IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH BENCH AT GWALIOR
G.S. Ahluwalia, J.
Prosecutrix – Appellant
Versus
State of Madhya Pradesh & Anr. – Respondents
M.Cr.C. No. 58368/2021
Decided On : 10-01-2022
Bail - Application under Section 439 (2) of Cr.P.C. - Relevant considerations for grant of bail - Mahipal Vs. Rajesh Kumar alias Polia and another, Dr. Naresh Kumar Mangla Vs. Anita Agarwal and others, Vipan Kumar Dhir Vs. State of Punjab, Sushila Aggarwal vs. State (NCT of Delhi) - Sections 439, 34, 149 of the Penal Code, 1860 - Anticipatory bail - Factors to be considered - Nature and gravity of the accusation, antecedents of the applicant, possibility of fleeing from justice, likelihood of repeating similar offences, impact of the grant of anticipatory bail, reasonable apprehension of tampering of witnesses, frivolity in prosecution, and the possibility of the accused influencing prosecution witnesses - Cancellation of bail - Misuse of liberty by the accused, grant of bail without due application of mind
Fact of the Case:
The applicant filed an application to set aside the order granting bail to the respondent no.2, who was accused of repeatedly committing rape on a minor girl. The applicant argued that the Court below did not consider the gravity of the offence and did not apply its mind while deciding the bail application.
Finding of the Court:
The Court found that the Court below did not consider the facts of the case and did not apply its mind while deciding the bail application filed by the respondent no.2. The order granting bail was set aside, and the respondent no.2 was directed to surrender before the Investigating Officer/Committal Court/Trial Court.
Issues: The main issue was whether the Court below considered the gravity of the offence and applied its mind while deciding the bail application filed by the respondent no.2.
Ratio Decidendi: The Court held that the considerations for grant of bail and cancellation of bail are distinct. Factors to be considered for anticipatory bail include the nature and gravity of the accusation, antecedents of the applicant, possibility of fleeing from justice, likelihood of repeating similar offences, impact of the grant of anticipatory bail, reasonable apprehension of tampering of witnesses, frivolity in prosecution, and the possibility of the accused influencing prosecution witnesses. The Court also emphasized that the recording of reasons for granting bail is essential, and the gravity of the offence should be taken into consideration. The Court further stated that the correctness of an order granting bail is subject to assessment by an appellate or superior Court and may be set aside on the ground that the Court granting bail did not consider material facts or crucial circumstances.
Final Decision: The order granting bail to the respondent no.2 was set aside, and the respondent no.2 was directed to surrender before the Investigating Officer/Committal Court/Trial Court.
JUDGMENT
1. This application under Section 439 (2) of Cr.P.C. has been filed for setting aside the order dated 28/8/2021 passed by Special Judge (POCSO Act), Gwalior in Bail Application No.2352/2021, by which the respondent no.2 has been granted bail.
2. It is submitted by the counsel for the applicant that while granting bail, the Court below must apply its mind to the facts of the case. The gravity of the offence is also to be considered. However, without applying any mind and without assigning any reason, the Court below has granted bail to the respondent no.2. It is submitted that according to the prosecution case, the prosecutrix is minor and is a student of Class 10th and from the month of September, 2020 the applicant was visiting her house for teaching her. For the first two months the respondent no.2 taught the prosecutrix properly, but thereafter, he started misbehaving with her. It is submitted that the respondent no.2 used to touch the private parts of the prosecutrix and in the absence of the mother of the prosecutrix, he used to commit rape on her. On 29/3/2021 at about 1-3 PM when the mother of the prosecutrix was not in the house and by threatening the handicapped brother of the prosecutrix, it was alleged that respondent no.2 committed rape on her. The respondent no.2 also compelled the prosecutrix to consume multiple pills, as a result, the prosecutrix had severe bleeding and acute pain in her stomach. Thereafter, the respondent no.2 used to threaten the mother of the prosecutrix on phone and when the mother of the prosecutrix enquired about the situation, then the prosecutrix narrated the incident to her mother. It is submitted that the respondent no.2 was arrested on 12/7/2021 and he moved an application for grant of regular bail. The Court below by order dated 28/8/2021 passed in BA No.2352/2021 allowed the said application without assigning any reason. It is submitted that it is true that the last incident of rape took place on 29/3/2021, but the FIR was lodged on 9/7/2021, however, the prosecutrix was treated in Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi. The applicant has also filed the copy of the outpatient registration card issued by the Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi. It is further submitted that the Supreme Court in the cases of Mahipal Vs. Rajesh Kumar alias Polia and another reported in (2020) 2 SCC 118 and Dr. Naresh Kumar Mangla Vs. Anita Agarwal and others reported in 2021 (1) MPLJ (Cri.) (SC) 353 has laid down relevant consideration which should be taken into consideration for grant of bail.
