Anshul Garg v. State of Haryana

o o CRM-M-51942-2025o o o o o o 1o o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHo o 101-8oo o o o o ooooooo ooooooCRM-M-51942-2025o o AnshuloGargooooo o o o o o o o ....Petitionerooo V/so StateoofoHaryanaooo o o o o o ....Respondento o Dateoofodecision:o06.03.2026o DateoofoUploadingo:o09.03.2026o o CORAM:oo HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSUMEEToGOELo Present:oo Mr.oVinodoGhai,oSenioroAdvocateowitho o o Mr.oSajaloBansal,oAdvocateoandoo o o Mr.oArnavoGhai,oAdvocateoandoo o o Mr.oR.S.oBagga,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioner.oo o Mr.oGurmeetoSingh,oAAGoHaryana.oo o *****o SUMEEToGOEL,oJ.o(Oral)oo

1.o o PresentosecondopetitionohasobeenofiledounderoSectiono483oofotheo BharatiyaoNagarikoSurakshaoSanhita,o2023o(foroshorto'BNSS')oforograntoofo regularobailotootheopetitioneroinocaseobearingoFIRoNo.387odatedo10.11.2023,o registeredo foro theo offenceso punishableo undero Sectionso 120-B,o 201,o 304o (deletedolateroonovideoorderoframingochargeodatedo4.3.2025),oSectionso307,o 302o ofo IPCo (addedo latero ono video ordero framingo chargeo datedo 4.3.2025),o Sectiono328oofoIPCoandoSectiono72-AoofotheoPunjaboExciseoAct,o1914o(aso amendedobyotheoHaryanaoAmendmentoBill,o2020)oatoPoliceoStationoChhapar,o DistrictoYamunanagar,oHaryana.oo AJAYgKUMAR o o CRM-M-51942-2025o o o o o o 2o o o o Theo petitionero haso earliero appliedo foro granto ofo regularo bailo beforeo thiso Courto whicho waso dismissedo ono meritso video ordero datedo ono

30.08.2024.ooo o o Thereafter,otheopresentopetitionoi.e.otheosecondopetitionoforogranto oforegularobail,ohasobeenopreferredobyotheopetitioneroono10.09.2025.o

2.o o Theo gravameno ofo theo FIRo reflectso thato ono 09.11.2023,o informationowasoreceivedoatoPoliceoStationoChhapar,oDistrictoYamunanagaro regardingo theo deatho ofo oneo Jagmal,o whoo allegedlyo diedo aftero consumingo intoxicating/spuriouso country-madeo liquoro upono receipto ofo theo saido information.oTheopoliceoreachedoCiviloHospital,oYamunanagar,owhereotheo deceasedohadobeenobrought.ooOnotheofollowingoday,oi.e.,o10.11.2023,otheo statemento ofo Mohit,o sono ofo theo deceased,o waso recordedo byo theo police,o whereinoheoallegedothatohisofather,owhooworkedoasoaolabourer,ohadoconsumedo country-madeoliquoroallegedlyopurchasedofromocertainoindividuals,onamelyo RajoKumaro@oBabli,oNareshoKumaro@oKhuba,oRajeshoKumaroandoRadhey.o Itowasoallegedothatotheosaidoliquorowasopoisonousoinonatureoandoresultedoino theo deatho ofo theo deceased.o Ono theo basiso ofo theo saido statement,o FIRo ino questionowasoregisteredoandoinvestigationowasosetointoomotion.oDuringotheo courseo ofo investigation,o severalo accusedo personso wereo arrestedo ando theiro disclosureo statementso wereo recorded,o pursuanto too whicho theo investigatingo agencyoclaimedotoohaveounearthedoaolargeronetworkoallegedlyoinvolvedoinotheo manufacture,o supplyo ando distributiono ofo illicito ando spuriouso liquor.o Subsequently,o upono furthero investigationo ando ino viewo ofo theo materialo collectedobyotheoinvestigatingoagency,oSectiono302oIPCowasoaddedowhileo AJAYgKUMAR Sectiono304oIPCowasodeletedoatotheostageoofoframingoofocharge.ooDuringotheo o o CRM-M-51942-2025o o o o o o 3o o courseo ofo furthero investigation,o threeo moreo personso namelyo Anilo Kumar,o Paramjeeto ando Sushilo wereo alsoo statedo too haveo diedo aftero allegedlyo consumingotheospuriousoliquor.oo

3.o o Learnedoseniorocounseloforotheopetitionerohasoiteratedothatotheo petitionerohasobeenofalselyoimplicatedointootheoFIRoinoquestionoandohisonameo doeso noto findo mentiono ino theo originalo FIR.o Learnedo senioro counselo haso furtheroiteratedothatotheopetitionerohasobeenoropedoinoatoaosubsequentostageoofo investigationoonotheobasisoofodisclosureostatement(s)oofoco-accused,owhicho pero seo areo inadmissibleo ino evidenceo ando areo noto supportedo byo anyo independento oro corroborativeo materialo ono record.o o Ito haso beeno furthero submittedothatoneitheroanyorecoveryowhatsoeverohasobeenoeffectedofromotheo petitionero noro iso thereo anyo documentaryo linkingo himo witho theo allegedo manufacture,osupplyoorodistributionoofoillicitospuriousoliquor.oAccordingotoo learnedo senioro counsel,o theo entireo prosecutiono caseo againsto theo petitionero restso solelyo upono custodialo disclosureo statementso whicho byo themselveso cannotoconstituteolegallyoadmissibleoevidenceoinoviewoofotheosettledopositiono ofolaw.oItohasobeenofurtheroassertedothatotheopetitionerohasocleanoantecedentso andoisorunningoaolicensedoAyurvedicomanufacturingounit.ooItohasobeenofurthero contendedo thato duringo theo COVID-19o pandemico theo petitionero waso dulyo authorizedotooprocureoENAoforomanufacturingosanitizersoandotherefore,otheo attemptoofotheoprosecutionotoolinkotheopetitionerowithotheoallegedoillicitoliquoro networkoisowhollyomisconceivedoandounfounded.oLearnedoseniorocounselohaso emphasizedothatocertainoco-accused,owhooareoallegedotoohaveoplayedoaomoreo prominentorole,ohaveoalreadyobeenograntedotheoconcessionoofobailobyothiso AJAYgKUMAR Courtoand,otherefore,oonotheoprincipleoofoparityotheopetitioneroisoalsooentitledo o o CRM-M-51942-2025o o o o o o 4o o tootheosameorelief.ooAccordingotoolearnedoseniorocounsel,otheopetitionerohaso beeno ino custodyo sinceo 13.03.2024o ando theo investigationo quao himo standso concluded.oFurthermore,otheochallanoasowelloasosupplementaryochallanohaveo alreadyobeenopresentedobeforeotheocompetentoCourtoofojurisdiction.oLearnedo seniorocounselohasoemphasizedothatooutoofo105oprosecutionowitnessesocitedo notoevenoaosingleowitnessohasobeenoexaminedosoofaroandotheotrialoisolikelyotoo takeoaoconsiderableoperiodoofotimeotooconclude.oItohas,othus,obeenosubmittedo thatotheocontinuedoincarcerationoofotheopetitioneroparticularlyoinotheoabsenceo ofo anyo substantiveo oro directo evidenceolinkingo himo too theo allegedo offenceo wouldoserveonoousefulopurpose.oTheopetitioneroshalloundertakeotooabideobyoallo conditionsothatomayobeoimposedobyothisoCourt,oincludingonototamperingowitho theo prosecutiono evidenceo oro influencingo witnesseso ando noto leavingo theo countryowithoutoprioropermissionoofotheoCourt.oOnotheostrengthoofoaforesaido submissions,otheograntoofopetitionoinohandoisoentreatedofor.oo

