Ashok Kumar Yadav v. Central Bureau of Investigation, Chandigarh

o o o 1o o o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHo o o AshokoKumaroYadavoo o o o o o o o o o ....Petitionero versuso o CentraloBureauoofoInvestigation,oChandigarhoo o o o o o o o o o ....Respondento o Dateooforeserve:oo o Decembero04,o2025o o Dateoofopronouncement:oo Decembero16,o2025o o Judgmentopronounced:o FullooJudgmentopronounced: Fullo o DateoofoUploading:oo o Decembero16,o2025o o CORAM:oo HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSUMEEToGOELo o Present:oo Mr.oRitikoMahindroo,oAdvocateoando o o Ms.oSukhmanoJotoDhaliwal,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioner.oo o o o Mr.oRavioKamaloGupta,oAdvocateoforotheorespondent-CBI.oo o *****o o SUMEEToGOEL,oJ.o(ORAL)o o o o Presento petitiono haso beeno filedo undero Sectiono 528o ofo theo Bharatiyao Nagariko Surakshao Sanhita,o 2023o (foro shorto 'BNSS')o seekingo modificationoofotheoimpugnedoorderodatedo08.07.2025o(AnnexureoP-2)opassedo byo learnedo Specialo Judge,o CBI,o SASo Nagaro (Mohali),o ino caseo FIRo No.RC0052025A0010odatedo05.05.2025,oregisteredounderoSectiono7oofotheo PreventionoofoCorruptionoAct,o1988o(foroshorto'PCoAct'),oatoPoliceoStationo CBIo ACBo Branch,o Sectoro 30,o Chandigarh,o too theo extento ofo reducingo theo o o o 2o sapurdari/superdariobondoamountofixedoaso10,00,000/-oforovehicleoinoquestiono ando`1,00,000/-oforomobileophoneoinoquestion.oo

2.oo o Learnedocounseloforotheopetitionerohasoarguedothatotheopetitionero isotheolawfuloowneroandopossessoroofotheoHyundaioGrandoi10,oModelo2016,o bearingoRegistrationoNo.oUP-27-AF-0743,oandotheomobileophone,oi.e.,oiPhoneo 12,oIMEIoNo.o354038647150335,owhichowereoseizedobyotheoInvestigatingo Agencyoatotheotimeoofotheopetitioner'soarrest.oLearnedocounselohasofurthero arguedothat,ovideoorderodatedo20.05.2025o(AnnexureoP-1),otheopetitionerohaso beeno grantedo theo concessiono ofo regularo bailo byo theo concernedo Courto ino relationotootheoFIRoinoquestion.oItoisofurtherosubmittedothat,ovideoimpugnedo orderodatedo08.07.2025o(AnnexureoP-2),owhileoallowingotheoapplicationoofo theopetitioneroseekingoreleaseoofotheoaforesaidovehicleoandomobileophoneoono sapurdari/superdari,o theo learnedo Specialo Judge,o CBI,o haso imposedo sapurdari/superdariobondsoofo₹10,00,000/-oinorespectoofotheosaidovehicleoando ₹1,00,000/-oinorespectoofotheosaidomobileophone,oeachowithooneosuretyoofotheo likeo amount,o ino additiono too imposingo certaino othero conditions.o Learnedo counselo haso urgedo thato theo bondo amounto imposedo byo theo learnedo specialo Judgeoisoexcessiveoandodisproportionateotootheoactualovalueoandoconditionoofo theovehicleo(beingoao2016omodelowithosubstantiallyodepreciatedomarketovalue)o ando theo mobileo phoneo (ao four-year-oldo personalo deviceo witho negligibleo residualo value).o Theo impositiono ofo sucho ao heavyo monetaryo burden,o ito iso argued,o defeatso theo veryo purposeo ofo grantingo o sapurdari/superdari,o particularlyowhenotheopetitionerohasolimitedofinancialomeansoandoisounableotoo furnishosuchoonerousobondoandosuretyoamounts.oItoisofurtheroarguedothatoitoiso well-settledo thato theo conditionso imposedo foro sapurdari/superdario musto beo reasonableo ando noto oppressive,o especiallyo wheno theiro soleo objectiveo iso too o o o 3o ensureo productiono ofo theo propertyo aso ando wheno requiredo byo theo Court.o Learnedocounselosubmitsothatotheopetitioneroisoreadyoandowillingotooabideobyo allootheroconditionsoimposedobyotheolearnedotrialoCourtovideotheoimpugnedo order.o Ono theo strengtho ofo theseo submissions,o learnedo counselo prayso foro allowingotheopresentopetitionoandoseeksomodificationoofotheoimpugnedoordero tootheolimitedoextentooforeducingotheobondoandosuretyoamounts.o