3. Per contra, it is submitted by the counsel for the respondent no.2 that the relevant factors for consideration for cancellation of bail are completely different. A bail order can be recalled only if the same was misused by the accused, however, in the present case there is no allegation that any threat was ever given by the respondent no.2 or he has misused the liberty in any manner.
4. Heard learned counsel for the parties.
5. It is not the case of the applicant that the High Court has granted bail to the respondent No.2.
6. The Supreme Court in the case of Mahipal (supra) has held as under:-
16. The considerations that guide the power of an appellate court in assessing the correctness of an order granting bail stand on a different footing from an assessment of an application for the cancellation of bail. The correctness of an order granting bail is tested on the anvil of whether there was an improper or arbitrary exercise of the discretion in the grant of bail. The test is whether the order granting bail is perverse, illegal or unjustified. On the other hand, an application for cancellation of bail is generally examined on the anvil of the existence of supervening circumstances or violations of the conditions of bail by a person to whom bail has been granted. In Neeru Yadav v. State ofU.P. [Neeru Yadav v. State of U.P., (2014) 16 SCC 508 : (2015) 3 SCC (Cri) 527] , the accused was granted bail by the High Court [Mitthan
D.K. Ganesh Babu vs. P. T. Manokaran
Gurbaksh Singh Sibbia vs. State of Punjab (1980) 2 SCC 565 : 1980 SCC (Cri) 561
Jai Prakash Singh vs. State of Bihar
Kalyan Chandra Sarkar vs. Rajesh Ranjan
Kanwar Singh Meena vs. State of Rajasthan
Mahipal vs. Rajesh Kumar alias Polia and another
Myakala Dharmarajam vs. State of Telangana
Pokar Ram vs. State of Rajasthan
Siddharam Satlingappa Mhetre vs. State of Maharashtra
State of Maharashtra vs. Mohd. Sajid Husain Mohd. S. Husain
The considerations for grant of bail and cancellation of bail are distinct. Factors to be considered for anticipatory bail include the nature and gravity of the accusation, antecedents of the applica....
Advocates appeared :For the Appellant : Amit Lahoti For the Respondent : D. R. Sharma, V. D. Sharma, A. K. Nirankari
Grant of bail though being a discretionary order, calls for exercise of such discretion in a judicious manner and is dependent upon contextual facts of the matter being dealt with by Court.
The main legal point established in the judgment is the misuse of bail and the legal principles governing the cancellation of bail.
The discretion to grant bail must be exercised judiciously, considering the gravity of the offence, evidence, and potential obstruction of justice.
(1) Very cogent and overwhelming circumstances are necessary for cancellation of bail and bail once granted, should not be cancelled in a mechanical manner.(2) For cancelling bail once granted, Court....
The court has the authority to cancel bail if the order suffers from serious infirmities resulting in miscarriage of justice, and if the accused misuses their liberty, interferes with the investigati....
The main legal point established in the judgment is the need for judicious exercise of discretion in granting and cancelling bail, considering factors such as the nature of the accusation, severity o....
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