4.o o Perocontra,olearnedoStateocounselohasovehementlyoopposedotheo grantoofobailotootheopetitionerobyoarguingothatotheoallegationsoareograveoando seriouso ino natureo aso theo caseo pertainso too theo manufactureo ando supplyo ofo illicit/spuriouso liquoro whicho allegedlyo resultedo ino theo deatho ofo certaino persons.o Learnedo Stateo counselo haso iteratedo thato duringo theo courseo ofo investigation,o theo investigatingo agencyo haso unearthedo ao largero ando wello organizedo conspiracyo involvingo multipleo individualso engagedo ino theo manufactureo ando distributiono ofo poisonouso liquoro haso beeno unearthed.oo Accordingo too learnedo Stateo counsel,o theo nameo ofo theo petitionero surfacedo duringo theo courseo ofo investigationo througho disclosureo statementso ofo co-AJAYgKUMAR accusedopersons,owhereinoitowasospecificallyoallegedothatotheopetitionerohaso o o CRM-M-51942-2025o o o o o o 5o o suppliedoExtraoNeutraloAlcoholo(ENA)owhichohasobeenosubsequentlyousedo forotheopreparationoofoillicitospuriousoliquor.oItohasobeenofurtherosubmittedo thatotheoroleoattributedotootheopetitioneroisonotomerelyoperipheral,orather,oito constituteso ao crucialo linko ino theo chaino ofo supplyo whicho facilitatedo theo manufactureoofotheospuriousoliquororesponsibleoforotheodeathoofotheovictims.o Furthermore,o theo chargeso haveo alreadyo beeno framedo byo theo learnedo trialo Courto foro offenceso undero Sectionso 302,o 328o ando 120-Bo IPCo alongo witho Sectiono72-AoofotheoPunjaboExciseoAct,oand,otherefore,oaoprimaofacieocaseo standsomadeooutoagainstotheopetitioner.oLearnedoStateocounselohasopointedo outothatotheoearlieropetitionoofotheopetitioneroforograntooforegularobailohaso alreadyobeenodismissedoandothereoisonoosubstantialochangeoinocircumstances.o Consideringotheogravityoofotheooffenceoandotheospecificoroleoattributedotootheo petitioner,olearnedoStateocounselohasoprayedoforotheodismissaloofotheoinstanto petition.oo

5.o o Io haveo heardo learnedo counselo foro theo rivalo partieso ando haveo perusedotheoavailableorecord.oo

6.o o Itowouldobeoappositeotooreferohereinotooaojudgmentopassedobyo thiso Courto ino Rafiqo Khano vs.o Stateo ofo Haryanao ando another:o 2024:o PHHC:054064;orelevantowhereoforeadsoasounder:-o

9.o o Theoparamountoissue,oinoanyopleaoforograntooforegularobail,o iso theo libertyo ofo ano individual.o Indubitably,o withino ouro societyo ando jurisprudence,o libertyo iso ao cherishedo foundationalo principleo ando haso fundamentaloascendencyooveroallootheroattributesoofosocialoorder.oEveno withino theo frameworko ofo Constitution,o thiso principleo iso madeo conspicuous,ointeroalia,oinoArticleo21oofoouroConstitutionothatonoopersono shallobeodeprivedoofohisopersonalolibertyoexceptoaccordingotooprocedureo establishedo byo law.o Theo Cr.P.C.,o 1973o iso oneo sucho proceduralo lawo AJAYgKUMAR Igattestgtogthegaccuracygand whichopermitsocurtailmentoofo libertyoofoanti-socialoandoanti-nationalo o o CRM-M-51942-2025o o o o o o 6o o elements.oYet,olibertyoofoanoindividual,otheoaccused,omustonototransgresso theorightsoofoanotheroindividual,otheovictim,oinotermsooforightotoodignifiedo everydayolifeowithoutoanyoimminentofearoorothreat.ooAdditionally,otheo rightsoofotheocollectiveoofoindividualsoviz.otheoState/Societyoatolarge,oalsoo cannoto beo neglected.o Therefore,o whileo countenancingo theo factso foro consideringotheobail,otheorightsoofotheotriadoofoaccused,ovictimoandotheo Stateo(Societyoatolarge)ooughtotoobeoentailed.oErgo,owhileoconsideringoao bailoplea,otheoCourtooughtotootakeointooaccountothisocoreoconcept(s).oo

9.1o o AnoanalyticaloperusaloofoCr.P.C.oexplicatesothatothisostatuteo doeso noto containo anyo provisiono relatableo too maintainabilityo oro otherwiseoofosecond/successiveobailopetitions,oincludingoone(s)oseekingo regularobail.oOnceothereoisonoostatutoryoprohibitionoprovidedoforoinolaw,o aoCourtoisonotologicallyoempoweredotooimportointooitosuchoprohibitions,o especiallyoinocaseoofocodifiedoandolegislatedolaw.oItoisotriteolawothato Courtsooughtonototooreadoaoprovisionoinocodifiedolawowhichohasonoto beenospecificallyoprovidedoforobyotheolegislatureoespeciallyowhenosucho readingoresultsointoodeprivationooforights.oTheobarocontainedoinoSectiono 362oofoCr.P.C.ocan,obyonoostretchoofolegaloimagination,obeosaidotoobeo barringotheofilingoofosecond/successiveoregularobailopetition.oo

