Mohammadd Ashraf v. State of Punjab

INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHo o 215o o o o o o o ooooooCRM-M-35036-2024o Dateoofodecision:o10.07.2025o MohommaddoAshrafoooo o o o o o o o o o o o ....Petitionerooo V/so StateoofoPunjaboo o o o o o o o o o ....Respondento o CORAM:oo HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSUMEEToGOELo Present:oo Mr.oRajoKumaroGupta,oAdvocateo&o Mr.oVikasoDhaiya,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioner.o o o o Mr.oJaypreetoSingh,oDAG,oPunjab.o *****o SUMEEToGOEL,oJ.o(Oral)oo

1.o o Presento petitiono haso beeno filedo undero Sectiono 483o ofo theo BharatiyaoNagarikoSurakshaoSanhitaoforograntooforegularobailotootheopetitionero inocaseobearingoFIRoNo.006odatedo19.01.2023,oregisteredoforotheooffenceso punishableo undero Sectionso 15o &o 27o ofo theo NDPSo Acto ato Policeo Stationo Maqsudan,oDistrictoJalandharo(Rural).oo

2.o o Theo gravameno ofo theo accusation,o ino theo FIR,o againsto theo petitioneroisothatoheohasobeenoapprehendedowitho310oKgoofopoppyohusk.o

3.o o Learnedocounseloforotheopetitioneroespousingotheocauseoofotheo petitionerohasoarguedothatotheopetitionerohasobeenofalselyoimplicatedointootheo FIRoinoquestion.ooLearnedocounselohasofurtherosubmittedothatonoorecovery,oaso allegedoinotheoprosecutionoversion,owasoeffectedofromotheopetitioner.ooLearnedo counselohasofurtherosubmittedothatotheomandatoryoprovisionsoofoNDPSoActoofo 1985owereonotoscrupulouslyocompliedowithoandonooappropriateoindependento witnessoasorequiredoinolawohasobeenoassociated.ooLearnedocounselohasofurthero referred,oinoextenso,otootheozimni/interimoordersopassedobyotheotrialoCourtotoo NAVEEN NAGPAL argueothatothereoisodelayoinoculminationoofotheotrialoandofollyothereofocannoto CRM-M-35036-2024o o P a g e o?o2o o beoattributedotootheopetitioner.ooThus,olearnedocounselohasoprayedoforograntoofo regularobailotootheopetitioner.ooo

4.o o Learnedo Stateo counselo haso opposedo theo presento petitiono byo arguingothatotheoallegationsoraisedoagainstotheopetitioneroareoseriousoinonature.o LearnedoStateocounselohasofurtheroiteratedothatotheoFIRoinoquestionopertainsotoo recoveryo ofo 310Kgo ofo poppyo husk,o whicho iso ao commercialo quantityo and,o therefore,otheobarounderoSectiono37oofotheoNDPS,o1985oisoattracted.oLearnedo Stateo counselo haso filedo theo custodyo certificateo datedo 09.07.2025o ino Courto today,owhichoisotakenoonorecord.ooHeohas,oaccordingly,oentreatedoforodismissalo ofotheopetitionoinohand.oo

5.o o Iohaveoheardocounseloforotheorivalopartiesoandohaveogoneothrougho theoavailableorecords.oo

6.o o Theo petitionero waso arrestedo ono 19.01.2023o whereinaftero investigationo waso carriedo outo ando challano waso presentedo ono 11.07.2023.oo Totalo19oprosecutionowitnessesohaveobeenocited,ooutoofowhichoonlyo01ohaso beenoexaminedotillodate,owhereaso07ostandogivenoup.ooAoperusaloofotheozimnio ordersopassedobyotheotrialoCourtoasoproducedobeforeothisoCourt,oreflectsothato nooprosecutionowitnessocameotoobeoexaminedoono21.09.2023,o12.10.2023,o

02.11.2023,o 23.11.2023,o 14.12.2023,o 11.01.2024,o 16.04.2024,o 31.05.2024,o

24.07.2024,o20.11.2024oando28.01.2025.ooItoisoonlyoono02.04.2025othatooneo policeoofficialowasoexaminedoasoaoprosecutionowitnessoando7ootheroofficialo witnessesowereogivenoup.ooo

