JUDGMENT :

Ravindra Maithani, J.

Applicant seeks anticipatory bail in FIR No.0031 of 2023, under Sections 120-B, 504, 506, 386, 389 IPC, Police Station Muni Ki Reti, District Tehri Garhwal.

2. Heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the record.

3. According to the FIR, the informant was in strained relations with his wife. It is this time, when the co-accused entered into the life of the informant. They both came close to each other. The FIR records that the co-accused extorted huge money from the informant by blackmailing him or threatening him. There are allegations against the applicant that it is he also, who blackmailed and threatened the informant. The informant was threatened that in case money is not given, the co-accused would implicate the informant in false cases of rape.

4. Learned counsel for the applicant would submit that the co-accused has already been granted anticipatory bail; the applicant did appear before the Investigating Officer (“IO”) on 18.10.2023. Subsequent to it, one Miss Rajni forwarded an affidavit to the applicant for his signature, to which the applicant was not agreeable. Thereafter, the IO called the applicant on 08.12.2023. It is argued that