9.2o o TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinocaseoofoBabuoSinghocaseo (supra)ohasoheldothatorejectionoofoaobailopetitionodoesonot,obyoitself,o forbidoaoCourtofromoconsideringoanotheroone,olateroinopointoofotime.oo Similaro iso theo ratioo decidendio ofo theo judgmento ofo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino Kalyano Chandrao Sarkaro (supra).o o Ergo,o ito cano beo safelyo inferredo thato theo decisiono ofo ao Courto quao regularo bailo petitiono iso essentiallyo ano interlocutoryo ordero ando henceo theo postulationo ofo reso judicataodoesonotoapplyotooitsorealm.oo

9.3o o Theoissueothatonextocravesoattentionoisoasotoowhatoareotheo factors/parametersoforoconsiderationoofosecond/successiveoregularobailo petition(s).o

9.4.oo Theo concordanto legalo positiono iso thato theo essentialo pre-requisiteoforoconsiderationoofosecond/successiveoregularopetitionoisotheo material/substantialo changeo ino circumstanceso ando factorso ofo alikeo nature.ooIndubitably,otheofurtheroperiodoofoincarcerationosufferedobyotheo petitioner-accusedo aftero rejection/withdrawalo ofo first/earliero pleao foro bail,o paceo ofo trial,o theo witnesseso turningo hostileo oro noto supportingo AJAYgKUMAR Igattestgtogthegaccuracygand prosecutionocaseoandochangedomedicalocondition(s)oofoaccusedowouldo o o CRM-M-51942-2025o o o o o o 7o o beopertinentofactor(s).oItogoesowithoutosayingothatotheseofactorsoareoonlyo illustrativeoinonatureoandocannotobyoanyomeansobeosaidotoobeoexhaustive.ooo

9.5o o Noorigidoorouniversalocriterionocanopossiblyobeodelineatedo too conclusivelyo governo theo exerciseo ofo judicialo discretion,o ino determining,o aso too whato wouldo constituteo aso theo aboveo statedo substantialochangeoinocircumstances.oFactualoflexibility,ooneoadditionalo orodifferentofact,omayocauseoaoseaoofodifference.oThereoisonoogainsayingo thato eacho caseo haso itso owno distincto ando uniqueo factso and,o hence,o exerciseoofosuchojudicialopoweroisobestoleftotootheojudicialodiscretionoofoao Court,oinoaccordanceowithotheosettledonormsoofoourojurisprudence.oo

10.o o Aso ano epilogueo too theo aboveo discussion,o theo followingo principlesoemerge:o Io Second/successiveoregularobailopetition(s)ofiledoisomaintainableoino lawo&ohenceosuchopetitionooughtonototoobeorejectedosolelyoonotheogroundo ofomaintainabilityothereof.o II.oo Sucho second/successiveo regularo bailo petition(s)o iso maintainableo whetheroearlieropetitionowasodismissedoasowithdrawn/dismissedoasonoto pressed/dismissedo foro non-prosecutiono oro earliero petitiono waso dismissedoonomerits.oo IIIo oForotheosecond/successiveoregularobailopetition(s)otoosucceed,otheo petitioner/applicanto shallo beo essentially/pertinentlyo requiredo too showo substantialochangeoinocircumstancesoandoshowingoofoaomereosuperficialo oroostensibleochangeowouldonotosuffice.oTheometaphoricoexpressionoofo seekingo second/successiveo bailo plea(s)o oughto noto beo abstractedo intoo literalo iterationso ofo petition(s)o withouto substantial,o effectiveo ando consequentialochangeoinocircumstances.oo IVo oNooexhaustiveoguidelinesocanopossiblyobeolaidodownoasotoowhato wouldoconstituteosubstantialochangeoinocircumstancesoasoeveryocaseohaso itsoownouniqueofacts/circumstance.oMakingosuchoanoattemptoisonothingo butoanoutopianoendeavour.ooErgo,othisoissueoisobestoleftotootheojudicialo wisdomo ando discretiono ofo theo Courto dealingo witho sucho second/successiveoregularobailopetition(s).o Vo oInocaseoaoCourtochoosesotoograntosecond/successiveoregularobailo petition(s),o cogento ando lucido reasonso areo pertinentlyo requiredo too beo AJAYgKUMAR recordedo foro grantingo sucho pleao despiteo sucho ao pleao beingo o o CRM-M-51942-2025o o o o o o 8o o second/successiveopetition(s).oInootherowords,otheocauseoforoaoCourto havingosuccessfullyocountenanced/entertainedosuchosecond/successiveo petition(s)ooughtotoobeoreadilyoandoclearlyodecipherableofromotheosaido orderopassed."o

7.o o Theopresentopetitionoisoaosecondopetitionoforograntooforegularo bailobyotheopetitioner.oAosecondoregularobailopetitionoisoindeedomaintainableo underolaw;ohowever,oitorequiresodemonstrationoofoaosubstantialochangeoino circumstancesosinceotheoearlieropetition.ooItoisoaosettledopropositionoofolawo thato sucho ao changeo musto beo significanto ando noto merelyo superficialo oro technicalotoowarrantoreconsideration.oThisostandardoensuresothatotheoremedyo ofosuccessiveobailopetitionsoisonotomisusedothroughorepeatedofilingsobutoiso availableo wheno newo ando materialo factorso ariseo thato altero theo initialo assessmentoofotheocase.oTheofirstosecondobailofiledobyotheopetitionerowaso dismissedoonomeritsoono30.08.2024.ooTheoinstantopetitionoi.e.osecondopetitiono forograntooforegularobailohasobeenofiledothereafteroono10.09.2025.ooo