6.1o o Ato thiso juncture,o ito wouldo beo germaneo too refero hereino too ao judgmentoofothisoCourtopassedoinoCRM-M-64074-2024o'KulwinderoVs.oStateo ofoPunjab,orelevantowhereoforeadsoasounder:-o "7.1.oLongoback,oinoHussainaraoKhatoonovs.oHomeoSecy.,oStateoofoBiharo reportedoaso(1980)o1oSCCo81,otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtohadodeclaredo thato theo righto too speedyo trialo ofo offenderso facingo criminalo chargeso isoNAVEEN NAGPAL authenticity of this order/judgment "implicitoinotheobroadosweepoandocontentoofoArticleo21oasointerpretedobyo CRM-M-35036-2024o o P a g e o?o3o o thisoCourt".ooRemarkingothatoaovalidoprocedureounderoArticleo21oisooneo whichocontainsoaoprocedureothatoiso"reasonable,ofairoandojust"oitowasoheldo that:o o "Nowoobviouslyoprocedureoprescribedobyolawoforodeprivingoao personoofolibertyocannotobeo"reasonable,ofairoorojust"ounlessothato procedureoensuresoaospeedyotrialoforodeterminationoofotheoguilto ofo sucho person.o o Noo procedureo whicho doeso noto ensureo ao reasonablyoquickotrialocanobeoregardedoaso"reasonable,ofairooro just"oandoitowouldofallofouloofoArticleo21.ooThereocan,otherefore,o beo noo doubto thato speedyo trial,o ando byo speedyo trialo weo meano reasonablyoexpeditiousotrial,oisoanointegraloandoessentialopartoofo theofundamentalorightotoolifeoandolibertyoenshrinedoinoArticleo21.oo Theoquestionowhichowould,ohowever,oariseoisoasotoowhatowouldo beotheoconsequenceoifoaopersonoaccusedoofoanooffenceoisodeniedo speedyo trialo ando iso soughto too beo deprivedo ofo hiso libertyo byo imprisonmentoasoaoresultoofoaolongodelayedotrialoinoviolationoofo hisofundamentalorightounderoArticleo21."o

7.2.oTheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoaojudgmentotitledoasoAbduloRehmano AntulayovsoR.S.oNayakoreportedoaso(1992)o1oSCCo225ohasore-emphasizedo theo righto too speedyo trial,o ando furthero heldo thato ano accused,o facingo prolongedotrial,ohasonoooption:o o "Theo Stateo oro complainanto prosecuteso him.o o Ito is,o thus,o theo obligationoofotheoStateoorotheocomplainant,oasotheocaseomayobe,o too proceedo witho theo caseo witho reasonableo promptitude.oo Particularly,o ino thiso country,o whereo theo largeo majorityo ofo accusedocomeofromopooreroandoweakerosectionsoofotheosociety,o noto versedo ino theo wayso ofo law,o whereo theyo doo noto ofteno geto competentolegaloadvice,otheoapplicationoofotheosaidoruleoisowhollyo inadvisable.ooOfocourse,oinoaogivenocase,oifoanyoaccusedodemandso speedyotrialoandoyetoheoisonotogivenoone,omayobeoaorelevantofactoro ino hiso favour.o o Buto weo cannoto disentitleo ano accusedo fromo complainingoofoinfringementoofohisorightotoospeedyotrialoonotheo groundothatoheodidonotoaskoforooroinsistouponoaospeedyotrial.o"o

