* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

Reserved on: 3rd November, 2025.

Pronounced on: 28th November, 2025.

Uploaded on: 28th November, 2025.

+ BAIL APPLN. 3001/2025

JAGDEEP @ SONU .....Petitioner

Through: Mr. Arun Khatri, Ms. Shelly Dixit and Ms. Tracy Sebastian and Mr. Pranavjeet Singh, Advocates.

versus

STATE OF NCT OF DELHI .....Respondent

Through: Mr. Amit Ahlawat, APP for State.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJEEV NARULA

JUDGMENT

SANJEEV NARULA, J.:

1. This bail application under Sections 483 read with 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 20231 seeks regular bail in proceedings emanating from FIR No. 55/2016 dated 19th April, 2016, registered at P.S. Crime Branch, under Sections 3/4 of the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act, 19992. By a supplementary chargesheet, the Applicant has been implicated under Sections 3(1)/ 3(4)/3(5) of MCOCA.

CASE OF PROSECUTION:

2. The factual background leading to the filing of the present application is summarised as follows:

2.1. The FIR in question was registered against one Manoj @ Morkheri and his associates, alleged to be members of a structured and well-organised criminal syndicate operating in Delhi-NCR and adjoining States. The syndicate is stated to have been involved in a series of grave offences, including murder, kidnapping for ransom, extortion, robbery, and attempt to murder, committed through acts of violence, intimidation and other unlawful means, with the object of securing pecuniary benefit and undue economic advantage. The sustained pattern of such criminal activity is alleged to have created an atmosphere of fear and insecurity in the region, with the members of the syndicate acting either individually or in concert, as part of, or on behalf of, an organised crime network.

2.2. The subject FIR came to be registered pursuant to a proposal seeking approval under Section 23(1)(a) of MCOCA, in view of the continued and systematic criminal activities attributed to the syndicate. It is alleged that Manoj @ Morkheri, in concert with his associates, has been engaged in “organised crime” within the meaning of Section 2(1)(e) of MCOCA, primarily for pecuniary gain, and that the group constitutes an “organised crime syndicate” as defined under Section 2(1)(f). The network is alleged to function with a high degree of coordination and to exert influence over the area through a sustained pattern of serious offences.

2.3. The Applicant was absconding and evading arrest, which led to the issuance of non-bailable warrants. He was apprehended on 4th February, 2019 and has since remained in custody. Upon completion of investigation, the case was committed to the Court of the Additional Sessions Judge, Rohini Courts, where the trial is presently at the stage of prosecution evidence.

2.4. According to the prosecution, the Applicant is an active member of the said syndicate and has participated in serious crimes, including murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping for ransom and criminal intimidation, across multiple jurisdictions. He stands convicted in FIR No. 356/2018, P.S. Sadar Hansi, Hisar, Haryana, under Sections 186, 353 and 307 IPC and Section 25 of the Arms Act. He has also been named and arrested, along with co-accused Manoj @ Morkheri, in FIR No. 497/2011, P.S. Prashant Vihar, registered under Sections 364A/120B IPC. On this basis, the prosecution asserts that the Applicant is a habitual offender and an integral part of the organised crime syndicate, and that his release on bail would be inimical to public interest.

ARGUMENTS ADVANCED BY THE APPLICANT:

3. Counsel for the Applicant advances the following submissions seeking grant of regular bail:

3.1. Long Period of Custody and Delay in Trial: The Applicant was arrested on 4th February, 2019 and has remained in custody for nearly 7 years. Out of the 140 prosecution witnesses cited, only 88 have been examined thus far. The protracted nature of the trial, which cannot be attributed to any dela