Delhi High Court: In a bail application filed to seek regular bail in a case registered under Sections 365/302/201/419/471/120-B/34 of the Penal Code1 (‘IPC’), a Single Judge Bench of Manoj Kumar Ohri, J. found it fit to release the applicant on regular bail considering the fact that his role was only of buying a SIM card with a fake Aadhaar after the alleged murder of the deceased girl.
Background
The applicant stated that the First Information Report (‘FIR’) in the present matter was registered upon complaint dated 20-10-2021 made by the mother of the deceased girl wherein it was alleged that the deceased girl was missing since 08-09-2021.
It was also submitted that the role of the applicant, as per the charge sheet, was only of buying a SIM card after the alleged murder of the deceased, and reference was also made to the status report filed on behalf of the State (respondent). The applicant had been in custody since 29-09-2023.
The status report which was placed on record stated that after the murder of the deceased girl, the accused conspired with the co-accused and the applicant. It also stated that the co-accused asked the applicant to purchase a mobile and SIM by using a fake Aadhaar of another person by affixing his own photo on the same.
Subsequently, this SIM was used to make a call to the mother of the deceased girl to misguide the investigation, and the applicant was correctly identified by the person from whom the SIM and mobile were purchased.
Analysis and Decision
The Court considered that the role of the applicant was of buying a SIM card with a fake identity after the alleged murder of the deceased girl for which he had been in custody since 29-09-2023, and found it fit to release the applicant on regular bail subject to the applicant furnishing a personal bond of Rs. 25000/- with one surety of the similar amount.
The Court also directed the applicant to:
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Not leave the NCR without prior permission of the Court.
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Provide his mobile number on which he would remain available during the pendency of the trial to the Investigating Officer.
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Promptly inform the Investigating Officer along with the Court in case of a change in his residential address or contact details.
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Not get in touch with the complainant of the matter or any other prosecution witness or tamper with evidence either directly/indirectly.
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Regularly appear before the Court during the pendency of the trial.
[Rajpal v. State (NCT of Delhi), Bail Appln. 1657 of 2024, Decided on 10-07-2024]
Advocates who appeared in this case :
For Petitioner — Advocate Pradeep Khatri, Advocate Utkarsh Singh Chhikara, Advocate Munender Maan, Advocate Jatin Dhull, Advocate Pia Singgh, Advocate Sandeep Rana, Advocate Deepak, Advocate Parvesh Kumar, Advocate Nishtha
For Respondent — APP Ashneet Singh, Advocate Chandrashekhar Yadav, Advocate Varsh Yadav
Buy Penal Code, 1860 HERE
1. 140(3)/103/238/319(2)/340(2)/61(2)/3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023