RAHUL GUPTA vs. THE STATE OF RAJASTHAN

NON­REPORTABLE IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL APPEAL NOS. 1343­44 OF 2023 (@ SLP (Crl) Nos. 012669 ­ 012670 / 2022) Rahul Gupta    ...Appellants(s) Versus State of Rajasthan & Anr. Etc.     …Respondent(s) J U D G M E N T M.R. SHAH, J. 1. Feeling   aggrieved   and   dissatisfied   with   the impugned order dated 18.07.2022 passed by the   High   Court   of   Judicate   for   Rajasthan Bench   at   Jaipur   in   S.B.   Criminal Miscellaneous   Bail   Application   No. Signature Not Verified 2363/2022  and  S.B.  Criminal  Misc.  II  Bail Digitally signed by R Natarajan Date: 2023.05.04 16:38:36 IST Reason: Page 1 of 6 Application No. 10068/2022, by which, the High Court has directed to enlarge original accused – private respondents herein on bail in   connection   with   FIR   No.   474/2021 registered at Police Station Kotwali, District Dholpur for the offences under Sections 302, 307,   201,   120­B   of   IPC,   the   original complainant/informant   has   preferred   the present appeals.    2. At the outset, it is required to be noted that private   respondents   –   accused   have   been chargesheeted   after   investigation   for   the offences under Sections 302, 307, 201, 120­B of   the   IPC.   Despite   the   above   and   without taking into consideration any of the material forming part of the chargesheet and without even   considering   the   seriousness   of   the offences alleged; material collected during the Page 2 of 6 investigation, the High Court has by a non­ speaking   order   has   directed   to   release   the accused – private respondents herein on bail by further observing that there is a possibility that trial may take long time to conclude. In a case for the offence under Section 302 of IPC in   which   one   person   was   guilty,   the   High Court ought to have taken into consideration the   material   collected   during   the investigation.   From   the   impugned   order passed by the High Court, it appears that the only observations made by the High Court are in paragraph 4 which reads as under: ­  “4. Considering the arguments advanced by the counsel for the parties and looking to the possibility that the trial may take long time to conclude, this court deems it just and proper to enlarge the petitioners on bail.”       When   the   accused   are   chargesheeted after the investigation, the High Court ought Page 3 of 6 to have taken note of and/or considered the material   collected   during   the   investigation even to find out whether there is any material collected   during   the   investigation   involving the   accused   for   the   serious   offence   under Section 302 of IPC and therefore, whether it is a fit case to enlarge the accused on bail or not. Under the circumstances, the impugned order   passed   by   the   High   Court   is unsustainable and the same deserves to be quashed   and   set   aside   and   the   matter   is required   to   be   remitted   back   to   the   High Court to decide the bail applications afresh.   3. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the original accused has submitted that wife of accused – Sunil Gupta is suffering from brain haemorrhage. It will be open for the accused to prayer for interim bail and/or seek bail on Page 4 of 6 that ground which may be considered by the High Court in accordance with law and on its own merits.    4. In   view   of   the   above   and   for   the   reasons stated   above,   the   present   appeals   succeed. The   impugned   order   passed   by   the   High Court releasing private respondents herein – original accused on bail is hereby quashed and set aside. Original accused are directed to surrender before the concerned Court/Jail authority   within   a   period   of   10   days   from today and thereafter, the High Court to decide and dispose of the bail application(s) afresh in accordance with law and on its own merits and   after   perusing   and/or   taking   into consideration the material/evidence collected during the investigation which are now a part Page 5 of 6 of   the   chargesheet   and   upon   taking   into consideration the relevant aspects which are required to be kept in mind while examining the prayer for bail.  After   surrender,   the   High   Court   on remand   to   decide   and   dispose   of   the   bail application(s) as observed hereinabove at the earliest.   With   this   the   present   appeals   are allowed.   ………………………………….J. [M.R. SHAH] ………………………………….J. [AHSANUDDIN AMANULLAH] NEW DELHI; MAY 04, 2023 Page 6 of 6