7.3.oTheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoaojudgmentotiledoasoJavedoGulamoNabio Shaikhovs.oStateoofoMaharashtraoandoanother,o2024(3)oRCRo(Ciminal)o 494ohasoheldoasounder:o o "18.oCriminalsoareonotobornooutobutomade.ooTheohumanopotentialo ino everyoneo iso goodo ando so,o nevero writeo offo anyo criminalo aso beyondoredemption.ooThisohumanistofundamentaloisooftenomissedo wheno dealingo witho delinquents,o juvenileo ando adult.o o Indeed,o NAVEEN NAGPAL everyosaintohasoaopastoandoeveryosinneroaofuture.ooWhenoaocrimeo CRM-M-35036-2024o o P a g e o?o4o o isocommitted,oaovarietyoofofactorsoisoresponsibleoforomakingotheo offenderocommitotheocrime.ooThoseofactorsomayobeosocialoando economic,o mayo be,o theo resulto ofo valueo erosiono oro parentalo neglect;omayobe,obecauseoofotheostressoofocircumstances,oorotheo manifestationoofotemptationsoinoaomilieuoofoaffluenceocontrastedo withoindigenceoorootheroprivations.o o 19.o IfotheoStateooroanyoprosecutingoagencyoincludingotheocourto concernedo haso noo wherewithalo too provideo oro protecto theo fundamentalo righto ofo ano accusedo too haveo ao speedyo trialo aso enshrinedounderoArticleo21oofotheoConstitutionothenotheoStateooro anyootheroprosecutingoagencyoshouldonotoopposeotheopleaoforo bailoonotheogroundothatotheocrimeocommittedoisoserious.ooArticleo 21oofotheoConstitutionoappliesoirrespectiveoofotheonatureoofotheo crime.oo o 20.o Weomayohastenotooaddothatotheopetitioneroisostilloanoaccused;o noto ao convict.o o Theo over-archingo postulateo ofo criminalo jurisprudenceothatoanoaccusedoisopresumedotoobeoinnocentountilo proveno guiltyo cannoto beo brushedo asideo lightly,o howsoevero stringentotheopenalolawomayobe.o o 21.o Weoareoconvincedothatotheomanneroinowhichotheoprosecutingo agencyoasowelloasotheoCourtohaveoproceeded,otheorightoofotheo accusedo too haveo ao speedyo trialo couldo beo saido too haveo beeno infringedotherebyoviolatingoArticleo21oofotheoConstitution."o

7.4.oTheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourt;owhileodealingowithoaobailopleaoinorespecto ofoaocaseounderoNDPSoActopertainingotoocommercialoquantityocontraband;o inoaojudgmentotitledoasoMohdoMuslimo@oHussainovs.oStateo(NCToofoDelhi)o reportedoaso2023oINSCo311,ohasoobservedoasounder:o o "21.ooBeforeoparting,oitowouldobeoimportantotooreflectothatolawso whicho imposeo stringento conditionso foro granto ofo bail,o mayo beo necessaryoinopublicointerest;oyet,oifotrialsoareonotoconcludedoino time,otheoinjusticeowreckedoonotheoindividualoisoimmeasurable.oo Jailsoareoovercrowdedoandotheirolivingoconditions,omoreoofteno thanonot,oappalling.ooAccordingotootheoUnionoHomeoMinistry'so responseo too Parliament,o theo Nationalo Crimeo Recordso Bureauo sthado recordedo thato aso ono 31 o Decembero 2021,o overo 5,54,034o prisonersowereolodgedoinojailsoagainstototalocapacityoofo4,25,068o lakhsoinotheocountry.ooOfotheseo122,852owereoconvicts;otheoresto 4,27,165owereoundertrials.o o 22.o Theodangeroofounjustoimprisonment,oisothatoinmatesoareoato risko ofo "prisonisation'o ao termo describedo byo theo Keralao Higho CourtoinoAoConvictoPrisonerovs.oStateoreportedoino1993oCrioLJo I attest to the accuracy and 3242,oasoao"aoradicalotransformation"owherebyotheoprisoner:o CRM-M-35036-2024o o P a g e o?o5o o o "loseso hiso identity.o o Heo iso knowno byo ao number.o o Heo loseso personalo possessions.o o Heo haso noo personalo relationships.oo Psychologicalo problemso resulto fromo losso ofo freedom,o status,o possessions,odignityoanyoautonomyoofopersonalolife.ooTheoinmateo cultureoofoprisonoturnsooutotoobeodreadful.ooTheoprisonerobecomeso hostileobyoordinaryostandards.ooSelf-perceptionochanges."o o 23.o Thereoisoaofurtherodangeroofotheoprisoneroturningotoocrime,o "asocrimeonotoonlyoturnsoadmirable,obutotheomoreoprofessionalo theo crime,o moreo honouro iso paido too theo criminal"o (alsoo seeo DonaldoClemmer'so'TheoPrisonoCommunity'opublishedoino1940).oo Incarcerationohasofurtherodeleteriousoeffecto-oowhereotheoaccusedo belongso too theo weakesto economico strata:o immediateo losso ofo livelihood,oandoinoseveralocases,oscatteringoofofamiliesoasowelloaso lossoofofamilyobondsoandoalienationofromosociety.ooTheocourtso therefore,ohaveotoobeosensitiveotootheseoaspectso(becauseoinotheo eventoofoanoacquittal,otheolossotootheoaccusedoisoirreparable),oando ensureothatotrialso–oespeciallyoinocases,owhereospecialolawsoenacto stringentoprovisions,oareotakenoupoandoconcludedospeedily."o

