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2023 Supreme(All) 2108

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
SIDDHARTH, J.
Aditya Raj Verma – Appellant
Versus
State of U.P. and Another – Respondents
Criminal Misc. Bail Application No. 3077 of 2023
Decided On : 14-02-2023

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Appellant : Anuj Srivastava, Tanmay Sadh.

Headnote:(A) Indian Penal Code - Sections 376 and 406 - Bail application in a case involving live-in relationship and allegations of misconduct - Allegations included refusal to marry and sending obscene photographs - Court emphasized the complexities of societal acceptance of such relationships. (Paras 2, 5)

(B) Fundamental Right to Speedy Trial - Article 21 of the Constitution of India - Court noted overcrowding in jails and the applicant's right to a speedy trial and reasonable bail conditions while ensuring fairness in trial proceedings. (Paras 6)

Facts of the case:
The victim was in a live-in relationship with the applicant for 1½ years and became pregnant. The applicant refused to marry her, leading to the victim's complaint. The court noted the societal implications of live-in relationships.

Findings of Court:
Bail granted to the applicant based on the circumstances and potential unjust impact of prolonged detention without trial.

Issues: Whether the applicant should be granted bail based on the allegations and the applicant's rights.

Ratio Decidendi: The court found that given the situation, the applicant made a sufficient case for bail, emphasizing the importance of timely trials and the adverse effects of custody on the accused.

Result: Bail application allowed.

Table of Content
1. allegations against the applicant in a live-in relationship. (Para 2)
2. applicant's defense arguments regarding the nature of the relationship. (Para 3 , 4)
3. court's observations on societal impacts of live-in relationships. (Para 5)
4. considerations for granting bail based on the applicant's rights. (Para 6)
5. conditions and order for granting bail to the applicant. (Para 7 , 8 , 9)

JUDGMENT :

SIDDHARTH, J.

1. Heard learned counsel for the applicant and learned AGA, for the State.

2. There is allegation against the applicant that he lived in live-in relation-ship with the victim for 1½ years. The victim was earlier married to Sujeet Kumar from whom she had two sons. She became pregnant on account of live-in relationship with the applicant. Applicant refused to marry her. It is alleged that he sent obscene photographs of the victim to her husband. Therefore, he refused to keep her with him. Applicant also refused to marry her.

3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits that the victim is major. She willingly entered into live-in relation-ship with the applicant. She was capable in understanding the consequence of such relation-ship and there is no allegation that relation-ship started with the promise of marriage. The applicant has been falsely implicated in this case. He is in jail since 24.11.2022 and has no criminal history to his credit.

4. Learned AGA has opposed the prayer for bail but could not dispute the above submissions.

5. After hearing the rival contentions this court finds that this is one case where the disastrous consequences of live-in relationship has come on the scence. It is difficult for a woman to live alone after breaking of live-in relationship. The Indian Society at large does not recognizes such relation-ship as acceptable. The woman therefore is left with no option but to lodge first information report against her live-in partner, like in present case.

6. Keeping in view the nature of the offence, evidence, complicity of the accused; submissions of the learned counsel for the parties noted above; finding force in the submissions made by the learned counsel for the applicant; keeping view the uncertainty regarding conclusion of trial; one sided investigation by police, ignoring the case of accused side; applicant being under trial having fundamental right to speedy trial; larger mandate of the Article 21 of the Constitution of India and recent judgment dated 11.07.2022 of the Apex Court in the case of Satendra Kumar Antil vs. C.B.I. passed in SLP (Crl.) No. 5191 of 2021 and considering 5-6 times overcrowding in jails over and above their capacity by the under trials and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, the Court is of the view that the applicant has made out a case for bail. The bail application is allowed.

7. Let the applicant, Aditya Raj Verma, involved in Case Crime No. 0548 of 2022, under Sections 376 & 406 IPC, Police Station Kotwali, District-Azamgarh be released on bail on his furnishing a personal bond and two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the court concerned subject to following conditions. Further, before issuing the release order, the sureties be verified:

    (i) The applicant shall not tamper with the evidence or threaten the witnesses.

    (ii) The applicant shall file an undertaking to the effect that he shall not seek any adjournment on the dates fixed for evidence when the witnesses are present in Court. In case of default of this condition, it shall be open for the Trial Court to treat it as abuse of liberty of bail and pass orders in accordance with law.

    (iii) The applicant shall remain present before the Trial Court on each date fixed, either personally or as directed by the Court. In case of his absence, without sufficient cause, the Trial Court may proceed against him under Section 229-A of the INDIAN PENAL CODE .

    (iv) In case the applicant misuse the liberty of bail during trial and in order to secure his presence, proclamation

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