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2009 Supreme(All) 2731
2009 (67) ACC 32
(ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT)
VIJAY KUMAR VERMA, J.
VIKAS @ BABLOO Applicants
Versus
STATE OF U.P. Respondent
Criminal Misc. Bail Application No. 12048 of 2008
Decided On: July 29, 2009
Gopal Misra and Sandeep Kumar Dubey. Counsel for the Applicant
Anil Mullick and A.G.A. Counsel for the Opposite Party
Active participation in a heinous crime and long incarceration alone are not sufficient grounds for granting bail.
Headnote:
Bail Application - Murder - The court rejected the bail application of the applicant, who was accused of murder, based on the evidence of his active participation in the crime and the principle of parity. The court also emphasized that long incarceration alone is not a ground for bail, and directed the trial court to conclude the trial within six months.
Fact of the Case:
The applicant was seeking bail in a case where he was accused of the murder of his wife, who died within 7 years of their marriage. The allegations included harassment for dowry and the commission of murder by throttling.
Finding of the Court:
The court rejected the bail application, citing evidence of the applicant's active participation in the murder and emphasizing that long incarceration alone is not a ground for bail. The court also directed the trial court to conclude the trial within six months.
Issues: The main issue was whether the applicant should be granted bail despite being accused of a heinous crime like murder.
Ratio Decidendi: The court's decision was based on the evidence of the applicant's active participation in the murder, the principle of parity not being the sole ground for bail, and the emphasis that long incarceration alone is not a ground for bail.
Final Decision: The bail application was rejected, and the trial court was directed to conclude the trial within six months.
VIJAY KUMAR VERMA, J.
1. Heard Sri Sandeep Kumar Dubey, Advocate, holding brief of Sri Gopal Misra Counsel for the applicant, Sri Anil Mullick. Advocate appearing for the complainant and AGA for the State.
2. The applicant Vikas @ Babloo is the husband of Smt. Seema, who died within 7 years of her marriage. Her marriage with the applicant had taken place in March, 2003 and she died on 2.4.2007 in the house of the applicant. An FIR was lodged by Raj Pal, father of the deceased, on 2.4.2007. at P.S. Saradhana (Meerut), where a case under section 498-A/304-B IPC and section 3/4 D.P. Act was registered against Vikas @ Babloo (applicant herein), Prakashi (mother-in-law), Kunwarpal (father-in-law) and Km. Komal (Nanad). The allegations made in the FIR, in brief, are that after marriage of the deceased with the applicant, she was being harassed by the accused persons making demand of dowry and when their demand was not fulfilled, they committed her murder on 2.4.2007 by throttling.
3. The first and foremost submission made by. learned Counsel for the applicant is that as per statements of the witnesses the main accused Kunwarpal, who had pressed the neck of deceased, has been granted bail by another Bench of this Court vide order dated 29.1.2008 passed in bail application No. 29089 of 2007 and •hence, on the basis of principle of parity, the applicant deserve bail.
4. Next submission made by learned Counsel for the applicant is that the deceased had' committing suicide by hanging, for which the applicant cannot be held responsible, as he did not abet her to commit suicide.
5. It is also submitted by learned Counsel that the applicant is languishing in Jail since 26.2.2008 and hence, on the basis of long detention period in jail, he is entitled to be released on bail, because due to delay in trial, his fundamental right of speedy trial envisaged under Article 21 of the Constitution is being violated.
6. Bail application has been opposed by learned AGA contending that the applicant also has actively participated in the commission of murder of the deceased and hence, in this heinous crime, he should not be released on bail.
7. I have carefully gone through the entire material on record. The post-mortem examination of the dead body of the deceased was conducted on 3.4.2007. Annexure-3 is the copy of post-mortem report, which shows that certain ante-mortem injuries were found on the person of deceased at the time of post-mortem examination. The doctors conducting post mortem examination have opined that the cause of death was asphyxia due to throttling. There is sufficient prima facie evidence to show that the applicant Vikas @ Babloo also had actively participated in the incident of committing the J1mrder of deceased. As per statement of witnesses, the applicant was sitting on the chest of the deceased and was pressing her hands. The defence version, as contained in para 19 of the affidavit accompanying the bail application, is that the deceased had committed suicide by hanging, whereas according to the post-mortem report, the deceased had died due to asphyxia as a result of throttling and not by hanging. As mentioned herein-above some ante-mortem injuries were found on the person of deceased at the time of post-mortem examination.
Therefore, having regard to all these facts, but without expressing any opinion on merit, in this heinous crime, the applicant does not deserve bail.
8. On the ground of principles of parity also, the applicant Cannot be released on bail, as parity is not sole ground for bail.
9. In my considered opinion, on the basis of long incarceration in Jail also, the applicant cannot be admitted to bail in this heinous crime. In this context, reference may be made to the case of Pramod Kumar Saxena v. Union of India and others in which the Hon'ble Apex Court has held that mere long period of incarceration in jail would not be per-se illegal. If the accused has committed offence, he has to remain behind bars. Such detenti
