2022 Supreme(Online)(Kar) 59409
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 21ST DAY OF JUNE, 2022
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE H.P. SANDESH
CRIMINAL PETITION NO.4777/2022
BETWEEN:
LOHITHA @ LOKI,
S/O GANESH RAO,
AGED ABOUT 28 YEARS,
R/O NO.69, 5TH MAIN,
6TH CROSS, SRIRAMPURA,
AMBEDKAR NAGARA,
BENGALURU-560021.
PERMANENT ADDRESS: MUTHUR,
DODDABALLAPURA,
BENGALURU RURAL DIST-561203.
...PETITIONER
(BY SRI SYED AKBAR PASHA, ADVOCATE)
AND:
STATE BY SRIRAMPURAM POLICE,
REP BY ITS PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,
HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA,
BENGALURU-560001.
... RESPONDENT
(BY SRI H.S. SHANKAR, HCGP)
THIS CRIMINAL PETITION IS FILED UNDER SECTION 439 OF
CR.P.C. PRAYING TO ENLARGE THE PETITIONER ON BAIL IN
CR.NO.100/2021 (C.C.NO.33673/2021) OF SRIRAMPURA P.S.,
BANGALORE FOR THE OFFENCE PUNISHALBE UNDER SECTIONS
120B, 302, 201 READ WITH 34 OF IPC AND SECTION 36 OF THE
KARNATAKA EXCISE ACT ON THE FILE OF 39TH ACMM, BANGALORE.
THIS CRIMINAL PETITION COMING ON FOR ORDERS THIS
DAY, THE COURT MADE THE FOLLOWING:
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This petition is filed under Section 439 of Cr.P.C. seeking
regular
bail
of
the
petitioner
in
Crime
No.100/2021
(C.C.NO.33673/2021) of Srirampura Police Station, Bangalore
for the offence punishable under Sections 120B, 302, 201 read
with 34 of IPC and Section 36 of the Karnataka Excise Act.
2.
Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the
learned High Court Government Pleader appearing for the
respondent-State.
3.
The factual matrix of the case of the prosecution is
that there was a quarrel between the deceased and this
petitioner one week prior to this incident. Similarly, there was a
quarrel between accused No.2 and the deceased also and both of
them discussed with regard to the said incident and accused
Nos.1 and 2 conspired with each other to teach a lesson to the
deceased in the shop belonging to C.W.7 and also purchased a
dagger. That on 04.09.2021 at around 7.00 p.m., when the
victim went to consume alcohol in Srirampura jurisdiction
belonging to accused No.3, accused No.2 went and quarreled
with him and accused No.1 was also along with him. With an
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intention to take away the life, accused No.1 inflicted injury with
the dagger near the private part of the victim, as a result, he
has sustained injury to his left thigh and blood was oozing. The
said fact was informed to accused No.3 by accused No.6 and
accused No.3 on the instructions of accused Nos.4 and 5,
dragged the injured and made him to lie on the footpath and due
to the said injuries, he succumbed to the injuries and hence case
has been registered, matter has been investigated and charge-
sheet is also filed.
4.
The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that
this petitioner is accused No.1 and though an allegation is made
that he inflicted injury, only one injury is inflicted on the left side
of the thigh and the same does not result in death, but the fact
is that the victim was made to lie on the footpath and timely
treatment was not provided to him, which led to his death. The
learned counsel submits that there was no any intention to take
away the life of the victim and at the most, it attracts Section
304 of IPC and not 302 of IPC. The learned counsel submits
that accused Nos.2 to 6 are already enlarged on bail. Though,
C.W.2 to C.W.5 are the eye-witnesses according to the
prosecution, their statements were recorded on the seventh day
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and thirteenth day of the incident and hence the petitioner may
be enlarged on bail. The learned counsel submits that the
petitioner is in custody from 05.09.2021 and investigation has
been completed and charge-sheet is also filed and no need of
further custodial trial.
5.
Per contra, the learned High Court Government
Pleader appearing for the respondent-State submits that the
allegation against other accused persons is that on the
instructions of accused No.3, accused Nos. 4 and 5, kept the
injured outside the wine shop i.e., on the footpath. The specific
overt-act allegation is made against this petitioner that he
inflicted injury with the dagger, as a result, he had sustained
injury and blood was oozing and recovery is made at the
instance of the petitioner i.e., dagger. There are eye-witnesses
to the incident i.e., C.W.2 to C.W.5. When there are eye-
witnesses to the incident and the recovery is also made at the
instance of this petitioner, there is a prima facie case against the
petitioner.
6.
Having heard the learned counsel for the petitioner
and the learned High Court Government Pleader appearing for
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the respondent-State and also on perusal of the material
available on record, granting of bail in favour of other accused
cannot be a ground to enlarge this petitioner on bail and the
Court has to take note of the gravity of the offence as well as
whether parity applies or not. The Apex Court in the judgment
in the case of RAMESH BHAVAN RATHOD v. VISHANBHAI
HIRABHAI MAKWANA (KOLI) AND ANOTHER reported in
(2021) 6 SCC 230, has considered the bail on ground of parity
with co-accused and the mann