8.o o Theograntoofobailofallsowithinotheodiscretionaryodomainoofotheo court;o however,o sucho discretiono musto beo exercisedo ino ao judiciouso ando principledomanner,oensuringoitoalignsowithoestablishedolegaloprecedentsoando theointerestsoofojustice.oWhileoconsideringoaobailoapplication,otheoCourtomusto evaluateofactorsosuchoasotheoexistenceoofoprimaofacieoevidenceoimplicatingo theoaccused,otheonatureoandogravityoofotheoallegedooffenceoandotheoseverityoofo theo likelyo sentenceo upono conviction.o Theo Courto musto alsoo assesso theo likelihoodoofotheoaccusedoabscondingooroevadingotheodueoprocessoofolaw,otheo probabilityoofotheooffenceobeingorepeatedoandoanyoreasonableoapprehensiono ofo theo accusedo tamperingo witho evidenceo oro influencingo witnesses.o AJAYgKUMAR Additionally,otheocharacter,oantecedents,ofinancialomeans,osocietalostanding,o o o CRM-M-51942-2025o o o o o o 9o o andooveralloconductoofotheoaccusedoplayoaocrucialorole.oFurthermore,otheo Courto musto weigho theo potentialo dangero ofo bailo underminingo theo administrationoofojusticeoorothwartingoitsodueocourse.oAoprofitableoreferenceo inothisoregardoisomadeotootheojudgmentopassedobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourto titledoasoStateothroughoC.B.I.ovs.oAmaramanioTripathi,o2005oAIRoSupremeo Courto3490,orelevantowhereoforeadsoasounder:o o "14.oo Itoisowellosettledothatotheomattersotoobeoconsideredoinoanoapplicationo forobailoareo(i)whetherothereoisoanyoprimaofacieoororeasonableogroundotoo believeo thato theo accusedo hado committedo theo offence;o (ii)o natureo ando gravityo ofo theo charge;o (iii)o severityo ofo theo punishmento ino theo evento ofo conviction;o(iv)odangeroofoaccusedoabscondingoorofleeingoiforeleasedoono bail;o (v)o character,o behaviour,o means,o positiono ando standingo ofo theo accused;(vi)o likelihoodo ofo theo offenceo beingo repeated;o (vii)o reasonableo apprehensionoofotheowitnessesobeingotamperedowith;oando(viii)odanger,oofo course,o ofo justiceo beingo thwartedo bygranto ofo bailo (seeo Prahlado Singho Bhatiov.oNCT,oDelhi,o2001(2)oRCRo(Criminal)o377o(SC)o:2001(4)oSCCo 280oandoGurcharanoSinghov.oStateo(DelhioAdministration),oAIRo1978o SupremeoCourto179).oWhileoaovagueoallegationothatoaccusedomayotampero withotheoevidenceoorowitnessesomayonotobeoaogroundotoorefuseobail,oifotheo accusedo iso ofo sucho charactero thato hiso mereo presenceo ato largeo wouldo intimidateotheowitnessesooroifothereoisomaterialotooshowothatoheowillouseohiso libertyotoosubvertojusticeoorotamperowithotheoevidence,othenobailowillobeo refused.oWeomayoalsooreferotootheofollowingoprinciplesorelatingotoograntooro refusalo ofo bailo statedo ino Kalyano Chandrao Sarkaro v.o Rajesho Ranjan,o 2004(2)oRCRo(Criminal)o254o(SC)o:2004(7)oSCCo528o:"Theolawoinoregardo toograntoororefusaloofobailoisoveryowellosettled.oTheocourtograntingobailo shouldoexerciseoitsodiscretionoinoaojudiciousomanneroandonotoasoaomatteroofo course.oThoughoatotheostageoofograntingobailoaodetailedoexaminationoofo evidenceoandoelaborateodocumentationoofotheomeritoofotheocaseoneedonotobeo undertaken,othereoisoaoneedotooindicateoinosuchoordersoreasonsoforoprimao facieo concludingo whyo bailo waso beingo grantedo particularlyo whereo theo accusedo iso chargedo ofo havingo committedo ao seriouso offence.o Anyo ordero devoidoofosuchoreasonsowouldosufferofromonon-applicationoofomind.oItoiso alsoo necessaryo foro theo courto grantingo bailo too considero amongo othero AJAYgKUMAR circumstances,otheofollowingofactorsoalsoobeforeograntingobail;otheyoare:o o o CRM-M-51942-2025o o o o o o 10o o o a.oTheonatureoofoaccusationoandotheoseverityoofopunishmentoinocaseoofo convictionoandotheonatureoofosupportingoevidence.o o b.o Reasonableo apprehensiono ofo tamperingo witho theo witnesso oro apprehensionoofthreatotootheocomplainant.o o c.oPrimaofacieosatisfactionoofotheocourtoinosupportoofotheocharge.o(seeoRamo GovindUpadhyayo v.o Sudarshano Singh,o 2002(2)o RCRo (Criminal)o 250o

(SC)o :o 2002(3)o SCCo 598o andPurano v.o Ramo Bilas,o 2001(2)o RCRo (Criminal)o801o(SC)o:o2001(6)oSCCo338."o o o ThisoCourtoalsooinospecificotermsoheldothato:o o "theo conditiono laido downo undero sectiono 437(1)(i)o iso sineo quao nono foro grantingobailoevenounderosectiono439oofotheoCode.oInotheoimpugnedoordero itoisonoticedothatotheoHighoCourtohasogivenotheoperiodoofoincarcerationo alreadyo undergoneo byo theo accusedo ando theo unlikelihoodo ofo trialo concludingoinotheonearofutureoasogroundsosufficientotooenlargeotheoaccusedo onobail,oinospiteoofotheofactothatotheoaccusedostandsochargedoofooffenceso punishableowitholifeoimprisonmentooroevenodeathopenalty.oInosuchocases,oino ouroopinion,otheomereofactothatotheoaccusedohasoundergoneocertainoperiodo ofoincarcerationo(threeoyearsoinothisocase)obyoitselfowouldonotoentitleotheo accusedotoobeingoenlargedoonobail,onorotheofactothatotheotrialoisonotolikelyo toobeoconcludedoinotheonearofutureoeitherobyoitselfoorocoupledowithotheo periodoofoincarcerationowouldobeosufficientoforoenlargingotheoappellantoono bailo wheno theo gravityo ofo theo offenceo allegedo iso severeo ando thereo areo allegationsoofotamperingowithotheowitnessesobyotheoaccusedoduringotheo periodoheowasoonobail."o o o InoPanchananoMishraov.oDigambaroMishra,o2005(1)oApexoCriminalo319o o :o 2005(1)o RCR(Criminal)o 712o (SC)o :o 2005(3)o SCCo 143,o thiso Courto o observedo:o o "Theoobjectounderlyingotheocancellationoofobailoisotooprotectotheo fairotrialoandosecureojusticeobeingodoneotootheosocietyobyopreventingo theoaccusedowhooisosetoatolibertyobyotheobailoorderofromotamperingo withotheoevidenceoinotheoheinousocrime.....oItohardlyorequiresotoobeo statedothatoonceoaopersonoisoreleasedoonobailoinoseriousocriminalo casesowhereotheopunishmentoisoquiteostringentoandodeterrent,otheo accusedoinoorderotoogetoawayofromotheoclutchesoofotheosameoindulgeo inovariousoactivitiesolikeotamperingowithotheoprosecutionowitnesses,o threateningotheofamilyomembersoofotheodeceasedovictimoandoalsoo createoproblemsoofolawoandoorderosituation."oo AJAYgKUMAR o o CRM-M-51942-2025o o o o o o 11o o

