HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD, LUCKNOW BENCH

Court No. – 4

Case :- BAIL No. – 4796 of 2016

Applicant :- Vimlesh Katheriya

Opposite Party :- State Of U.P.

Counsel for Applicant :- Jairam Bharti
Counsel for Opposite Party :- Govt. Advocate

Hon’ble Ramesh Sinha,J.

Heard Sri Jairam Bharti, learned counsel for the applicant and Ms. Sushma Shukla, learned A.G.A. appearing for the State.

It is submitted by learned counsel for the applicant that as per medical opinion, prosecutrix is 16 years. The law is settled that the margin of error in ascertaining the age by radiological examination is two years on either side and hence the possibility of the prosecutrix being major cannot be ruled out. Although, she has made an allegation of rape against the applicant but the same has not been corroborated by any medical evidence and surrounding circumstances is totally belies the prosecution case as well as statement under Section 164 Cr.P.C. Her medical report does not show any mark of injury, violence or sexual assault. He further submits that it is not a case of taking away or enticing away the prosecutrix as from a perusal of her statement under Section 164 Cr.P.C., it is apparent that she has voluntarily eloped with the applicant. The applicant has no criminal history. The applicant is in jail since 8.7.2015. The falsity of the case is apparent from the fact that the Nana and Baba of the applicant have also been implicated in the present case.

Learned A.G.A. opposed the prayer for bail.

Without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case and considering the nature of accusation and the severity of punishment in case of conviction and the nature of supporting evidence, reasonable apprehension of tempering of the witnesses and prima facie satisfaction of the Court in support of the charge, the applicant is entitled to be released on bail in this case.

Let the applicant Vimlesh Katheriya involved in Case Crime No. 587 of 2015 under sections 323, 342, 363, 376 I.P.C. and ¾ POCSO Act, police station Mishrikh, District Sitapur be released on bail on his furnishing a personal bond with two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the court concerned with the following conditions.

(i) The applicant shall file an undertaking to the effect that he shall not seek any adjournment on the dates fixed for evidence when the witnesses are present in court. In case of default of this condition, it shall be open for the trial court to treat it as abuse of liberty of bail and pass orders in accordance with law.

(ii) The applicant shall remain present before the trial court on each date fixed, either personally or through his counsel. In case of his absence, without sufficient cause, the trial court may proceed against him under Section 229-A of the Indian Penal Code.

(iii) In case, the applicant misuses the liberty of bail during trial and in order to secure his presence proclamation under Section 82 Cr.P.C. is issued and the applicant fails to appear before the court on the date fixed in such proclamation, then, the trial court shall initiate proceedings against him, in accordance with law, under Section 174-A of the Indian Penal Code.

(iv) The applicant shall remain present, in person, before the trial court on the dates fixed for (i) opening of the case, (ii) framing of charge and (iii) recording of statement under Section 313 Cr.P.C. If in the opinion of the trial court absence of the applicant is deliberate or without sufficient cause, then it shall be open for the trial court to treat such default as abuse of liberty of bail and proceed against him in accordance with law.

Order Date :- 14.6.2016

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