7.5.o Theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Court;o ino ao bailo pleao undero NDPSo Acto pertainingo too commercialo quantity;o ino Criminalo Appealo No.245/2020o datedo07.02.2020otitledoaso"ChittaoBiswasoAliasoSubhasovs.oTheoStateoofo WestoBengal"ohasoheldoasounder:-o o o "Leaveogranted.o o o ThisoappealoarisesooutoofotheofinaloOrderodatedo30.7.2010o passedobyotheoHighoCourtoofoCalcuttaoinoCRMoNo.6787oofo2019.oo o o Theoinstantomatteroarisesooutoofoapplicationopreferredobyotheo appellantounderoSectiono439oCr.P.C.oseekingobailoinoconnectiono withoCriminaloCaseoNo.146oofo2018oregisteredowithoTaherpuro PoliceoStationoforooffenceopunishableounderoSectiono21-Coofotheo NarcoticoDrugsoandoPsychotropicoSubstancesoAct,o1985.o o o Accordingotootheoprosecution,otheoappellantowasofoundotoobeo inopossessionoofonarcoticosubstanceoi.e.o46obottlesoofophensydrylo cougho syrupo containingo codeineo mixtureo aboveo commercialo quantity.o o o Theoappellantowasoarrestedoono21.07.2018oandocontinuesotoo beoinocustody.ooItoappearsothatooutoofo10owitnessesocitedotoobeo examinedoinosupportoofotheocaseoofoprosecutionofourowitnesseso haveoalreadyobeenoexaminedoinotheotrial.o o o Withoutoexpressingoanyoopinionoonotheomeritsoorodemeritsoofo theo rivalo submissionso ando consideringo theo factso ando circumstanceso ono record,o ino ouro view,o caseo foro bailo iso madeo I attest to the accuracy and out."o CRM-M-35036-2024o o P a g e o?o6o o

7.6.o Theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Court;o ino ao bailo pleao undero NDPSo Acto pertainingotoocommercialoquantity;otitledoaso"NitishoAdhikaryo@oBapano Vs.oTheoStateoofoWestoBengal"ohasoheldoasounder:-o o o "Aso pero theo officeo reporto datedo 29.07.2022,o copyo ofo theo showo causeo noticeo alongo witho Specialo Leaveo Petitiono waso suppliedotootheoStandingoCounseloforotheoStateoofoWestoBengalo ando separateo noticeo haso beeno servedo ono theo Stateo also.oo However,onoooneohasoenteredoappearanceoonotheirobehalf.o o o TheopetitioneroseeksoenlargementoonobailoinoF.I.R.oNo.612o ofo2020odatedo17.10.2020ofiledounderoSectiono21(c)oando37oofotheo NDPSoAct,oregisteredoatoPoliceoStationoBongaon,oWestoBengal.o o o Duringotheocourseoofotheohearing,oweoareoinformedothatotheo petitionerohasoundergoneocustodyoforoaoperiodoofo01oyearoando07o monthsoasoono09.06.2022.ooTheotrialoisoatoaopreliminaryostage,oaso onlyooneowitnessohasobeenoexamined.ooTheopetitionerodoesonoto haveocriminaloantecedents.oo o o Takingointooconsiderationotheoperiodoofosentenceoundergoneo byotheopetitioneroandoallotheoattendingocircumstancesobutowithouto expressingoanyoviewsoinotheomeritsoofotheocase,oweoareoinclinedotoo grantobailotootheopetitioner.oo o o Theopetitioneroisoaccordingly,odirectedotoobeoreleasedoono bailosubjectotoohimofurnishingobailobondsotootheosatisfactionoofo theoTrialoCourt."o

