Ramandeep Alias Deepu v. State of Haryana

o o CRM-M-68972-2025o o o o o 1o o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHo o 101-3oo o o o o ooooooo ooooooCRM-M-68972-2025o o Ramandeepo@oDeepuoo o o o o o o ....Petitionerooo V/so StateoofoHaryanaoo o o o o o ....Respondento Dateoofodecision:o06.03.2026o DateoofoUploadingo:o09.03.2026o o CORAM:oo HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSUMEEToGOELo Present:oo Mr.oParminderoSingh,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioner.oo o o Mr.oGurmeetoSingh,oAAGoHaryana.oo *****o SUMEEToGOEL,oJ.o(Oral)oo

1.o o PresentosecondopetitionohasobeenofiledounderoSectiono483oofotheo BharatiyaoNagarikoSurakshaoSanhita,o2023o(foroshorto'BNSS')oforograntoofo regularobailotootheopetitioneroinocaseobearingoFIRoNo.387odatedo10.11.2023,o registeredoforotheooffencesopunishableounderoSectionso302,o328,o307,o201,o 120-BoofoIPCoandoSectiono72-AoofotheoPunjaboExciseoAct,o1914o(asoamendedo byotheoHaryanaoAmendmentoBill,o2020)oatoPoliceoStationoChhapar,oDistricto Yamunanagar,oHaryana.oo o o Theo petitionero haso earliero appliedo foro granto ofo regularo bailo beforeo thiso Courto whicho waso dismissedo ono meritso video ordero datedo ono

29.10.2024.ooo o o Thereafter,otheopresentopetitionoi.e.otheosecondopetitionoforogranto oforegularobail,ohasobeenopreferredobyotheopetitioneroono03.12.2025.o o o CRM-M-68972-2025o o o o o 2o 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 Sectiono304oIPCowasodeletedoatotheostageoofoframingoofocharge.ooDuringotheo 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 o o CRM-M-68972-2025o o o o o 3o o

