Lakhan Soni @ Lakkhu vs The State Of Madhya Pradesh

NEUTRAL CITATION NO. 2026:MPHC-JBP:37578
1 MCRC-8566-2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH
AT JABALPUR

BEFORE
HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE SANJEEV S KALGAONKAR
th
ON THE 11 OF MAY, 2026
MISC. CRIMINAL CASE No. 8566 of 2026
LAKHAN SONI @ LAKKHU
Versus
THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH
Appearance:
Shri Manish Datt - Senior Advocate assisted by Shri Rohan Awasthi - Advocate
for the applicant.
Ms. Ankita Khare - Panel Lawyer for the State.
Shri Neeraj Ashar - Advocate for the objector.
ORDER
This first application has been filed by the applicant under Section 483 of
BNSS, 2023 for grant of bail in connection with Crime No.47/2026 registered at
Police Station - Barela, District - Jabalpur (M.P.) for offences punishable under
Sections 281, 125 (a), 105, 110 of the BNS, 2023 and Sections184, 134, 187/177,
5/180 and 3/181 of the Motor Vehicles Act. Applicant is in judicial custody since
24.01.2026.
2. Heard the arguments.
3. Perused the grounds for grant of bail stated in the application and the
relevant material on record.
4. Learned senior counsel for the applicant, in addition to the grounds
mentioned in the application, submits that the applicant is falsely implicated in the
alleged offence. There is no material to show complicity of the applicant except
his own incriminating statement before police and statement of co-accused Deepak
Soni informing that the applicant was driving the vehicle, which are not
Signature Not Verified
Signed by: KOUSHALENDRA
SHARAN SHUKLA
Signing time: 12-05-2026
12:03:49

NEUTRAL CITATION NO. 2026:MPHC-JBP:37578
2 MCRC-8566-2026
admissible in evidence. Final report has been submitted. The trial will take take

time to conclude. Applicant has clean past, with family roots. There is no history
of evading process of law. There is no likelihood of tampering with evidence by
the applicant. Jail incarceration is causing hardship to the young applicant.
Applicant is ready to cooperate in the trial.
5. Per contra, learned counsel for the State opposes the application on the
ground of gravity of alleged offence. However, after going through the case diary,
he fairly states that no criminal antecedent is reported against the applicant.
Applicant is aged around 24 years. He is a businessman.
6 According to the accusation on case diary, the driver of white Nissan
Magnite bearing registration No. MP 20 XB 1460 ran over the labourers working
in at a road of construction site near Sigma Kanha Colony, Saliwada. Five
labourers had died and 11 were severally injured Tracing the registration number
of the vehicle, Deepak Soni was apprehended. Deepak informed that his brother
Lakhan Soni had taken the vehicle on the fateful day. The vehicle was seized from
the possession of Deepak Soni. The applicant was arrested on 24.01.2026. He is
in custody ever since. Final report has been submitted after completion of
investigation. The material on record reveals that the applicant is implicated
merely on the basis of information given by co-accused Deepak Soni in police
custody. The investigating officer did not bother even to record statement of one
Vedika, who is informed to be travelling in the same vehicle at the time of
accident. None of the eye witnesses has stated that the applicant was driving the
vehicle at the time of alleged incident. It is unfortunate that a casual investigation
is conducted in such a horrific incident. Prima facie, there is no direct
incriminating material against the present applicant in the case diary. The trial
Signature Not Verified
Signed by: KOUSHALENDRA
SHARAN SHUKLA
Signing time: 12-05-2026
12:03:49

NEUTRAL CITATION NO. 2026:MPHC-JBP:37578
3 MCRC-8566-2026
would take time to conclude. The contentions advanced by the applicant have

prima-facie merit and cannot be dismissed as manifestly baseless. The veracity of
prosecution and complicity of the applicant will be determined after evidence in
the trial.
7. As informed, the applicant is still dependent on the family. Considering
these aspects, there appears to be no possibility of fleeing from justice. In absence
of any criminal antecedent, considering the socio-economic status of the applicant,
there appears to be no likelihood of recidivism or tampering with evidence or
influencing the witnesses by the applicant. There appears to be no compelling
reason to continue incarceration of the young applicant. However, the
observations, herein-above, are recorded for present application only.
8. Considering the rival contentions and overall circumstances of the case,
in the light of aforestated facts, but without commenting on the merits, this Court
is inclined to release the applicant on bail. Thus, the application is allowed.
9. Accordingly, it is directed that applicant- Lakhan Soni @
Lakkhu shall be released on bail in connection with Crime, as mentioned in first
paragraph of this order, upon furnishing a personal bond in the sum of
Rs.1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lac only) with one surety of the same amount to the
satisfaction of the trial Court, for compliance with the following conditions : (For
convenience of understanding by accused and surety, the conditions of bail are
also reproduced in Hindi as under):-
(1) Applicant shall remain present on every date of hearing as may be
directed by the concerned court;
(1)
आवेदक संबंिधत यायालय के िनद शानुसार सुनवाई क  येक ितिथ पर

उप थत रहेगा ।
(2) Applicant shall not commit or get involved in any offence of similar
nature;
(2)
आवेदक समान कृित का केाई अपराध नह $ं करेगा या उसम % स &मिलत

नह $ं होगा ।
(3) Applicant shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement,
Signature Not Verified
Signed by: KOUSHALENDRA
SHARAN SHUKLA
Signing time: 12-05-2026
12:03:49

NEUTRAL CITATION NO. 2026:MPHC-JBP:37578
4 MCRC-8566-2026
threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so
as to dissuade them/him/her from disclosing such facts to the Court or
to the police officer;
(3)
आवेदक करण के त )य* से प +रिचत -कसी /य01 को य2 या
, ,
अ य2 3प से लोभन धमक  या वचन नह $ं देगा जससे ऐसा /य01 ऐसे

त )य* को यायालय या पुिलस अिधकार $ को कट करने से िनवा +रत हो ।
(4) Applicant shall not directly or indirectly attempt to tamper with the
evidence or allure, pressurize or threaten the witness;
(4)
आवदेक य2 या अ य2 3प से सा 8 य के साथ छेडछाड करने का या
- ,
सा 2ी या सा 2य* को बहलाने फुसलाने दबाव डालने या धमकाने का यास

नह $ं करेगा ।
(5) During trial, the applicant shall ensure due compliance of provisions
of Section 309 of Cr.P.C./346 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita,
2023 regarding examination of witnesses in attendance;
(5) ,
0वचारण के दौरान उप थत गवाह * से पर $2ण के संबंध म % आवेदक धारा
/ , 2023
३०९ दं. .सं. ३४६ भारतीय नाग +रक सुर 2ा सं -हता के ावधान* का

उिचत अनुपालन सुिन Cत करेगा
10. This order shall be effective till the end of trial. However, in case of

breach of any of the preconditions of bail, the trial Court may consider, on
merit, cancellation of bail without any impediment from this order.
11. The trial Court shall get these conditions reproduced on the personal
bond by the accused and on surety bond by the surety concerned. If any of
them is unable to write, the scribe shall certify that he/she had explained the
conditions to the concerned accused or the surety.
C.C. as per rules.
(SANJEEV S KALGAONKAR)
JUDGE
ks

Signature Not Verified
Signed by: KOUSHALENDRA
SHARAN SHUKLA
Signing time: 12-05-2026
12:03:49