9.o o Indubitably,otheoallegationsoagainstotheopetitioneroareograveoino nature.ooTheomaterialowhichohasocomeoonorecord,oatothisostage,oprimaofacieo suggestsothatotheopetitionerohasospeciallyobeenoattributedoanoactiveoroleoinotheo allegedoincident.ooTheogravamenoofotheoallegationsoinotheoFIRodisclosesothato theodeceasedoJagmalohasoallegedlyoconsumedoillicitoandopoisonousoliquor,o whicho resultedo ino hiso death.o Ono theo basiso ofo theo statemento ofo theo complainant,o theo FIRo waso registeredo againsto certaino personso whoo wereo allegedlyo involvedo ino theo saleo ofo sucho liquor.o Duringo theo courseo ofo investigation,o severalo accusedo personso wereo arrestedo ando theiro disclosureo statementsowereorecorded,owhicholedotheoinvestigatingoagencyotoounraveloano allegedonetworkoengagedoinotheomanufactureoandodistributionoofospuriouso liquor.ooAsoperotheocaseoofotheoprosecution,otheonameoofotheopresentopetitionero hasosurfacedoduringotheocourseoofofurtheroinvestigationothroughodisclosureo statementsoofocertainoco-accused,owhooallegedlyostatedothatoExtraoNeutralo Alcoholo(ENA)ousedoinotheopreparationoofoillicitoliquorohasobeenoprocuredo fromotheopetitioner.oOnotheobasisoofotheosaidostatementsoandotheoallegedoroleo attributedotoohimoinotheosupplyochain,otheopetitionerohasobeenosubsequentlyo arrestedo ono productiono warrantso ono 13.03.2024o ando waso arrayedo aso ano accusedoinotheosupplementaryochallan.oooItoisonotoinodisputeothatotheopetitionero hasonotobeenonamedoinotheooriginaloFIRoandohisoimplicationoisobasedouponotheo materialocollectedoduringotheocourseoofoinvestigation.oItoisoalsooaomatteroofo recordothatotheoinvestigationohasoculminatedoinotheofilingoofotheochallanoaso welloasoaosupplementaryochallanoandochargesohaveobeenoframedobyotheoCourto belowoagainstotheopetitioneroandocertainootheroco-accusedoforooffencesoundero AJAYgKUMAR Sectionso302,o328oando120-BoIPCoalongowithoSectiono72-AoofotheoPunjabo o o CRM-M-51942-2025o o o o o o 12o o ExciseoAct.oTheorecordofurtheroreflectsothatotheoprosecutionohasocitedoaolargeo numbero ofo witnesseso ando theo trialo iso presentlyo ato theo stageo ofo recordingo evidence.oo

10.o o Theo allegationso ino theo presento caseo pertaino too ano incidento involvingotheomanufactureoandocirculationoofoillicitoliquoroleadingotoolossoofo humanolivesowhichoisoaomatteroofoseriousoconcern.oTheoprosecutionocase,oato thiso stage,o primao facieo indicateso theo existenceo ofo ao conspiracyo involvingo multipleo personso engagedo ino theo supplyo ando useo ofo alcoholo foro theo preparationoofospuriousoliquor.ooTheocontentionoofolearnedocounselothatotheo nameoofotheopetitionerodoesonotofindomentionoinotheoinitialoFIRoandoheohaso beenosubsequentlyonominatedodoesonot,obyoitself,ocreateoaogroundoforograntoofo regularobail,oasoitoisowellosettledothatoanoaccusedocanobeoarrayedoduringotheo courseoofoinvestigationoifosufficientomaterialosurfacesoagainstohim.oMoreover,o sucho submissionso wouldo requireo deepero appreciationo ofo evidence,o whicho cannotoappropriatelyobeoundertakenoatotheostageoofoconsiderationoofoaobailo petition.ooItoisoaptotoomentionohereinothatotheopetitionerohasoaolongocriminalo historyoinvolvingoaolargeonumberoofocasesoregisteredoagainstohim.oThoughoino someoofotheocasesoheohasobeenoreleasedoonobailobutotheonatureoofotheocaseso cannotobeoignoredowhileoconsideringotheopleaoforograntooforegularobail.oTheo criminaloantecedentsoofoanoaccusedoareoaorelevantofactorowhileoconsideringo theoprayeroforobail,oparticularlyowhereothereoisoaoreasonableoapprehensiono thato theo accused,o ifo released,o mayo indulgeo ino similaro activitieso oro mayo attempto too influenceo witnesses.o o Furthermore,o theo allegedo roleo ofo theo petitioner,o aso projectedo byo theo prosecution,o pertainso too theo supplyo ofo theo AJAYgKUMAR primaryorawomaterialoallegedlyousedoinotheomanufactureoofotheoillicitoliquoro o o CRM-M-51942-2025o o o o o o 13o o whicho formso ao significanto linko ino theo chaino ofo eventso leadingo too theo commissionoofotheoallegedooffence.oAtothisostage,oitocannotobeosaidothatotheo roleoattributedotootheopetitioneroisoanoinsignificantoone.oTheoprosecutionocaseo specificallyoallegesothatotheoinvolvementoofotheopetitionerosurfacedoduringo investigationoonotheobasisoofomaterialocollectedosubsequently.oo

11.o o Furthermore,o theo pleao ofo parityo raisedo ono behalfo ofo theo petitioneroisomisconceivedoasotheoparityoisonototoobeoappliedoinoaomechanicalo manner.oInotheoconsideredoopinionoofothisoCourt,otheoroleoattributedotooeacho accused,otheiroantecedentsoandootheroattendingocircumstancesoareorequiredotoo beoconsideredowhileodecidingotheopleaoforograntoofobail.oTheopetitionerohaso alsoosoughtobailoonotheogroundoofoprolongedocustodyoandosnailopaceoofotheo trial.o Thougho ito iso trueo thato theo petitionero haso beeno ino custodyo foro ao considerableoperiodobutotheoseriousnessoofotheoallegationsoandohisocriminalo antecedentsoweighoheavilyoagainstohim.oTheomaterialowhichohasobeenoplacedo onorecordodoesonotoshowothatotheodelayoinotrialoisosolelyoattributableotootheo prosecution.o Ino sucho circumstances,o longo custody,o byo itself,o cannoto beo treatedo aso ao groundo foro granto ofo bail.o o Ato thiso stage,o noo accentuatingo circumstanceso haveo beeno madeo outo whicho mayo primao facieo constituteo ao compellingogroundoforotheograntooforegularobailotootheopetitioner,oespeciallyo inolightoofotheogravityoofotheoallegationsoandotheoevidenceoonorecord.oItoisoalsoo toobeoborneoinomindothatooffencesoofothisonatureostrikeoatotheoveryorootoofo publicoorderoandosocietaloconscience.oGrantingobailoinosuchocasesowouldonoto onlyo undermineo theo gravityo ofo theo offenceo buto mayo alsoo emboldeno theo accused.oo AJAYgKUMAR o o CRM-M-51942-2025o o o o o o 14o o