3.o o Learnedocounseloforotheorespondent-CBIohasofiledoreplyodatedo

04.12.2025oonobehalfotheorespondent-CBI,oinotheoCourtotoday,owhichoisotakeno ono record.o Raisingo submissionso ino tandemo witho theo saido reply,o learnedo counseloforotheorespondent-CBIohasoopposedotheoprayeroofotheopetitionerobyo arguingothat,oonoaocomplaintodatedo30.04.2024oreceivedobyooneoBhawandeepo SinghoHeharoandouponohavingoverificationoreportodatedo30.04.2025oofotheo Inspector,o CBI,o ACB,o Chandigarh,o theo petitionero waso caughto redo handedo whileoacceptingobribeotootheotuneoofo`27,000/-ofromooneoParamjit,oMunshioofo theo complainanto ando waso apprehendedo ono 05.05.2025.o Thereafter,o heo haso beenograntedoconcessionooforegularobailobyotheoconcernedoCourt.oLearnedo counselo haso submittedo thato allegationso levelledo againsto theo petitionero areo seriousoinonature.oLearnedocounseloforotheorespondentohasofurtheroarguedothato inorespectoofopresentopleaoofotheopetitioner,otheovaluationoofoseizedopropertyoiso nototheosoleocriterionoforofixingobondoamounts,obutotheopredominantofactoroiso toosecureoproductionoofopropertyoandocomplianceowithojudicialodirections.oHeo haso furthero arguedo thato learnedo Specialo Judgeo haso exercisedo discretiono judiciouslyoand,othus,otheoimpugnedoorderorequiresonoointerferenceobyothiso Court.oHeohasoarguedothatoinabilityoofotheoaccusedotoofurnishobondsocannotobeo ao groundo too diluteo judicialo safeguardso wheno theo conditionso imposedo areo reasonableo ando proportionateo too theo gravityo ofo offenceo ando areo noto o o o 4o oppressive.oLearnedocounseloforotheorespondentohas,othus,oarguedothatoactoofo theopetitioneroisonotobonaofide,obutoonlyoanoideaoofoavoidingocomplianceowitho lawfulo conditionso imposedo byo theo trialo Court.o Witho theseo submissions,o dismissaloofotheopresentopetitionoisoentreatedofor.oo

4.o o Io haveo heardo learnedo counselo foro theo rivalo partieso ando haveo perusedotheopaper-book.oo

5.o o Theocoreoissueothatodemandsotheoconsideredoruminationoofothiso Courtoinotheocaseoinohandoisotheojudicialoscrutinyorequiredotoodetermineotheo reasonabilityoandoproportionalityoofotheoconditionsoimposedowhileoreleasingo propertyo whicho constituteso theo subjecto mattero ofo ano offence,o ono sapurdari/superdariotooitsorightfuloownerooroclaimant.o

