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2026:UHC:3619

Office Notes,

reports, orders

or proceedings

SL.

Date or directions COURT’S OR JUDGE’S ORDERS

No.

and Registrar’s

order with

Signatures

BA1 No.1265 of 2025

Hon’ble Alok Mahra, J.

Mr. Aditya Singh, Advocate for the

applicant.

Mr. Pratiroop Pandey, A.G.A. for the

State of Uttarakhand.

2. This first bail application has been

moved by the applicant seeking regular

bail in F.I.R. No.0001 of 2025, under

Sections 316(5), 336(2)(3), 338 of

B.N.S., registered at Police Station

Someshwar, District Almora.

3. As per the allegations levelled in the

F.I.R., an audit conducted by the

Department revealed that the applicant,

while posted as Branch Postmaster,

Bahasodi, allegedly embezzled an

amount of ₹94,211/- from the

government funds. It is further alleged

that the applicant withdrew money from

the accounts of customers of the Branch

Post Office by forging their signatures.

Upon completion of investigation, the

Investigating Officer submitted the

charge-sheet against the applicant.

4. Learned counsel for the applicant

submits that the applicant has been

falsely implicated in the present case; he

has no criminal antecedents and is in

judicial custody since 04.03.2025. It is

contended that not a single account

holder or customer of the concerned

Branch Post Office has lodged any

complaint alleging misappropriation or

unauthorized withdrawal from their

respective accounts against the

2026:UHC:3619

applicant. Learned counsel further

submits that the entire prosecution case

rests upon documentary evidence

collected during the audit and

investigation, all of which are already in

the custody of the prosecution. It is

argued that, since the charge-sheet has

already been filed, no further custodial

interrogation of the applicant is required.

It is further submitted that there is no

likelihood of the applicant tampering with

the prosecution evidence or influencing

any witness, particularly when the

evidence relied upon by the prosecution

is documentary in nature and already

forms part of the case record. It is also

argued that the conclusion of trial is

likely to take considerable time;

therefore, continued incarceration of the

applicant would serve no useful purpose.

Learned counsel for the applicant

undertakes that the applicant shall

cooperate with the trial proceedings and

shall abide by any condition which may

be imposed by the Court while enlarging

him on bail.

5. Learned State Counsel vehemently

opposed the bail application.

6. Having heard learned counsel for

the parties and upon perusal of the

material available on record, this Court

finds that the applicant is in judicial

custody since 04.03.2025 and the

investigation in the matter has already

been completed and charge-sheet has

been submitted. The prosecution case is

primarily based upon documentary

evidence, which is already in the custody

of the prosecution. No material has been

brought on record to indicate that the

applicant would tamper with the

evidence or influence the witnesses if

2026:UHC:3619

enlarged on bail. The applicant is stated

to have no criminal antecedents and the

trial is likely to take considerable time for

its conclusion.

7. Accordingly, without expressing any

opinion on the ultimate merits of the

matter, this Court is of the considered

view that the applicant has made out a

case for grant of bail at this stage. The

bail application is allowed.

8. Let the applicant-Basant Lal be

released on bail, on executing personal

bond and furnishing two reliable sureties,

each of like amount, to the satisfaction of

Court concerned.

(Alok Mahra, J.)

12.05.2026

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