail/surety bonds on the next working day which has been wrongly rejected by the Court without appreciating the settled position of law.

6. State counsel has opposed the petition and has filed a status report by way of affidavit of the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Sub Division Jalalabad, District Fazilka, which is taken on record. He urges that the prosecution has collected sufficient incriminating material to establish the complicity of the petitioner in the crime. He submits that the petitioner is involved in another case bearing FIR registered against him on 16.02.2021under Sections 384, 120-B of IPC and Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, at Police Station City Jalalabad, District Fazilka.

7. I have considered the rival submissions of the parties and perused the paper-book with their able assistance.

8. Hon’ble Supreme Court in M. Ravindran vs. Intelligence Officer 2020 (4) RCR (Criminal) 800 in Para 13.1 has observed that the right to be released on default bail cannot be defeated merely because the prosecution files the charge sheet prior to furnishing of bail and fulfilling of the conditions of bail of furnishing bonds, etc., so long as the accused furnishes the bail within the time stipulated by the Court.

9. This Court in CRR-656-2020 titled as Ranjit @ Angrezi @ Bittu vs. State of Haryana decided on 13.08.2020 has held that there is no requirement in the Code that the accused is expected to be prepared with the bail bonds and surety in anticipation of a favourable verdict on his ap