Regular Bail Granted to Co-Accused on Grounds of Parity and Completion of Investigation.

The applicants were arrested on December 10, 2025, in connection with Crime No. 297/2024 for allegedly inducing a complainant to pay money under the pretext of providing employment and forging documents for the same

The prosecution filed a charge-sheet alleging common intention in committing fraud and forgery

The applicants moved the High Court for regular bail, arguing parity with a co-accused who was granted bail on January 24, 2025, and noting that the investigation was complete while the trial would be prolonged

Whether the applicants are entitled to the grant of regular bail under Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, on the grounds of parity and prolonged trial

Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 (corresponding to Section 439 of the CrPC) regarding the High Court's power to grant regular bail

Principle of parity in bail jurisprudence, which suggests that similarly situated co-accused should be treated equally

Sections 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using forged document), and 34 (common intention) of the IPC

Procedural obligations under Sections 269, 84, 209, and 351 of the BNSS regarding the accused's appearance and conduct during trial

The Court observed that the investigation was concluded and the charge-sheet had already been submitted to the competent court

It placed significant weight on the fact that the main accused had already been granted bail by the same Court in MCRC No. 674/2025

Despite the State’s objection regarding the criminal antecedent of Applicant No. 1, the Court determined that because the applicants had been in custody since late 2025 and the trial was unlikely to conclude in a short timeframe, the liberty of the individuals outweighed continued detention

The Court reasoned that parity was applicable, and bail could be granted subject to stringent conditions to ensure their presence at trial

The Court allowed the bail application and ordered the release of Ravi Kumar and Shashi Kashyap upon furnishing a personal bond and one surety each, subject to specific conditions including appearance at all trial stages and no unnecessary adjournments