12.o o Consideringotheogravityoofotheooffence,otheostageoofotheotrialoando theooverallofactsoandocircumstancesoemergingofromotheorecord,othisoCourto findso noo merito ino theo presento petition.o Accordingly,o thiso Courto iso ofo theo consideredoopinionothatotheopetitionerodoesonotodeserveotheoconcessionoofo regularobailoinotheofactualomilieuoofotheocaseoinohand.ooo

13.o o Thereoisoyetoanotheroaspectonayovitaloaspectoofotheomatterowhicho cravesotheoattentionoofothisoCourt.ooo

13.1o o ThereoisonoogainsayingothatotheopowersoofotheoHighoCourtoundero Sectiono528oofoBNSS,o2023oareopowersowhichoareounbridled,ounfetteredoando plenaryoinonatureoaimedoatosecuringotheoendsoofojustice.ooTheoinherentopowerso ofoaoHighoCourtoareopowersowhichoareoincidentalorepleteopowers,owhichoifo didonotosooexist,otheoCourtowouldobeoobligedotoositostilloandohelplesslyoseeotheo processoofolawoandoCourtsobeingoabusedoforotheopurposesoofoinjustice.oIno otherowords;osuchopower(s)oisointrinsicotooaoHighoCourt,oitoisoitsoveryolife-blood,oitsoveryoessence,oitsoimmanentoattribute.oWithoutosuchopower(s),ooaoo HighooCourtoowouldoohaveooformoobutoolackootheoosubstance.ooTheseopowersoofo ao Higho Courto henceo deserveo too beo construedo witho theo widesto possibleo amplitude.oTheseoinherentopowersoareoinoconsonanceowithotheonatureoofoao HighoCourtowhichooughtotoobe,oandohasoinofactobeen,oinvestedowithopower(s)o too maintaino itso authorityo too prevento theo processo ofo law/Courtso beingo obstructedooroabused.oItoisoaotriteopositoofojurisprudenceothatothougholawso attempto too dealo witho allo caseso thato mayo arise,o theo infiniteo varietyo ofo circumstancesowhichoshapeoeventsoandotheoimperfectionsoofolanguageomakeo itoimpossibleotoolayodownoprovisionsocapableoofogoverningoeveryocase,owhicho AJAYgKUMAR inofactoarises.oAoHighoCourtowhichoexistsoforotheofurtheranceoofojusticeoinoano o o CRM-M-51942-2025o o o o o o 15o o indefatigableo manner,o shouldo therefore,o haveo unfetteredo power(s)o too dealo withosituationsowhich,othoughonotoexpresslyoprovidedoforobyotheolaw,oneedotoo beodealtowith,otoopreventoinjusticeoorotheoabuseoofotheoprocessoofolawoando Courts.ooTheojuridicalobasisoofotheseoplenaryopower(s)oisotheoauthority;oinofacto theoseminalodutyoandoresponsibilityoofoaoHighoCourt;otoouphold,otooprotecto andotoofulfillotheojudicialofunctionoofoadministeringojustice,oinoaccordanceo witho law,o ino ao regular,o orderlyo ando effectiveo manner.o o Ino othero words;o Sectiono528oofoBNSS,o2023oreflectsopeerlessopowers,owhichoaoHighoCourto mayodrawouponoasonecessaryowheneveroitoisojustoandoequitableotoodooso,oino particularotooensureotheoobservanceoofotheodueoprocessoofolaw,otooprevento vexationooro oppression,o too doo justiceo nayo substantialo justiceobetweenotheo partiesoandotoosecureotheoendsoofojustice.oooooo

13.2.oo Ato thiso juncture,o ito wouldo beo appositeo too refero hereino too ao judgmento passedo byo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino theo caseo ofo Sanjayo Dubeyovs.oTheoStateoofoMadhyaoPradeshoandoanother,o2023oAIRoSupremeo Courto3263,orelevantowhereoforeadsothus:o "10.o oHavingo giveno theo mattero ouro anxiouso ando thoughtfulo consideration,othoughotheoappellantomayohaveoaopointothat,ostrictoosensu,o inoaopetitionounderoSectiono439oofotheoCode,otheoconcernedoCourtooughto nototootravelobeyondoconsideringotheospecificoissueoviz.owhetherotoogranto bailoororejectobailotooanoaccusedoinocustody,oitocannotobeolostosightoofothato theoCourtoconcernedohereinowasonotoao'CourtoofoSession'obutotheoHigho CourtoforotheoStateoofoMadhyaoPradesh,oestablishedounderoArticleo214oofo theoConstitutionoofoIndiao(hereinafteroreferredotooasotheo"Constitution").o

11.oo Thisosingularofact,ofororeasonsoelaboratedohereinafter,oleadsousotoo declineointerferingowithotheoImpugnedoJudgment,obutoforodifferentoreasons.o WeohaveonoohesitationoinostatingothatohadotheoImpugnedoJudgmentobeeno renderedobyoaoCourtoofoSession,otheofactorsothatowouldohaveoweighedowitho usowouldobeostarklyodifferent.o AJAYgKUMAR o o CRM-M-51942-2025o o o o o o 16o o

12.oo Ao littleo digressiono iso necessitated.o Theo Higho Courto iso ao ConstitutionaloCourt,opossessingoaowideorepertoireoofopowers.oTheoHigho Courto haso original,o appellateo ando suoo motuo powerso underoArticleso 226oando227oofo theo Constitution.o Theo powerso underoArticleso 226oando227oofotheoConstitutionoareomeantoforotakingocareoofosituationso whereotheoHighoCourtofeelsothatosomeodirection(s)/order(s)oareorequiredoino theo interesto ofo justice.o Recently,o inoBo So Hario Commandanto vo Uniono ofo India,o2023oSCCoOnLineoSCo413,otheopresentocoramohadotheooccasionotoo holdoasounder:o o "50.oArticleo 226oofo theo Constitutiono iso ao succouro too remedyo injustice,oandoanyolimitoonoexerciseoofosuchopower,oisoonlyoself-imposed.oGainfulorefer-oenceocanobeomadeoto,oamongstoothers,oAoVo Venkateswaranov.oRamchandoSobhrajoWadhwani,o(1962)o1oSCRo 573o ando Uo Po Stateo Sugaro Corporationo Ltd.o v.o Kamalo Swaroopo Tandon,o (2008)o 2o SCCo 41.o Theo Higho Courts,o undero theo Constitutionalo scheme,o areo endowedo witho theo abilityo too issueo prerogativeowritsotoosafeguardorightsoofocitizens.oForoex-oactlyothiso reason,othisoCourtohasoneverolaidodownoanyostrait-jacketoprincipleso thato cano beo saido toohaveo "cribbed,o cabinedo ando confined"o [too borrowotheotermoemployedobyotheoHon.oBhagwati,oJ.o(asoheotheno was)oinoEoPoRoyappaov.oStateoofoTamiloNadu,o(1974)o4oSCCo3o:oAIRo 1974oSCo555]otheoextraordinaryopowersovestedounderoArticleso226o oro 227o ofo theo Constitution.oAdjudgedo ono theo anvilo ofo Nawabo ShaqafathoAlioKhano(supra),othisowasoaofitocaseoforotheoHighoCourto toohaveoexaminedotheomatterothreadbare,omoreoso,owhenoitodidonoto involveonavigatingoaofactualominefield.")o