6.o o Theotermo'Sapurdari',omoreocommonlyoknownoaso'Superdari'o refersotooaojudicialomechanismowithinotheoIndianocriminalojusticeosystemothato facilitateso theo interimo releaseo ofo propertyo seizedo byo investigatingo agencyo duringoanoinvestigationooroinquiry,odeliveringoitsotemporaryocustodyotootheo rightfulo ownero oro claimanto pendingo theo finalo adjudicationo ofo criminalo proceedings.o Thiso procedureo iso ofo greatero practicalo importo aso ito aimso ato safeguardingo theo utilitariano valueo ofo theo seizedo chattelo (e.g.,o vehicle,o machinery,o documents,o etc.)o ando preventso theiro deteriorationo whileo lyingo dormantoinopoliceocustodyo(Malkhana)ountilotheoproceedingsoconclude.oTheo legaloframeworkogoverningothisodisposaloandointerimoreleaseoofoproperty,oi.e.o sapurdari/superdari,o iso primarilyo enshrinedo ino Chaptero XXXIVo Cr.P.C.,o 1973,owithotheocorrespondingoprovisionsoinotheonewlyoenactedoBNSS,o2023o containedo ino Chaptero XXXV.o Theo concepto ofo sapurdari/superdario iso essentiallyogovernedobyotwoopivotaloprovisionsocontainedoinoCr.P.C.,o1973,o i.e.oSectiono451o&oSectiono457o(equivalentsobeingoSectiono499o&oSectiono o o o 5o 505o ofo theo BNSS,o 2023,o respectively).o Sectiono 451o Cr.P.C./Sectiono 499o BNSSoappliesowhenotheopropertyoisoalreadyoproducedobeforeotheoconcernedo criminalocourtoduringoanyoinquiryoorotrial,oempoweringotheocourtotooorderoforo itso propero interimo custody.o Conversely,o Sectiono 457o Cr.P.C./Sectiono 505o BNSSoaddressesotheosituationowhereotheopropertyohasobeenoseizedobyotheo policeo buto haso noto yeto beeno producedo beforeo theo court,o grantingo theo magistrateotheoauthorityotooinquireointootheorightotoopossessionoandoorderoitso delivery.oSectiono451oCr.P.C.oandoSectiono457oCr.P.C.,oreadothus:o "451.oOrderoforocustodyoandodisposaloofopropertyopendingotrialoinocertainocases.o-o451.oOrderoforocustodyoandodisposaloofopropertyopendingotrialoinocertainocases WhenoanyopropertyoisoproducedobeforeoanyoCriminaloCourtoduringoanyoinquiryooro trial,otheoCourtomayomakeosuchoorderoasoitothinksofitoforotheoproperocustodyoofosucho propertyopendingotheoconclusionoofotheoinquiryoorotrial,oand,oifotheopropertyoiso subjectotoospeedyoandonaturalodecay,ooroifoitoisootherwiseoexpedientosootoodo,otheo Courtomay,oafterorecordingosuchoevidenceoasoitothinksonecessary,oorderoitotoobeo soldoorootherwiseodisposedoof.o Explanation.o-oForotheopurposeoofothisosection,o"property"oincludeso–o

(a)opropertyoofoanyokindoorodocumentowhichoisoproducedobeforeotheoCourtooro whichoisoinoitsocustody,o

(b)oanyopropertyoregardingowhichoanooffenceoappearsotoohaveobeenocommittedooro whichoappearsotoohaveobeenousedoforotheocommissionoofoanyooffence.o o o

457.oProcedureobyopoliceouponoseizureoofoproperty.o-o(1)oWheneverotheoseizureoofo propertyobyoanyopoliceoofficeroisoreportedotooaoMagistrateounderotheoprovisionsoofo thisoCode,oandosuchopropertyoisonotoproducedobeforeoaoCriminaloCourtoduringoano inquiryoorotrial,otheoMagistrateomayomakeosuchoorderoasoheothinksofitorespectingo theo disposalo ofo sucho propertyo oro theo deliveryo ofo sucho propertyo too theo persono entitledo too theo possessiono thereof,o oro ifo sucho persono cannoto beo ascertained,o respectingotheocustodyoandoproductionoofosuchoproperty.o

(2)oIfotheopersonosooentitledoisoknown,otheoMagistrateomayoorderotheopropertyotoobeo deliveredotoohimoonosuchoconditionso(ifoany)oasotheoMagistrateothinksofitoandoifo suchopersonoisounknown,otheoMagistrateomayodetainotheoarticlesoofowhichosucho propertyoconsists,oandorequiringoanyopersonowhoomayohaveoaoclaimothereto,otoo appearobeforeohimoandoestablishohisoclaimowithinosixomonthsofromotheodateoofo suchoproclamation."o o o o Theseostatutoryoprovisionsohaveobeenoretained,oinoverbatim,oino BNSS,o2023oalbeitoasoSectiono499oandoSectiono505,othereof,orespectively.oo