7.7.oTootheosimilaroeffectoisotheoratioodecidendioofotheojudgmentsoofotheo Hon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoSpecialoLeaveotooAppealo(Crl.)oNo.5530-2022o datedo22.08.20223otitledoaso"MohammadoSalmanoHanifoShaikhovs.oTheo StateoofoGujarat";oCriminaloAppealoNo.1169oofo2022odatedo05.08.2022o titledoasoGopaloKrishnaoPatrao@oGopalrusmaoVs.oUnionoofoIndiaoando AnkuroChaudharyovs.oStateoofoMadhyaoPradesho2024(4)oRCRo(Criminal)o 172o

7.8.o Theo righto too ao speedyo ando expeditiouso trialo iso noto onlyo ao vitalo safeguardo too prevento undueo ando oppressiveo incarceration;o too mitigateo anxietyoandoconcernoaccompanyingotheoaccusationoasowelloasotoocurtailo anyoimpairmentoinotheoabilityoofoanoaccusedotoodefendohimself,obutothereoiso anooverarchingosocietalointerestopavingowayoforoaospeedyotrial.oThisorighto hasobeenorepeatedlyoactuatedoinotheorecentopastoandotheoratioodecidendioofo theoabove-referredotooSupremeoCourt'sojudgmentsohaveolaidodownoaoserieso ofodecisionsoopeningouponewovistasoofofundamentalorights.ooTheoconceptoofo speedyotrialoisoamalgamatedointootheoArticleo21oasoanoessentialopartoofotheo fundamentalorightotoolifeoandoliberty,oguaranteedoandopreservedounderoouro Constitution.ooTheorightotoospeedyotrialobeginsowithotheoactualorestrainto I attest to the accuracy and imposedo ato theo timeo ofo theo arresto ofo theo accusedo ando consequento CRM-M-35036-2024o o P a g e o?o7o o incarcerationo whicho continueso ato allo stages,o namely,o theo stageo ofo investigation,o inquiry,o trial,o appealo ando revisiono soo thato anyo possibleo prejudiceothatomayoresultodueotooimpermissibleoandoavoidableodelayosinceo theotimeoofotheocommissionoofotheooffenceotillotheocriminaloproceedingso consummateo intoo ao finality,o couldo beo averted.o o Theo speedyo trial,o earlyo hearingoandoquickodisposaloareosineoquaononoofocriminalojurisprudence.o Theo overcrowdedo Court-dockets,o theo heavyo volumeo ofo worko ando theo resultantopressureoonotheoprosecutionoandotheoPolice,oindubitablyokeepsotheo entireo criminalo jurisprudentialo mechanismo undero stresso ando strain.oo However,othisocannotobeoanoexcuseoforokeepingotheoswordoofoDamocleso hangingoonotheoaccusedoforoanoindefiniteoperiodoofotime.ooItodoesonotoserveo anyocreditotootheocriminalojusticeosystem,oratheroitomakesoforoaosadostateoofo affairs.oTheoguaranteeoofoaospeedyotrialoisointendedotooavoidooppressiono ando prevento delayo byo imposingo ono theo Courto ando theo prosecutiono ano obligationo too proceedo witho theo trialo witho ao reasonableo dispatch.o o Theo guaranteeo serveso ao threefoldo purpose.o Firstly,o ito protectso theo accusedo againsto oppressiveo pre-trialo imprisonment;o secondly,o ito relieveso theo accusedoofotheoanxietyoandopublicosuspicionodueotoounresolvedocriminalo chargesoandolastly,oitoprotectsoagainstotheoriskothatoevidenceowillobeolostooro memoriesodimmedobyotheopassageoofotime,othus,oimpairingotheoabilityoofotheo accusedotoodefendohimself.oItogoesowithoutosayingothatotheoconsequencesoofo pre-trialo detentiono areo grave.o Accused,o presumedo innocent,o tillo proveno otherwise,o areo subjectedo too psychologicalo ando physicalo deprivationso ofo