SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img

2008 Supreme(MP) 175

MADHYA PRADESH HIGH COURT
U. C. MAHESHWARI, J.
Arjun Sahu
Versus
State of M.P.
M. Cri. C. No. 8989 of 2007
Decided On : 5-2-2008.

Advocates:
Advocares Appeared:
Anil Khare and Som Mishra, for the Applicant; T. S. Ruprah, Additional Adv. General assisted by J. K. Jain, G. A., for Respondent.

The proviso of Section 437(6) of Cr. P.C. allows the Magistrate to refuse bail even after sixty days from the date of framing the charge, if sufficient reasons are recorded in writing.

Headnote:

Bail - Criminal Law - Sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B r/w 34 of IPC - Section 437(6) of Cr. P.C. - [Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 120-B r/w 34 of IPC, Section 437(6) of Cr. P.C.] - The court discussed the provisions of Section 437(6) of Cr. P.C. and its interpretation in previous cases. It held that the proviso of Section 437(6) allows the Magistrate to refuse bail even after sixty days from the date of framing the charge, if sufficient reasons are recorded in writing. The court also considered the principle of parity and the responsibility of the applicant as the planner of the alleged scheme, ultimately dismissing the bail petition.

Fact of the Case:

The applicant, an advocate, was arrested for allegedly planning a scheme to file false claims under the Motor Vehicles Act by advising poor illiterate persons to prepare false claim cases of vehicular accidents. The scheme involved amputating the limbs of the poor persons and filing false claims. The applicant filed a bail petition citing delay in trial, parity with other accused, and insufficiency of evidence.

Finding of the Court:

The court held that the proviso of Section 437(6) allows the Magistrate to refuse bail even after sixty days from the date of framing the charge, if sufficient reasons are recorded in writing. It also found that the applicant, as the planner of the scheme, was responsible for the alleged offence and that releasing him on bail may prejudice the prosecution case.

Issues: Delay in trial, parity with other accused, sufficiency of evidence

Ratio Decidendi: The court interpreted the provisions of Section 437(6) of Cr. P.C. and considered the principle of parity, ultimately holding that the applicant did not deserve to be released on bail at that stage.

Final Decision: The bail petition was dismissed, and the applicant was given the liberty to revive the prayer for bail after recording the statement of certain prosecution witnesses.

ORDER :- The petition of the applicant filed under Section 439 of Cr. P.C. is being decided by this order.

2. The applicant has been arrested on 30-3-2007 in connection of Crime No. 783/ 06 registered at Police Station Garha for the offence under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B r/w 34 of IPC.

3. As per case of the prosecution the applicant being an advocate of Jabalpur practising mainly in Motor Accident Claim cases with intention to have earn easy money advised the poor illiterate persons suffering from Gangrene or like other disease for preparation of their false claim cases under the Motor Vehicles Act while those persons were not the sufferers of vehicular accident. They have not only been advised by him but he also managed all affairs in this regard. In such connection, under conspiracy with the Doctor such poor persons were admitted in the Suvidha Hospital, Jabalpur where by carrying out surgery their concerning limbs were amputated and their medico legal reports stating that they sustained the injuries in vehicular accidents were prepared and by managing police officials of the P.S. Garha, Jabalpur the offences of vehicular accidents got registered at such police station. The number of alleged insured vehicle were also arranged and provided to the concerned complainant and also to police. He being planner of aforesaid scheme managed all the affairs through his junior advocates, police officials and doctors along with others. In implementation of such plan various forged medical reports and papers were prepared with intention to file the false claims under the Motor Vehicles Act and in this manner various claims on behalf of the concerned victims whose limbs were amputated, were filed by the applicant before the different Tribunals. On receiving the information regarding such offence in writing from unknown source the same was inquired by the police and later it being a cognizable offence the crime was registered. During investigation on collecting the evidence prima-facie alleged offence is revealed against the applicant and other persons through whom he implemented his aforesaid scheme. Initially charge-sheet was submitted for some other accused but after arrest of the applicant by holding some supplementary investigation the charge-sheet is also filed against the applicant. Now he is facing such trial.

4. On behalf of the applicant his counsel Shri Anil Khare firstly by referring the provision of Section 437(6) of Cr. P.C. said that according to it's mandate after framing the charge against him on 26-7-2007 within two months from such date the trial has not been concluded. Hence, in view of the mandatory provision of the aforesaid section the applicant deserves to be released on bail. Secondly he prayed for bail on the ground of parity saying that some of the accused, against whom the same allegations are made as alleged against the applicant, have been released on bail and there is no distinguishable case against him, specially he said that Shishir Kewat, Advocate against whom same allegations are made has also been released on bail. Thirdly, he prayed for bail saying that aforesaid all sections of IPC for which the applicant is facing the prosecution are triable by the Judicial Magistrate and in last eight months only one prosecution witness has been examined. It shows the trial may not be concluded in near future. Therefore the applicant should not be kept in jail by way of punishment unless the offence is proved against him. Lastly on merits, he said that the evidence collected by the investigating agency is not sufficient to draw the inference at this stage that he has committed the alleged offence. He also referred various interrogatory statements recorded by the police either at the stage of enquiry or after registration of the offence or subsequent to it recorded in the supplementary investigation under Section 173(8) of Cr. P.C. and prayed to enlarge him on bail till disposal of the trial. In support of hi



























Click Here to Read the rest of this document

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
logo-black

An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance

qr

Scan Me!

India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

whatsapp-icon Back to top