(Bela M. Trivedi and Prasanna B. Varale, JJ.)
Pranjal Jain and Others ____________________________ Appellant(s);
v.
State of Chhattisgarh and Another _________________ Respondent(s).
Criminal Appeal No. 502 of 2025 (Arising out of SLP(Criminal) No. 6161 of 2024), decided on January 31, 2025
The Judgement of the court was delivered by
Judgment
1. Leave granted.
2. Heard learned counsel for the parties.
3. The present Appeal is directed against the impugned judgment and order dated 19.01.2024 passed by the High Court of Chhattisgarh, Bilaspur in CRA No. 1924 of 2023, whereby the High Court had rejected the application of the appellants seeking anticipatory bail in connection with Crime No. 421 of 2016 registered at Police Station – City Kotwali, Mungeli, District – Mungeli (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 427, 294, 506-B of the IPC and Section 3(1)(xv) of the Scheduled Castes and Schedules Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
4. Vide the order dated 22.05.2024, this Court had granted interim protection against the arrest of the appellants, which has continued till this date.
5. The learned counsel for the respondent No. 1 – State has fairly stated that the appellants have joined the investigation and have cooperated with the Investigating Officer.
6. The learned counsel appearing on behalf of the legal representative of the deceased respondent No. 2 – complainant, who have been brought on record subsequently, has also submitted that he has no objection if the present application is allowed.
7. In view of the above, we are inclined to accept the present appeal. Hence, it is directed that in the event of arrest of the appellants in connection with Crime No. 421 of 2016 registered at Police Station – City Kotwali, Mungeli, District – Mungeli (C.G.) for the offence punishable under Sections 427, 294, 506-B of the IPC and Section 3(1)(xv) of the Scheduled Castes and Schedules Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, they shall be released on bail on the terms and conditions that may be imposed by the Trial Court.
8. It goes without saying that any breach of the conditions that may be imposed by the Trial Court for releasing them on bail, shall entail cancellation of the bail.
9. Subject to the afore-stated, the present appeal is allowed.
10. Pending application(s), if any, shall stand disposed of.
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