jail-life,ousuallyounderoonerousoconditions.oEquallyoimportant,otheoburdeno ofodetentionoofosuchoanoaccusedofrequentlyofallsoheavilyoonotheoinnocento membersoofohisofamily.ooo oThereoisoyetoanotheroaspectoofotheomatterowhichodeservesoconsiderationoato thiso stage.oTheo allegationso ino theo presento caseo relateo too accusedo beingo involvedoinoanoFIRorelatingotoocommercialoquantityoofocontrabandoundero theoNDPSoAct,o1985.ooWhileoconsideringoaobailopetitionoinoaocaseoinvolvingo commercialo quantity,o theo Courto haso too keepo ino mindo theo rigourso enumeratedounderoSectiono37oofoNDPSoAct,o1985owhichomandatesothato Courtso cano granto bailo too ano accusedo onlyo aftero hearingo theo publico prosecutoroandoafterohavingosatisfiedoitselfoofotwinoconditionsowhichoareo reasonableo groundso foro believingo thato theo accusedo iso noto guiltyo ofo theo offenceocharged/allegedoandothat,oheoisonotolikelyotoocommitoanyooffenceo whileoonobail.ooTheostringentorigoursoofoSectiono37oofotheoNDPSoAct,o1985o musto beo meticulouslyo scrutinizedo againsto theo backdropo ofo accused'so fundamentalorightotooaospeedyotrial.ooTheorightotoolifeoandopersonalolibertyo cannoto beo renderedo nugatoryo byo unwarrantedo delayso ino theo judicialo process,o particularlyo whereo sucho delay(s)o iso neithero attributableo too theo NAVEEN NAGPAL accusedonorojustifiedoatotheoendoofotheoprosecutionobyocogentoreasons.oAno CRM-M-35036-2024o o P a g e o?o8o o individualocannotobeokeptobehindobarsoforoanoinordinateoperiodoofotimeobyo takingorefugeoinorigoursolaidodownoinoSectiono37oofotheoNDPSoAct,o1985.oo Theo legislatureo ino itso wisdom,o ino ordero too ensureo speedyo ando timelyo disposaloofotheocasesounderotheoAct,ohasoprovidedoforotheoconstitutionoofo specialoCourtsounderoSectiono36-AoofotheoAct.ooHowever,othisoCourtocannoto turnoNelson'soeyeotootheoprotractedodelaysoandosystematicoinefficiencyothato frustrateothisolegislativeopurpose.ooAoCourtoofolawoisoduty-boundotooensureo thato ito doeso noto becomeo complicito ino violationo ofo ano individual'so fundamentalo rights,o notwithstandingo anythingo containedo ino ao statute.oo Whileo dealingo witho bailo petitiono ino ao caseo governedo byo theo rigourso ofo Sectiono 37o ofo theo NDPSo Act,o 1985,o theo Courto musto strikeo ao judiciouso balanceobetweenotheolegislativeointentotoocurbotheomenaceoofodrugsoandotheo sacrosanctorightoofotheoaccusedotooaofairoandoexpeditiousotrial.ooProlongedo incarceration,o withouto justifiableo cause,o riskso transformingo pre-trialo detentiono intoo punitiveo imprisonment,o ano outcomeo antitheticalo too theo principleoofojusticeoandoequity.oooo Ergo,o theo unequivocalo inferenceo iso thato whereo theo trialo haso failedo too concludeowithinoaoreasonableotime,oresultingoinoprolongedoincarceration,oito militateso againsto theo preciouso fundamentalo rightso ofo lifeo ando libertyo grantedo undero theo lawo and,o aso such,o conditionalo libertyo overridingo theo statutoryoembargoocreatedounderoSectiono37oofotheoNDPSoAct,o1985ooughto toobeoconsideredoasoperofactsoofoaogivenocase.ooInootherowords,ograntoofobailo inoaocaseopertainingotoocommercialoquantity,oonotheogroundoofoundueodelayo inotrial,ocannotobeosaidotoobeofetteredobyoSectiono37oofotheoNDPSoAct,o 1985."oo