13.oReturningotootheopresentocase,othoughousuallyotheoproperocourseoofo actiono ofo theo Higho Courto oughto too haveo beeno too confineo itselfo too theo acceptance/rejectionoofotheoprayeroforobailomadeobyotheoaccusedoundero Sectiono439oofotheoCode;ohoweverotheoHighoCourt,obeingosatisfiedothato thereo were,o ino itso opinion,o graveo lapseso ono theo parto ofo theo police/investigativeomachinery,owhichomayohaveofataloconsequencesoonotheo justiceodeliveryosystem,ocouldonotohaveosimplyoshutoitsoeyes."o o

13.3o o Theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino ao judgmento titledo aso Theo CentraloBureauoofoInvestigationovs.oMiroUsmano@oArao@oMiroUsmanoAli,o 2025oINSCo1155ohasoheldoasounder:o AJAYgKUMAR o o CRM-M-51942-2025o o o o o o 17o o o "35.o Theo practiceo ofo conductingo trialso ono ao dayo too dayo basiso moreo particularlyoinoimportantoorosensitiveocasesoasowasotheotraditionoabouto thirtyoyearsoagoohasobeenogivenoaocompleteogo-by.oWeosincerelyobelieveo thatoitoisohighotimeothatotheocourtsorevertotoothatopractice.oForotheopurposeo oforevertingotootheooldopractice,oitoisonecessaryotoounderstandotheocurrento social,opoliticaloandoadministrativeoscenariooincludingotheowayotheoPoliceo areofunctioning.oAllotheoHighoCourtsoneedotooconstituteoaoCommitteeotoo discussothisoissueoveryoseriouslyoforotheobenefitoofotheirorespectiveodistricto judiciaries."o

13.4o o Theo chronico protractiono ofo criminalo proceedingso serveso aso ao systemico blighto thato transcendso theo individualo interesto ofo theo accused,o inflictingoaohighlyodeleteriousoimpactouponotheocollectiveoconscienceoofotheo society.o Whileo legalo discourseo frequentlyo centerso ono theo hardshipo ofo theo incarcerated,oitoisoaograveojuridicaloerrorotoooverlookotheoactiveosufferingoando anguishovisitedouponotheovictim.oForotheoaggrieved;oanointerminableotrialoiso notomerelyoaoproceduralodelayobutoaoformoofosecondaryovictimizationoleadingo tooaostateoofoperpetualoemotionalopurgatoryowhereotheowoundsoofooffenseoareo kepto rawo byo theo lacko ofo finality.o Ao Threeo Judgeo Bencho ofo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino Rattiramo ando Otherso Vs.o Stateo ofo M.P.o througho InspectoroofoPolice;o2012oAIRoSupremeoCourto1485owhileoappreciatingotheo observationoinoMangaloSinghoandoAnotheroVs.oKishanoSinghoandoOthers;o 2009oAIRoSupremeoCourto1535;oobservedoasounder:o "47.oo Whileo delineatingo ono theo facetso ofo speedyo trial,o ito cannoto beo regardedoasoanoexclusiveorightoofotheoaccused.oTheorightoofoaovictimohaso beenogivenorecognitionoinoMangaloSinghoandoAnr.ov.oKishanoSinghoando ors.,oAIRo2009oSupremeoCourto1535owhereinoitohasobeenoobservedothuso:-o o "Anyo inordinateo delayo ino conclusiono ofo ao criminalo trialo undoubtedlyo haso highlyodeleteriouso effecto ono theo societyo generallyo ando particularlyoonotheotwoosidesoofotheocase.oButoitowillobeoaograveomistakeotoo assumeothatodelayoinotrialodoesonotocauseoacuteosufferingoandoanguishotoo AJAYgKUMAR Igattestgtogthegaccuracygand theovictimoofotheooffence.oInomanyocasesotheovictimomayosufferoevenomoreo o o CRM-M-51942-2025o o o o o o 18o o thanotheoaccused.oThereois,othereforeonooreasonotoogiveoallotheobenefitsoono accountoofotheodelayoinotrialotootheoaccusedoandotoocompletelyodenyoallo justiceotootheovictimoofotheooffence."o o o Theo fundamentalo principleo ofo ano ever-evolvingo libertyo jurisprudenceo dictateso thato prolongedo incarceration,o absento anyo realistico prospectoofoaonear-termoconclusionoofotrial,orendersocontinuedopre-convictiono detentionoconstitutionallyoimpermissible.oUnderotheoumbrellaoofoArticleo21o ofo theo Constitution,o theo righto too ao speedyo trialo iso recognizedo aso ano indispensableofacetoofotheoguaranteeoofolifeoandopersonaloliberty.oTheopre-trialoincarcerationomustonot,obyomereofluxoofotime,obeopermittedotooassumeo theo charactero ofo punishment,o aso theo stateo cannoto beo allowedo too achieveo throughoproceduralodelayowhatoitohasonotoyetoachievedothroughoaoverdictoofo guilt.oHowever,othisoConstitutionalopromiseoisonotoanoabsoluteoorounregulatedo license,oratheroitoensuresothatodeprivationsoofolibertyoareoneitheroarbitrary,o unconscionableonorounfair.o

