The court found that absence of substantial criminal history and socio-economic status may justify the granting of bail.

ORDER This first application has been filed by the applicant under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023 for grant of bail in connection with Crime No. 317/2025 registered at Police Station - Nagda, District - Ujjain (M.P.) for offence punishable under Sections 109(1), 115(2), 118(1), 351(3) of BNS, 2023 and Section 25 of Arms Act . Applicant is in judicial custody since

07.07.2025.

Heard the arguments.

Perused the grounds for grant of bail stated in the application, case diary and the relevant material on record.

Learned counsel for the applicant in addition to the grounds mentioned in the application submits that the applicant is falsely implicated in the alleged offence. Minor altercation over suspicion against Ravi of having illicit relations with the wife of applicant aggravated into scuffle. The Signature Not Verified allegation against the applicant relates to assault by knife to Ravi, Gagan and Amit. Final report has been submitted on completion of investigation. There is no likelihood of tampering with evidence by the applicant. Jail incarceration is causing hardship to the applicant and his dependent family. Applicant is ready to cooperate in further trial.

Per contra, learned counsel for the State opposes the application on the ground of gravity of alleged offence. Learned counsel refers to 04 criminal antecedents of the applicant as mentioned in the case diary. In reply, learned counsel for the applicant referring to the relevant judgments submits that applicant has been acquitted in all the four matters.

No prosecution is pending against the applicant.

According to the material available on case diary, Pankaj assaulted Ravindra alias Ravi, Gagan and Amit Prajapat with knife in the evening of 02.07.2025. Pankaj was suspecting illicit relations of Ravi with his wife. P.S. Nagda registered dehati nalishi at the instance of Gagan at Janseva Hospital, Birlagram. Later, offence punishable u/S 109(1) of BNS, 2023 was registered against the applicant. The applicant was arrested on 07.07.2025. The injured were forwarded for medico legal examination. However, no fracture or other grievous injuries were revealed during MLC examination. One knife was recovered and seized at the instance of applicant Pankaj. Prosecution for offence punishable u/S 115(2), 118(1) and 351(3) of BNS, 2023 and Sec 25 of Arms Act was added. The veracity of prosecution and complicity of the applicant in the alleged offence will be determined after evidence in the trial.

Signature Not Verified As informed, the applicant is aged 35 years and is a labourer by profession. He has the responsibility of family. Considering these aspects, there appears to be no possibility of fleeing from justice. In absence of any substantial criminal past and previous conviction, considering the socio- economic status of the applicant, there appears to be no likelihood of tampering with evidence or influencing the witnesses by the applicant. There appears to be no compelling reason to continue incarceration of the applicant. However, the observations, herein-above, are recorded for present application only.

Considering the rival contentions and overall circumstances of the case, in the light of aforestated facts, but without commenting on the merits, this Court is inclined to release the applicant on bail. Thus, the application is allowed.

Accordingly, it is directed that applicant- Pankaj Meena alias Lali shall be released on bail in connection with Crime, as mentioned in first paragraph of this order, upon furnishing a personal bond in the sum of Rs. 50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Thousand only) with one surety of the same amount to the satisfaction of the Trial Court, for compliance with the following conditions : (For convenience of understanding by accused and surety, the conditions of bail are also reproduced in Hindi asunder):-

(1) Applicant shall remain present on every date of hearing as may be directed by the concerned court;

(1) आवेदक संबंिधत (cid:12)यायालय के िनद(cid:17)शानुसार सुनवाई क(cid