3.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionero haso iteratedo thato theo petitionerohasobeenofalselyoimplicatedointootheoFIRoinoquestionoandohasonoo roleo whatsoevero ino theo allegedo manufacturingo oro distributiono ofo spuriouso liquor.ooLearnedocounselohasofurtheroiteratedothatoduringoinvestigation,oonotheo disclosureo statemento ofo co-accusedo Ankito Kumaro @o Mogli,o ito haso beeno allegedothatoheoalongowithocertainootheroaccusedopersonsohaveobeenorunningoao factoryo foro manufacturingo ofo illicit/spuriouso liquor.o Accordingo too learnedo counsel,otheoroleoattributedotootheopetitioneroinotheopresentoFIRoasowelloaso othero connectedo FIRso isoonlyo limitedo too theo extento thatoheohaso allegedlyo disclosedotheosourceofromowhereoalcoholocouldobeoprocuredoi.e.ofromotheo factoryoowneronamelyoAnshuloGarg,owhichoalcoholoisoallegedotoobeooneoofo theocomponentsousedoinotheopreparationoofoliquor.oItohasobeenosubmittedothato theo petitionero haso noo roleo ino theo manufacturing,o preparation,o saleo oro distributionoofotheoallegedoillicitospuriousoliquor.oFurthermore,otheopetitionero neverohasoanyoconnectionowithotheoallegedofactoryoandohasoneveroevenometo theoco-accusedopersonsoinvolvedoinotheomanufacturingoofotheospuriousoliquor.o Learnedocounselohasocontendedothatotheopetitioneroisomerelyoanoemployeeoofo AdityaoBio-Tech,owhereoheohasobeenoworkingoasoaosalesmanosinceotheoyearo 2021otilloNovembero2023.ooAccordingotoolearnedocounsel,otheopetitionerohaso beenoimplicatedoonlyoonotheobasisoofodisclosureostatementsoandothereoisonoo independentoevidenceotooconnectohimowithotheoallegedooffence.oItohasobeeno furtherosubmittedothatoneitheroanyorecoveryowhatsoeverohasobeenoeffectedo fromo theo petitionero noro iso thereo anyo documentaryo linkingo himo witho theo allegedo manufacture,o supplyo oro distributionoofo illicit/spuriouso liquor.oTheo o o CRM-M-68972-2025o o o o o 4o o entireo prosecutiono caseo againsto theo petitionero restso solelyo upono custodialo disclosureo statementso whicho byo themselveso cannoto constituteo legallyo admissibleo evidenceo ino viewo ofo theo settledo positiono ofo law.o Ito haso beeno furtherocontendedothatotheopetitionerohasobeenoinocustodyosinceo29.02.2024o andotheoinvestigationoquaohimostandsoconcluded.oFurthermore,otheochallanoaso wello aso supplementaryo challano haveo alreadyo beeno presentedo beforeo theo competentoCourtoofojurisdiction.oLearnedoseniorocounselohasoemphasizedothato outoofo105oprosecutionowitnessesocitedonotoevenoaosingleowitnessohasobeeno examinedosoofaroandotheotrialoisolikelyotootakeoaoconsiderableoperiodoofotimeo tooconclude.oItohas,othus,obeenosubmittedothatotheocontinuedoincarcerationoofo theo petitionero particularlyo ino theo absenceo ofo anyo substantiveo oro directo evidenceolinkingohimotootheoallegedooffenceowouldoserveonoousefulopurpose.o Theo petitionero shallo undertakeo too abideo byo allo conditionso thato mayo beo imposedo byo thiso Court,o includingo noto tamperingo witho theo prosecutiono evidenceooroinfluencingowitnessesoandonotoleavingotheocountryowithoutoprioro permissionoofotheoCourt.oOnotheostrengthoofoaforesaidosubmissions,otheogranto ofopetitionoinohandoisoentreatedofor.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 o o CRM-M-68972-2025o o o o o 5o o manufactureo ando distributiono ofo poisonouso liquoro haso beeno unearthed.oo AccordingotoolearnedoStateocounsel,oduringotheocourseoofoinvestigation,oao well-organisedo networko involvedo ino theo preparationo ando supplyo ofo illicito liquorohasosurfacedoandoseveraloaccusedopersonsohaveobeenofoundoinvolvedo inodifferentostagesoofotheoillegaloactivity.oLearnedoStateocounselohasofurthero submittedo thato theo nameo ofo theo petitionero haso beeno surfacedo duringo investigationoonotheobasisoofodisclosureostatementsoofoco-accusedopersonso whereinoitohasobeenorevealedothatotheopetitionerohasodisclosedotheosourceo fromowhereoalcoholousedoinotheopreparationoofoliquorocouldobeoprocuredoando suchoprocurementoformsoanointegralopartoofotheoconspiracy.oFurthermore,otheo petitionerohasobeenoinvolvedoinomultipleoconnectedoFIRsorelatingotootheosameo occurrence,owhichoindicatesohisonexusowithotheolargeroconspiracyorelatingotoo theopreparationoandosupplyoofospuriousoliquor.oLearnedoStateocounselohaso pointedooutothatotheoearlieropetitionoofotheopetitioneroforograntooforegularobailo haso alreadyo beeno dismissedo ando thereo iso noo substantialo changeo ino circumstances.oConsideringotheogravityoofotheooffenceoandotheospecificoroleo attributedo too theo petitioner,o learnedo Stateo counselo haso prayedo foro theo dismissaloofotheoinstantopetition.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 Igattestgtogthegaccuracygand iso theo libertyo ofo ano individual.o Indubitably,o withino ouro societyo ando o o CRM-M-68972-2025o o o o o 6o o 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 whichopermitsocurtailmentoofo libertyoofoanti-socialoandoanti-nationalo 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 o o CRM-M-68972-2025o o o o o 7o o

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 prosecutionocaseoandochangedomedicalocondition(s)oofoaccusedowouldo 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 o o CRM-M-68972-2025o o o o o 8o o 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 recordedo foro grantingo sucho pleao despiteo sucho ao pleao beingo 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.oTheofirstoregularobailofiledobyotheopetitionerowaso dismissedo aso withdrawno on29.10.2024.o o Theo instanto petitiono i.e.o secondo petitionoforograntooforegularobailohasobeenofiledothereafteroono03.12.2025.oo However,osinceotheofirstoregularobailopetitionowasodismissedoasowithdrawno withouto adjudicationo ono merits,o thiso Courto deemso ito appropriateo too alsoo 2026.03.09g10:37 examineotheopetitionoonomerits.o o o CRM-M-68972-2025o o o o o 9o o

