The main legal point established in the judgment is that the mere pendency of a criminal case may not automatically invoke the provisions of the U.P. Gangster and Anti Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986, and that the procedural requirements for initiating proceedings under the Act must be satisfied.

JUDGMENT :

1. Learned A.G.A. submits that instructions have been received and has no objection in case the bail application is heard on merits.

2. Heard learned counsel for the applicant, learned A.G.A. for the State and perused the record.

3. It is submitted by learned counsel for the applicant that there is only one case shown in the gang chart against applicant, in which case he is already on bail, the bail order is annexed as Annexure no. 3 to the affidavit. It is also submitted that other criminal history of the applicant has been explained in paragraph 10 of the affidavit. It is the submission of learned counsel for the applicant that applicant neither the gang leader or organizer or member of the gang and the provision of Gangster Act may not be applicable in the facts and circumstances of the case. Applicant is languishing in jail since 02.11.2023 and in case he is released on bail, he will not misuse the liberty of bail and will cooperate in the trial. In the first information report, the allegations are vague in nature and no specific instance to the effect that the applicant is member or leader or organizer of a Gang has been disclosed and as such the factual foundation under the Gangster Act is not available.

4. Learned A.G.A. for the State has opposed the prayer for bail but does not dispute the factual matrix of the case.

5. Having heard learned counsel for the parties, it is evident that the provision of Gangster Act has been invoked against the applicant on the basis of one criminal case. However, applicant has been released on bail in the aforesaid cases. Learned A.G.A. has not produced any material to demonstrate that the applicant comes within the definition of "Gangster" and "Gang" under U.P. Gangsters and Antisocial Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986. Mere pendency of criminal case may not ipso facto invoke provisions of U.P. Act No.7 of 1986. Criminal history of the applicant has been adequately explained.

6. The applicant in the present case has been implicated on the basis of the criminal case detailed in the gang chart. It is not in dispute by learned A.G.A. that the applicant has already been enlarged on bail in the criminal case showing in the gang chart. Once the applicant has been enlarged on bail in previous criminal case shown in the gang chart which forms the foundation for lodging of the criminal case under the Gangster Act. This Court see no valid ground to detain the applicant in custody once the applicant has already been enlarged on bail in the case shown in the gang chart.

7. There are one case shown in the gang chart against the applicant. However, other criminal history (apart from the gang chart) has been pointed out by learned A.G.A. The other criminal cases of the applicant has not been shown in the gang chart. No reasons have been shown by learned A.G.A. for non-inclusion of other criminal history in the gang chart. A separate list of criminal history, in Form No.4, is not attached with the gang chart detailing all the criminal activities of the gang and mentioning all the criminal cases nor abovementioned Form No.4 has been produced by learned A.G.A. before this Court. No material has been placed by learned A.G.A. to demonstrate that the name of the Applicant is entered into gang register kept in the police station concerned. The proceedings under the Gangster Act is required to be initiated by preparation of gang chart mentioning the criminal activities. It is not shown by learned A.G.A. that the details of other criminal cases against the applicant were before the authorities concerned at the time of approval of gang chart. To initiate under the Gangster Act preparation of gang chart is a condition precedent under Rule 5(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Gangster and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Rules, 2021. The gang chart is required to mention details of the criminal activity of the accused. The Commissioner of Police/District Magistrate is to record satisfaction on the basis of the gang c