6.1.o o Ao three-Judgeo Bencho ofo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Court,o whileo dealingowithotheoaforementionedoprovisions,oinoBasavaoKomoDyamogoudao Patilov.oStateoofoMysoreoandoanother,o1977oAIRoSupremeoCourto1749,oheldoaso under:o o o o 6o "4.oTheoobjectoandoschemeoofotheovariousoprovisionsoofotheoCodeoappearotoobeothato whereotheopropertyowhichohasobeenotheosubject-matteroofoanooffenceoisoseizedobyo theopoliceoitooughtonototoobeoretainedoinotheocustodyoofotheoCourtooroofotheopoliceo foro anyo timeo longero thano whato iso absolutelyo necessary.o Aso theo seizureo ofo theo propertyo byo theo policeo amountso too ao clearo entrustmento ofo theo propertyo too ao Governmento servant,o theo ideao iso thato theo propertyo shouldo beo restoredo too theo originaloowneroafterotheonecessityotooretainoitoceases.oItoisomanifestothatothereomayo beotwoostagesowhenotheopropertyomayobeoreturnedotootheoowner.oInotheofirstoplaceo itomayobeoreturnedoduringoanyoinquiryoorotrial.oThisomayoparticularlyobeonecessaryo whereotheopropertyoconcernedoisosubjectotoospeedyooronaturalodecay.oThereomayobeo otherocompellingoreasonsoalsoowhichomayojustifyotheodisposaloofotheopropertyotoo theoowneroorootherwiseoinotheointerestoofojustice.oTheoHighoCourtoandotheoSessionso JudgeoproceededoonotheofootingothatooneoofotheoessentialorequirementsoofotheoCodeo isothatotheoarticlesoconcernedomustobeoproducedobeforeotheoCourtooroshouldobeoino itsocustody.oTheoobjectoofotheoCodeoseemsotoobeothatoanyopropertyowhichoisoinotheo controloofotheoCourtoeitherodirectlyooroindirectlyoshouldobeodisposedoofobyotheo CourtoandoaojustoandoproperoorderoshouldobeopassedobyotheoCourtoregardingoitso disposal.oInoaocriminalocase,otheopoliceoalwaysoactsounderotheodirectocontroloofotheo Courtoandohasotootakeoordersofromoitoatoeveryostageoofoanoinquiryoorotrial.oInothiso broadosense,otherefore,otheoCourtoexercisesoanooverallocontroloonotheoactionsoofotheo policeoofficersoinoeveryocaseowhereoitohasotakenocognizance."oo o

6.2.o o Furthero guidanceo ono theo principleso governingo releaseo ando custodyo ofo caseo propertyo cano alsoo beo drawno fromo theo judgmento ofo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino Sunderbhaio Ambalalo Desaio Versuso Stateo ofoSunderbhaio Ambalalo Desaio Versuso Stateo ofo Gujarato2003(1)oRCRoCriminalo380oinowhichoitowasoheldoasounder:o o "17.oInoouroview,owhateverobeotheosituation,oitoisoofonoouseotookeeposuchoseizedo vehiclesoatotheopoliceostationsoforoaolongoperiod.oItoisoforotheoMagistrateotoopasso appropriateoordersoimmediatelyobyotakingoappropriateobondoandoguaranteeoasowello asosecurityofororeturnoofotheosaidovehicles,oiforequiredoatoanyopointoofotime.oThiso canobeodoneopendingohearingoofoapplicationsofororeturnoofosuchovehicles.o o o o o Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxo o

21.oHoweverotheseopowersoareotoobeoexercisedobyotheoconcernedoMagistrate.oWeo hopeoandotrustothatotheoconcernedoMagistrateowouldotakeoimmediateoactionoforo seeingo thato powerso undero Sectiono451oCriminalo Procedureo Code,o 1973o areo properlyoandopromptlyoexercisedoandoarticlesoareonotokeptoforoaolongotimeoatotheo policeostation,oinoanyocase,oforonotomoreothanofifteenodaysotoooneomonth.oThiso objectocanoalsoobeoachievedoifothereoisoproperosupervisionobyotheoRegistryoofotheo concernedoHighoCourtoinoseeingothatotheorulesoframedobyotheoHighoCourtoregardotoo suchoarticlesoareoimplementedoproperly.o"o o