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 Additionally,otheocharacter,oantecedents,ofinancialomeans,osocietalostanding,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),oAIRo1978oAJAYgKUMAR o o CRM-M-68972-2025o o o o o 10o o 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 circumstances,otheofollowingofactorsoalsoobeforeograntingobail;otheyoare: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 2026.03.09g10:37 toobeoconcludedoinotheonearofutureoeitherobyoitselfoorocoupledowithotheo o o CRM-M-68972-2025o o o o o 11o o 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

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.ooItoisonotoinodisputeothatotheopetitionerohasonotobeenonamedoinotheo originaloFIRoandohisoimplicationoisobasedouponotheomaterialocollectedoduringoAJAYgKUMAR o o CRM-M-68972-2025o o o o o 12o o theocourseoofoinvestigation.oItoisoalsooaomatterooforecordothatotheoinvestigationo haso culminatedo ino theo filingo ofo theo challano aso wello aso ao supplementaryo challano ando chargeso haveo beeno framedo byo theo Courto belowo againsto theo petitioneroandocertainootheroco-accusedoforooffencesounderoSectionso302,o328o ando120-Bo IPCo alongo witho Sectiono 72-Ao ofo theo Punjabo Exciseo Act.oTheo recordo furthero reflectso thato theo prosecutiono haso citedo ao largeo numbero ofo witnessesoandotheotrialoisocurentlyoatotheostageooforecordingoevidence.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 o o CRM-M-68972-2025o o o o o 13o o theoprayeroforobail,oparticularlyowhereothereoisoaoreasonableoapprehensiono thato theo accused,o ifo released,o mayo indulgeo ino similaro activitieso oro mayo attempto too influenceo witnesses.o Furthermore,o theo allegedo roleo ofo theo petitioner,o aso projectedo byo theo prosecution,o iso thato theo petitionero haso disclosedotheosourceofromowhereoalcoholousedoinotheopreparationoofoliquoro couldo beo procuredo ando ino theo consideredo opiniono ofo thiso Courto sucho procurementoformsoanointegralopartoofotheoconspiracyoandoformsoaosignificanto linkoinotheochainoofoeventsoleadingotootheocommissionoofotheoallegedooffence.o Atothisostage,oitocannotobeosaidothatotheoroleoattributedotootheopetitioneroisoano insignificanto one.o Theo prosecutiono caseo specificallyo allegeso thato theo involvementoofotheopetitionerosurfacedoduringoinvestigationoonotheobasisoofo materialocollectedosubsequently.oo

11.o o Furthermore,otheopetitionerohasoalsoosoughtobailoonotheogroundo ofoprolongedocustodyoandosnailopaceoofotheotrial.oThoughoitoisotrueothatotheo petitionerohasobeenoinocustodyoforoaoconsiderableoperiodobutotheoseriousnesso ofotheoallegationsoandohisocriminaloantecedentsoweighoheavilyoagainstohim.o Theomaterialowhichohasobeenoplacedoonorecordodoesonotoshowothatotheodelayo inotrialoisosolelyoattributableotootheoprosecution.oInosuchocircumstances,olongo custody,obyoitself,ocannotobeotreatedoasoaogroundoforograntoofobail.ooAtothiso stage,o noo accentuatingo circumstanceso haveo beeno madeo whicho mayo primao facieo constituteo ao compellingo groundo foro theo granto ofo regularo bailo too theo petitioner,o especiallyo ino lighto ofo theo gravityo ofo theo allegationso ando theo evidenceoonorecord.oItoisoalsootoobeoborneoinomindothatooffencesoofothisonatureo strikeoatotheoveryorootoofopublicoorderoandosocietaloconscience.oo o o CRM-M-68972-2025o 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 o o CRM-M-68972-2025o o o o o 15o o inofactoarises.oAoHighoCourtowhichoexistsoforotheofurtheranceoofojusticeoinoano 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 WeohaveonoohesitationoinostatingothatohadotheoImpugnedoJudgmentobeenoAJAYgKUMAR o o CRM-M-68972-2025o o o o o 16o o renderedobyoaoCourtoofoSession,otheofactorsothatowouldohaveoweighedowitho usowouldobeostarklyodifferent.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 o o CRM-M-()*+,-,0,-o o o o o 1'o o