13.5o o Whereo reliefo iso beingo sought,o solelyo upono theo groundo ofo proceduralodelay,otheoCourtomustoadoptoaogoldenomeanoapproach,owhereotheo rightsoofotheoaccused/incarceratedopersonoareoprotectedowithoutoreducingotheo criminalojusticeosystemotooaostateoofotoothlessness.oErgo,otheoConstitutionalo inquiryointoodelayomustobeoaocontextualoassessmentoofowhetherotheocontinuedo detentionoremainsoconstitutionallyopermissibleounderotheospecificopenumbrao ofo theo case.o Unlessotheodelayo iso soo inordinateo thatoito shockso theo judicialo conscience,oitocannotobeotreatedoasoaosolitaryodeterminantoforoenlargement.oAo pleao ofo delayo cannoto beo examinedo ino ao legalo vacuumo oro ano abstraction;o insteadoitomustobeoweighedoagainstotheogravamenoofoallegations;ospecificoroleo AJAYgKUMAR attributedo too theo applicant;o trajectoryo ofo theo trial;o riskso involvedo ino o o CRM-M-51942-2025o o o o o o 19o o enlargemento ofo theo applicanto ono bail,o etc.o Ao profitableo referenceo ino thiso regardocanobeomadeotootheodictaopassedobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoino Gulfishao Fatimao vs.o Stateo (Govt.o ofo Delhi),o SLPo (Crl.)o No.13988-2025,o relevantowhereoforeadsothus:oo "26.oo Asotheohearingoprogressed,ohowever,oitobecameoevidentothatotheo pleao ofo delayo couldo noto beo examinedo ino abstraction.o Ino theo courseo ofo submissionsoandorejoinder,oreferenceowasonecessarilyomadeotootheonatureoofo theoallegations,otheostatutoryoframeworkoinvoked,oandotheoroleoattributedotoo individualoappellants.oThisowasonotoaodepartureofromotheooriginalosubmission,o butoaoreflectionoofotheolegalorealityothatotheoconstitutionaloquestionoofodelayo doesonotoariseoinoaovacuum.oxxxoooooooxxx.o

30.oo Articleo21ooccupiesoaocentraloplaceoinotheoconstitutionaloscheme.o Theorightotoolifeoandopersonaloliberty,oandotheoinsistenceothatoanyodeprivationo mustoconformotooprocedureoestablishedobyolaw,oareofoundationaloguarantees.o Theorightotooaospeedyotrialohasobeenorecognisedoasoanoimportantofacetoofothiso guarantee.oItofollowsothatopre-trialoincarcerationocannot,obyotheomereopassageo ofotime,obeopermittedotooassumeotheocharacteroofopunishment.o

31.oAtotheosameotime,oArticleo21ohasoneverobeenounderstoodoasooperatingoino isolationo fromo law.o Theo constitutionalo promiseo iso noto thato libertyo willo beo unregulated,o buto thato deprivationso ofo libertyo willo noto beo arbitrary,o unconscionable,o oro unfair.o Theo expressiono "procedureo establishedo byo lawo reflectsothatobalance.ooooxxxo xxx."o o o Aojusticeodeliveryosystemorestsoonoaosimpleopromise;ofairnesso deliveredoinoreasonableotime.oAnyoproceduraloprotractionodoesonotomerelyo delayotheoverdict;oitoactivelyoerodesotheoedificeoofopublicoconfidenceoinotheo judiciary.oWhenoaotrialoisoallowedotoolanguish,oitotranscendsotheoaphorismo thato'justiceodelayedoisojusticeodenied'oandoentersotheomoreoperilousoterritoryo ofo'justiceodoubted'.oInotheoconstitutionaloschemeoofoArticleo21,otheoRightotoo aoSpeedyotrialoisonotoaounilateraloconcessionotootheoaccused,obutoaocollectiveo entitlementosharedobyotheovictimo&otheoState,oensuringothatoScalesoofojusticeo AJAYgKUMAR doonotorustothroughoinaction.oo o o CRM-M-51942-2025o o o o o o 20o o

13.6o o Ergo,oinocasesowhere,onotwithstandingotheolapseoofotime,otheo Courtoinoitsojudiciousowisdomofindsothatootherofactorsoprecludeograntoofobail,o aoproactiveoapproachotoopreventotravestyoofojusticeomustobeoadopted.oInosucho cases,o theo refusalo too granto ono bailo musto beo coupledo witho ao peremptoryo mandateoofoexpeditiousoconclusionoofotrialo(oroinoappropriateocasesoaotime-boundoconclusionoofotrial).oAoprofitableoreferenceoinothisoregardocanobeomadeo tootheodictaopassedobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoTarunoKumaroVs.o AssistantoDirector,oDirectorateoofoEnforcement;oSLPo(Crl.)oNo.o9431oofo 2023,orelevantowhereoforeadsothus:o o "23.o xxxxo o o xxxxo o o xxxxo o o o Wheno theo detentiono ofo theo accusedo iso continuedo byo theo Court,o theo courtso areo alsoo expectedo too concludeo theo trialso withino ao reasonableotime,ofurtheroensuringotheorightoofospeedyotrialoguaranteedobyo Articleo21oofotheoConstitution."o

13.7.o o Ergo;oinotheofactualomilieuoofotheocaseoinohandowhichotendsotoo reflectothatotrialoisoprocrastinatingoandowitness(s)oareonotobeingoexaminedoforo oneocauseoorotheoother;oitoisoaofitocaseowhichowarrantsodirection(s)ofromothiso Courtoforoexpeditious/time-boundotrial.oo

14.o o Inoviewoofotheoprevenientoratiocination,oitoisoordainedothus:o

(i)o o Theo petitiono ino hando iso devoido ofo meritso ando iso herebyo dismissed.oo

(ii)o o TheoCourtobelowoisodirectedotoomakeoanoearnestoendeavourotoo expediteo theo trialo ando concludeo theo sameo aso expeditiouslyo aso possible,o preferablyowithinoaoperiodoofooneoyear,oinoaccordanceowitholaw.ooIfoneedobe,o theolearnedotrialoCourtoisoatolibertyotooadoptotheoprocedureoofoday-to-dayotrialo AJAYgKUMAR o o CRM-M-51942-2025o o o o o o 21o o asoenunciatedobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinocaseoofoMiroUsmano@oArao @oMiroUsmanoAliocaseo(supra).oo

(iii)o o Anyoobservationsomadeoand/orosubmissionsonotedohereinaboveo shallonotohaveoanyoeffectoonomeritsoofotheocaseoandotheoinvestigatingoagencyo asoalsootheotrialoCourtoshalloproceedofurther,oinoaccordanceowitholaw,owithouto beingoinfluencedowithothisoorder.oo

(iv)oo o Pendingoapplication(s),oifoany,oshalloalsoostandodisposedoof.o o o o o o o o o o oooooo(SUMEEToGOEL)o o oooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooo ooo oooJUDGEo o Marcho06,o2026o Ajayo o o o o Whetherospeaking/reasoned:o o Yes/Noo o Whetheroreportable:o o Yes/Noo AJAYgKUMAR