6.2.o o Revertingotootheofactualomilieuoofotheocaseoinohand;oasoperotheo custodyocertificateodatedo09.07.2025ofiledobyotheolearnedoStateocounseloino Courtotoday,otheopetitionerohasosufferedoincarcerationoforomoreothano02oyearso ando05omonths.ooTheozimnioordersopassedobyotheotrialoCourtoindeedoreflecto thato theo trialo iso procrastinating,o conclusiono thereofo iso noto visibleo ino nearo futureo ando theo delayo ino culminationo thereofo cannoto beo attributedo too theo petitioner.oooTheorivalocontentionoofolearnedocounseloforotheopartiesogiveoriseo tootheodebatableoissues,owhichoshallobeodelvedointooduringotheocourseoofotrial.oo Thiso Courto doeso noto deemo ito appropriateo too looko deepo intoo theseo rivalo contentions,oatothisostage,olestoitomayoprejudiceotheotrial.oooNothingotangibleo haso beeno broughto forwardo too indicateo theo likelihoodo ofo theo petitionero CRM-M-35036-2024o o P a g e o?o9o o abscondingo fromo theo processo ofo justiceo oro interferingo witho theo remainingo prosecutionoevidence.ooKeepingoinoviewototalityoofotheofacts,oespeciallyolongo inordinateo custodyo ofo theo petitionero aso ano undertrialo withouto himo beingo responsibleoforoprocrastinationothereof,oentitlesohimotoograntooforegularobail,o inotheofactualomatrixoofotheopresentocase.o o o Sufficeotoosay,ofurtherodetentionoofotheopetitioneroasoanoundertrialo isonotowarrantedoinotheofactsoandocircumstancesoofotheocase.ooo

7.o o Inoviewoofoabove,otheopresentopetitionoisoallowed.oPetitioneroiso orderedotoobeoreleasedoonoregularobailoonohisofurnishingobail/suretyobondsotoo theosatisfactionoofotheoconcernedotrialoCourt/DutyoMagistrate.oHowever,oino additiono too conditionso thato mayo beo imposedo byo theo concernedo trialo Court/DutyoMagistrate,otheopetitioneroshalloremainoboundobyotheofollowingo conditions:-o o (i)oo Theopetitioneroshallonotomis-useotheolibertyogranted.oo o (ii)oo Theopetitioneroshallonototamperowithoanyoevidence,ooralo o orodocumentary,oduringotheotrial.oo o (iii)oo Theo petitionero shallo noto absento himselfo ono anyo dateo o beforeotheotrial.oo o (iv)oo Theo petitionero shallo noto commito anyo offenceo whileo o onobail.oo o (v)oo Theopetitioneroshallodepositohisopassport,oifoany,oowitho o theotrialoCourt.oo o (vi)oo Theo petitionero shallo giveo hiso cellphoneo numbero too o theo Investigatingo Officer/SHOo ofo concernedo Policeo o Stationo ando shallo noto changeo hiso cell-phoneo numbero o withouto prioro permissiono ofo theo trialo Court/Illaqao o Magistrate.o o (vii)oo Theo petitionero shallo noto ino anyo mannero tryo too delayo o theotrial.oo

8.o o Inocaseoofobreachoofoanyoofotheoaforesaidoconditionsoandothoseo whicho mayo beo imposedo byo theo concernedo trialo Court/Dutyo Magistrateo aso CRM-M-35036-2024o o P a g e o?o10o o directedohereinaboveoorouponoshowingoanyootherosufficientocause,otheoStateo shallobeoatolibertyotoomoveocancellationoofobailoofotheopetitioner.oo

9.oo o Orderedoaccordingly.oo

10.o o Nothingosaidohereinaboveoshallobeoconstruedoasoanoexpressionoofo opinionoonotheomeritsoofotheocase.oo

11.oo o Sinceotheomainocaseohasobeenodecided,opendingomiscellaneouso application,oifoany,oshalloalsoostandsodisposedooff.o o o o o o o o o o o o o o oooooo(SUMEEToGOEL)o o ooooooooooooooooo o o ooooooooooooooooooooo ooo o o oooJUDGEo o Julyo10,o2025o o Naveeno o o o o Whetherospeaking/reasoned:o o Yes/Noo o o Whetheroreportable:o o o Yes/Noo o