16.6o o =heo Hon9bleo Supremeo &ourto ino ao :udgmento titledo aso )heo CentraloB!rea!oofo&nvesti"ationovs.o6iro5s(ano8o'rao8o6iro5s(ano'li%o 2025o&+SCo--55ohasoheldoasounder:o o ='4.o Theo practiceo ofo conductingo trialso ono ao dayo too dayo basiso moreo particularlyoinoimportantoorosensitiveocasesoasowasotheotraditionoabouto thirtyoyearsoagoohasobeenogivenoaocompleteogo2by.o?eosincerelyobelieveo thatoitoisohighotimeothatotheocourtsorevertotoothatopractice.o6orotheopurposeo oforevertingotootheooldopractice,oitoisonecessaryotoounderstandotheocurrento social,opoliticaloandoadministrativeoscenariooincludingotheowayotheoPoliceo areofunctioning.o"llotheotiigho!ourtsoneedotooconstituteoao!ommitteeotoo discussothisoissueoveryoseriouslyoforotheobenefitoofotheirorespectiveodistricto judiciaries.<o

13.4 The chronic protraction of criminal proceedings serves as a systemic blight that transcends the individual interest of the accused, inflicting a highly deleterious impact upon the collective conscience of the society. While legal discourse frequently centers on the hardship of the incarcerated, it is a grave juridical error to overlook the active suffering and anguish visited upon the victim. For the aggrieved; an interminable trial is not merely a procedural delay but a form of secondary victimization leading to a state of perpetual emotional purgatory where the wounds of offense are kept raw by the lack of finality. A Three Judge Bench of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Rattiram and Others Vs. State of M.P. through Inspector of Police; 2012 AIR Supreme Court 1485 while appreciating the observation in Mangal Singh and Another Vs. Kishan Singh and Others; 2009 AIR Supreme Court 1535; observed as under: "47. While delineating on the facets of speedy trial, it cannot be regarded as an exclusive right of the accused. The right of a victim has o o CRM-M-()*+,-,0,-o o o o o 15o o been given recognition in Mangal Singh and Anr. v. Kishan Singh and ors., AIR 2009 Supreme Court 1535 wherein it has been observed thus :- "Any inordinate delay in conclusion of a criminal trial undoubtedly has highly deleterious effect on the society generally and particularly on the two sides of the case. But it will be a grave mistake to assume that delay in trial does not cause acute suffering and anguish to the victim of the offence. In many cases the victim may suffer even more than the accused. There is, therefore no reason to give all the benefits on account of the delay in trial to the accused and to completely deny all justice to the victim of the offence." The fundamental principle of an ever-evolving liberty jurisprudence dictates that prolonged incarceration, absent any realistic prospect of a near-term conclusion of trial, renders continued pre-conviction detention constitutionally impermissible. Under the umbrella of Article 21 of the Constitution, the right to a speedy trial is recognized as an indispensable facet of the guarantee of life and personal liberty. The pre-trial incarceration must not, by mere flux of time, be permitted to assume the character of punishment, as the state cannot be allowed to achieve through procedural delay what it has not yet achieved through a verdict of guilt. However, this Constitutional promise is not an absolute or unregulated license, rather it ensures that deprivations of liberty are neither arbitrary, unconscionable nor unfair.

13.5 Where relief is being sought, solely upon the ground of procedural delay, the Court must adopt a golden mean approach, where the rights of the accused/incarcerated person are protected without reducing the criminal justice system to a state of toothlessness. Ergo, the Constitutional inquiry into delay must be a contextual assessment of whether the continued AJAY KUMAR 2026.03.09 10:37 detention remains constitutionally permissible under the specific penumbra o o CRM-M-68972-2025o o o o o 19o o ofo theo case.o Unlessotheodelayo iso soo inordinateo thatoito shockso theojudicialo conscience,oitocannotobeotreatedoasoaosolitaryodeterminantoforoenlargement.oAo pleao ofo delayo cannoto beo examinedo ino ao legalo vacuumo oro ano abstraction;o insteadoitomustobeoweighedoagainstotheogravamenoofoallegations;ospecificoroleo attributedo too theo applicant;o trajectoryo ofo theo trial;o riskso involvedo ino 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,oitobecameoevidentothatotheopleaoofo delayo couldo noto beo examinedo ino abstraction.o Ino theo courseo ofo submissionso ando rejoinder,o referenceo waso necessarilyo madeo too theo natureo ofo theo allegations,o theo statutoryoframeworkoinvoked,oandotheoroleoattributedotooindividualoappellants.oThiso wasonotoaodepartureofromotheooriginalosubmission,obutoaoreflectionoofotheolegalo realityothato theo constitutionalo questiono ofo delayo doeso noto ariseo ino ao vacuum.xxxooooooo xxx.o