6.3.o o Theo underlyingo legislativeo schemao iso premisedo ono theo fundamentalo principleo thato propertyo seizedo ino connectiono witho ano allegedo offenceo oughto noto too beo retainedo ino theo custodyo ofo theo courto oro theo investigatingo agencyo foro anyo periodo longero thano absoluteo necessary.o Ito iso pertinentotoonoteothatoprolongedoandounnecessaryoretentionoinvariablyoleadso too theo depreciation,o decayo oro completeo destructiono ofo theo property,o o o o 7o constitutingonotoonlyosignificantolossotootheorightfuloownerobutoalsooresultingo intoo ano avoidableo administrativeo burdeno ono theo State.o Thiso legislativeo imperativeodemandsothatocriminalocourtsoshouldopassoappropriateoandotimelyo ordersoforotheointerimocustodyoandoswiftodisposaloofoseizedoarticlesoonceotheiro immediateoevidentiaryointegrityohasobeenosecured.oThisoapproachoisoalsooino consonanceo witho theo constitutionalo righto too propertyo aso enshrinedo undero Articleo300AoofotheoConstitutionoofoIndia,owhichomandatesothat:o'Noopersono shallobeodeprivedoofopropertyosaveobyoauthorityoofolaw.oTheotermo'authorityo ofo law'o musto beo interpretedo noto merelyo aso ao referenceo too ao statutoryo provision,o buto aso ano embodimento ofo principleso ofo justice,o fairnesso ando reasonableness.oWhereotheofactsoandocircumstancesoofoaocase,oorotheonatureoofo property,odoonotonecessitateoitsophysicaloretentionoasocorpusodelicti,oespeciallyo whenophotographs,ovideography,oorodetailedopanchnamasocanopreserveoitso evidentiaryovalue,otheocontinuedowithholdingoofotheopropertyofromorightfulo claimantoceasesotoobeoaoproportionateoinvestigativeomeasure.o

7.o o Wheno ao court/magistrateo exerciseso itso jurisdictiono too releaseo seizedo propertyo onoSapurdari/superdari,oitoisoundoubtedlyo vestedo withotheo powerotooimposeosuchoconditionsoandostipulationsoasoareodeemedonecessaryo andoexpedient.oTheoprimaryoobjectiveoofotheseoconditionsoisotwoofold:ofirstly,o tooensureoproper,osafeoandoaccountableocustodyoofotheopropertyoduringotheo pendencyo ofo proceedings;o ando secondly,o too guaranteeo itso unhinderedo productiono beforeo theo courto whenevero theo needo ariseso foro purposeo ofo evidence,o identification,o oro finalo disposal.o However,o theo exerciseo ofo thiso judicialodiscretionoisonotoabsolute;oitomustobeogovernedobyotheofundamentalo principleso ofo proportionalityo ando reasonableness.o Theo conditionso imposedo mustoserveotheointendedopurposeoofotemporaryocustodianshipoandonotooperateo o o o 8o asoanoindirectopunitiveomeasureoagainstotheoclaimantooroarbitraryohurdleotootheo release.o Pertinently,o requiringo excessiveo banko guarantees,o demandingo suretieso faro exceedingo theo property'so depreciatedo value,o oro imposingo unreasonableo restrictionso ono itso useo mayo rendero theo ordero foro releaseo practicallyonugatory,oamountingotootakingoawayowithooneohandotheobenefito conferredobyotheoother.o

