IN THE HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
RAJ BEER SINGH, J.
Smt. Meera Singh - Applicant
Versus
State of U.P. and Another - Opposite Parties
Criminal MISC Anticipatory Bail Application U/S 438 CR.P.C. No. 8752 of 2023
Decided On : 06-11-2023
Anticipatory Bail - Misuse of Public Funds - Refusal of Anticipatory Bail
Fact of the Case:
The applicant sought anticipatory bail in a case involving misuse of public funds and food-grains. The applicant argued innocence and lack of credible evidence against her, citing serious ailments and no criminal antecedents.
Finding of the Court:
The court refused the anticipatory bail application, considering the execution of process under Section 82 and 83 Cr.P.C. against the applicant. However, it directed that the applicant's bail application, if made after surrendering, shall be considered expeditiously due to her health condition and status as a senior citizen.
Issues: Misuse of public funds, execution of process under Section 82 and 83 Cr.P.C., applicant's health condition and status as a senior citizen
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the execution of process under Section 82 and 83 Cr.P.C. against the applicant rendered her not entitled to anticipatory bail. However, it emphasized the need for expeditious consideration of her bail application due to her health condition and status as a senior citizen.
Final Decision: The anticipatory bail application of the applicant was rejected, but the court directed that her bail application, if made after surrendering, shall be considered and decided expeditiously.
JUDGMENT :
(Raj Beer Singh, J.)
1. Supplementary counter affidavit filed by learned A.G.A. is taken on record.
2. Heard learned counsel for the applicant, learned A.G.A. for the State and perused the record.
3. This anticipatory bail application has been moved seeking anticipatory bail in Case Crime No.42A of 2006, under Sections 409, 420, 467, 468, 471, 477-A, 120-B r/w 34 IPC and Section 13(2) Prevention of Corruption Act, P.S. Sukhpura, District Ballia with the prayer that in the event of arrest, applicant may be released on bail.
4. It has been argued by the learned counsel for the applicant that applicant is innocent and she has an apprehension that she may be arrested in the above-mentioned case, whereas there is no credible evidence against her. The applicant was working as Block Pramukh and as per prosecution version, an amount of Rs.15,80,660/- provided for welfare schemes was misused. It was submitted that the first information report has been lodged against several persons, including the government officials. The allegations levelled against applicant, are wholly false. There is no evidence that any amount was transferred to the account of applicant. Further, the applicant is a lady and that she is suffering from serious ailments. Regarding process under Section 82 and 83 Cr.P.C., it was submitted that the process under Section 82 and 83 Cr.P.C. has been executed during pendency of the anticipatory bail application of the applicant and thus, it would not bar the anticipatory bail application of the applicant. In support of his contention, learned counsel has placed reliance upon the case of Manish Yadav vs. State of U.P. (2022 0 Supreme (All) 629). It was submitted that the applicant has no criminal antecedents and that in case, the applicant is granted anticipatory bail, she would cooperate during investigation and trial and would obey the conditions of bail.
5. Learned A.G.A. has opposed the application for anticipatory bail and argued that in the alleged incident, public funds of Rs.15,80,660/-and food-grains worth Rs.14,50,690/-were misused and misappropriated. It is further submitted that after rejection of first anticipatory bail application of applicant, the process under Section 82 Cr.P.C. was executed and after the proclamation under Section 82 Cr.P.C., the second anticipatory bail was moved by the applicant before the Sessions Court and thus, in view of law laid down in case of Lavesh vs. State of (NCT of Delhi) [2012] 8 SCC 730 and Prem Shankar Prasad vs. State of Bihar AIR 2022 SAR (Cri)1, this, anticipatory bail application is not maintainable.
6. Considering the facts of the matter and particularly the fact that process under Section 82 and 83 Cr.P.C. has already been executed against the applicant, the applicant is not entitled for anticipatory bail. The prayer for grant of anticipatory bail is refused.
7. However, considering the fact that applicant is stated a lady and senior citizen and suffering from several ailments, it is directed that in case, applicant appears/surrenders before the court concerned within three weeks from today and applies for bail, her bail application shall be considered and decided expeditiously, in accordance with settled law.
8. With aforesaid observations, the anticipatory bail application of applicant is hereby rejected.
AI
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