30.oo Articleo21ooccupiesoaocentraloplaceoinotheoconstitutionaloscheme.oTheo righto too lifeo ando personalo liberty,o ando theo insistenceo thato anyo deprivationo musto conformotooprocedureoestablishedobyolaw,oareofoundationaloguarantees.oTheorightotoo ao speedyo trialo haso beeno recognisedo aso ano importanto faceto ofo thiso guarantee.o Ito followso thato pre-trialo incarcerationo cannot,o byo theo mereo passageo ofo time,o beo permittedotooassumeotheocharacteroofopunishment.o

31.oAtotheosameotime,oArticleo21ohasoneverobeenounderstoodoasooperatingoinoisolationo fromolaw.oTheoconstitutionalopromiseoisonotothatolibertyowillobeounregulated,obutothato deprivationso ofo libertyo willo noto beo arbitrary,o unconscionable,o oro unfair.o Theo expressiono"procedureoestablishedobyolaw"oreflectsothatobalance.ooooxxxo xxx."o o o Aojusticeodeliveryosystemorestsoonoaosimpleopromise;ofairnesso deliveredoinoreasonableotime.oAnyoproceduraloprotractionodoesonotomerelyo delayotheoverdict;oitoactivelyoerodesotheoedificeoofopublicoconfidenceoinotheo judiciary.oWhenoaotrialoisoallowedotoolanguish,oitotranscendsotheoaphorismo thato'justiceodelayedoisojusticeodenied'oandoentersotheomoreoperilousoterritoryo o o CRM-M-()*+,-,0,-o o o o o #$o o of 'justice doubted'. In the constitutional scheme of Article 21, the Right to a Speedy trial is not a unilateral concession to the accused, but a collective entitlement shared by the victim & the State, ensuring that Scales of justice do not rust through inaction.

13.6 Ergo, in cases where, notwithstanding the lapse of time, the Court in its judicious wisdom finds that other factors preclude grant of bail, a proactive approach to prevent travesty of justice must be adopted. In such cases, the refusal to grant on bail must be coupled with a peremptory mandate of expeditious conclusion of trial (or in appropriate cases a time-bound conclusion of trial). A profitable reference in this regard can be made to the dicta passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Tarun Kumar Vs. Assistant Director, Directorate of Enforcement; SLP (Crl.) No. 9431 of 2023, relevant whereof reads thus: "#'.o %%%%o o o %%%%o o o %%%%o o o o ?heno theo detentiono ofo theo accusedo iso continuedo byo theo !ourt,o theo courtso areo alsoo e%pectedo too concludeo theo trialso withino ao reasonableotime,ofurtheroensuringotheorightoofospeedyotrialoguaranteedobyo "rticleo#$oofotheo!onstitution.<o

16.'.o o Ergo>oinotheofa tualomilieuoofotheo aseoinohando,hi hotendsotoo refle tothatotrialoisopro rastinatingoando,itness7s*oareonotobeingoe<aminedoforo oneo auseoorotheootherFoitoisoaofito aseo,hi ho,arrantsodire tion7s*ofromothiso &ourtoforoe<peditioustitime%boundotrial.oo

1..o o "no2ie,oofotheopre2enientoratio ination)oitoisoordainedothus:o 7i*o o =heo petitiono ino hando iso de2oido ofo meritso ando iso herebyo dismissed.oo o o CRM-M-68972-2025o o o o o 21o o

(ii)o o TheoCourtobelowoisodirectedotoomakeoanoearnestoendeavourotoo expediteo theo trialo ando concludeo theo sameo aso expeditiouslyo aso possible,o preferablyowithinoaoperiodoofooneoyear,oinoaccordanceowitholaw.ooIfoneedobe,o theolearnedotrialoCourtoisoatolibertyotooadoptotheoprocedureoofoday-to-dayotrialo 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 oooooo(SUMEEToGOEL)o o oooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooo ooo oooJUDGEo Marcho06,o2026o Ajayo o o o o Whetherospeaking/reasoned:o o Yes/Noo o Whetheroreportable:o o Yes/Noo