7.1.o o Theo determinationo ofo justness,o reasonablenesso ando proportionalityoofoconditionsoimposedoforotheoreleaseoofoseizedopropertyoono sapurdari/superdarioisofundamentallyodependentoonoaocarefuloassessmentoofo severalocontextualofactors;owhichoinclude:otheonatureoofopropertyo(fungibleooro non-fungible);otheoroleoofopropertyoinotheocommissionoofotheocrimeo(corpuso delictiooroancillaryoinvolvement);oandoitsoprimaofacieoevidentiaryovalue.oThiso assessmentobecomesocriticaloforodeterminingotheoconditionsotoobeoimposedo fororeleaseoonosapurdari/superdari.oWhereotheopropertyoitselforepresentsotheo subjectomatteroofocrimeo(e.g.,ocashoorojewelleryorecoveredoasostolenoproperty),o theo conditions,o particularlyo theo bondo amount,o areo requiredo too beo proportionateotooitsoequivalento monetaryo value.o However,o whereopropertyo likeoaovehicleoisoinvolved,oandoitoplayedoonlyoanoancillaryocircumstantialooro incidentaloroleo(e.g.,ousedoforotransit,oandonotoasotheoweaponoofocrime),otheo impositionoofoconditionsomustobeosharplyodistinguished.oInosuchocases,otheo primaryopurposeoofotheobondoisosolelyotooensureotheoproperty'sosubsequento productionobeforeotheoCourtoifoandowhenorequired,oandonototooserveoasoano indemnityo foro vehicle'so fullo marketo value,o aso thato mayo tantamounto too imposingo disproportionateo condition(s)o whicho iso punitiveo ino nature.o Theo conditionoshouldoinsteadobeostructuredotoosecureoattendanceo&oproduction,o o o o 9o oftenoachievedothroughoaomoreoreasonableobondoamountocoupledowithotheo claimantoexecutingoanoundertakingonototooalienateoorodamageotheoproperty.o

8.o o Revertingotootheofactsoandocircumstancesoofotheoinstantocase,otheo learnedoSpecialoJudge,owhileoorderingofororeleaseoofotheovehicleo(Hyundaio Grando i10,o Modelo 2016)o ando theo mobileo phoneo (iPhoneo 12),o video theo impugnedoorder,ohasoimposedoaobondoamountoofoRs.o10,00,000/-oandoRs.o 1,00,000/-,o respectively.o Ino theo consideredo opiniono ofo thiso Court,o theo excessiveoamountobondoimposedoisopatentlyocontraryotootheosettledoprincipleso governingotheoambitoandoscopeoofosapurdari/superdari,oasosuchoaorequiremento isomanifestlyooppressiveoandodisproportionateotoobothotheointrinsicovalueoando theo natureo ofo propertyo ino question,o particularlyo consideringo theo facto that,o impositionoofocondition(s)owasotooensureoproperosafe-keepingoandosubsequento productiono(ifosoodirected).oMoreover,otheoimpugnedoorderoappearsotoohaveo beeno passedo ino ao mechanicalo ando unreasonedo manner,o notablyo failingo too recordoanyosatisfactionoorojustificationounderpinningotheoimpositionoofothiso exorbitanto bondo amount.o Thiso crucialo omissiono renderso theo exerciseo ofo judicialodiscretionoarbitrary,ounreasonable,oandolegallyounsustainableoinotheo contexto ofo theo presento case.o Theo requiremento too recordo ao reasonedo satisfactiono regardingo theo appropriatenesso ando necessityo ofo theo conditionso imposedo iso noto ao mereo proceduralo formality,o buto ao statutoryo obligationo integralo too theo legislativeo provisions.o Non-adherenceo too thiso fundamentalo mandate,o resultingo ino theo impositiono ofo conditionsothato areo oppressiveo oro disproportionate,ovitiatesotheoexerciseoofodiscretionoandoconsequentlyorenderso theoimpugnedoorderoliableotoobeosetoaside.o o

9.o o Ino theo premise,o theo petitiono iso allowed;o theo impugnedo ordero datedo08.07.2025o(AnnexureoP-2)oisomodifiedotootheoextentothatotheobondo o o o 10o amounto imposedo byo theo learnedo Courto belowo iso herebyo reducedo too `1,00,000/-,oinorespectoofovehicleoinoquestion,owithooneosuretyoinotheolikeo amount,oando`10,000/-,oinorespectoofomobileophoneoinoquestion,owithooneo suretyoinotheolikeoamount.oAllootheroconditionsoshalloremainounchanged.o

10.o o Pendingoapplication(s),oifoany,oshalloalsoostandodisposedoof.oo o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o oooooo(SUMEEToGOEL)o o o o o o o o o JUDGEo Decembero16,o2025o mahaviro Whetherospeaking/reasoned:o o Yes/Noo o Whetheroreportable:o o o Yes/Noo