/2022 INSC 0398/ NON­REPORTABLE IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CRIMINAL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION  I.A. NO.71580 OF 2022  IN/AND  M.A. NO.766 OF 2022 IN WRIT PETITION (CRIMINAL) NO.39 OF 2022 MOHAMMAD AZAM KHAN      ...APPLICANT/ PETITIONER   VERSUS THE STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH            ...RESPONDENT WITH WRIT PETITION (CRIMINAL) NO.188 OF 2022 O R D E R  1. Both   the   writ   petition   being   Writ   Petition   (Criminal) No.188   of   2022,   as   well   as   the   Interlocutory   Application No.71580 of 2022 in Miscellaneous Application No.766 of 2022 in Writ Petition (Criminal) No. 39 of 2022 have been filed by the 1 petitioner   seeking   interim   bail   in   Case   Crime   No.70   of   2020, registered   with   Police  Station   Kotwali,   Rampur,  Uttar   Pradesh, for the offences punishable under Sections 420 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (“IPC” for short) [hereinafter referred to as   “the   said   FIR   No.70   of   2020”).     A   direction   is   also   sought directing the respondent to seek prior permission of this Court before   arresting   the   petitioner   in   any   other   case.       In   Writ Petition (Criminal) No.188 of 2022, an additional prayer is also made   for   quashing   and   setting   aside   the   proceedings   qua   the petitioner in the said FIR No.70 of 2020.   2. The facts giving rise to the present matter are as under: 3. The   petitioner   had   filed   Writ   Petition   (Criminal)   No.39   of 2022 in this Court on 22 nd  January, 2022.  It was contended in the   said   writ   petition   that   in   all   87   criminal   cases/FIRs   have been filed against the petitioner.   It was further contended that it   was   only   after   the   present   Government   came   into   power   in 2017,   that   84   out   of   these   87   criminal   cases/FIRs   have   been filed   against   the   petitioner.     It   was   submitted   that   as   on   the 2 date of filing of the said writ petition, he had secured bail in 84 cases,   including   3   cases   wherein   orders   have   been   passed   by this Court.  It was the contention of the petitioner that the said criminal   cases/FIRs   were   filed   by   the   Ruling   Party   with   mala fide   intention.     It   was   further   submitted   that   though   in   three criminal   cases,   the   bail   applications   were   pending   and   heard, but were either adjourned or not decided thereby depriving the petitioner  of  his   personal  liberty.       The  said writ  petition   came up before this Court on 8 th  February, 2022, when the same was disposed of by the following order: “This   writ   petition   has   been   filed   for grant of interim bail to the petitioner in the following cases: (i) Case   Crime   No.02/2018,   dated 25.04.2018  registered  under   sections 409, 420, 120B, 201 IPC and Section 13(1)   of   the   Prevention   of   Corruption Act,   1988   at   Police   Station   SIT, Sadar, Lucknow, UP.; (ii) Case   Crime   No.79/2019   dated 01.02.2019   under   Sections­500,   505 I.P.C.   registered   at   Police   Station   – Hazratganj, Lucknow, UP; and  3 (iii) Case Crime No. 312/2019 dated 19.08.2019  under   sections   420,  467, 468,   471,   447,   201   &   120­B   I.P.C. and   Section   3   of   The   Prevention   of Damage   to   the   Public   Property   Act, 1984   registered   at   Police   Station Azeem Nagar, Rampur, UP. Mr.   Kapil   Sibal,   learned   Senior Counsel   appearing   for   the   petitioner submitted   that   FIRs   are   registered   just before elections and most of them relate to events   that   occurred   long   back.       The applications   filed   for   bail   are   being adjourned and the petitioner is suffering in jail   due   to   FIRs   registered   on   false   and frivolous grounds. The   petitioner   is   at   liberty   to approach the concerned court and request for   expeditious   disposal   of   the   bail applications.  Needless   to   mention   that   the   court shall   dispose   of   the   bail   applications expeditiously.  The   writ   petition   is   dismissed. Pending   application(s)   if   any,   shall   stand disposed of.” 4. It   appears   that   thereafter   the   petitioner   was   granted   bail in   two   cases.     However,   in   one   case,   i.e.,   pertaining   to   Case Crime No.312 of 2019, dated 19 th  August, 2019,   for the   offences 4 punishable   under   Sections   420,   467,   468,   471,   447,   201   & 120B   IPC  and  under  Section 3  of the  Prevention  of Damage  to the   Public   Property   Act,   1984,   registered   at   Police   Station Azeem Nagar, Rampur, Uttar Pradesh (hereinafter referred to as “the said FIR No.312 of 2019”), though the matter was heard by the   learned   Single   Judge   of   the   High   Court   on   4 th   December, 2021 and closed for orders, no orders were passed.  Thereafter, an   application   came   to   be   filed   on   behalf   of   the   State   for bringing out certain developments.  On account of this, the said matter   got   prolonged   endlessly,   resulting   in   the   matter   not being   decided   and   thereby   depriving   the   petitioner   of   his personal   liberty.     As   such,   the   petitioner   filed   Miscellaneous Application No.766 of 2022 in Writ Petition (Criminal) No.39 of 2022 (hereinafter referred to as “the said M.A.”). The petitioner in the said M.A. had prayed for grant of interim bail with regard to the said FIR No.312 of 2019.  The said M.A. came to be filed on 23 rd  April, 2022.   5 5. It   appears   that   one   other   FIR   No.70   of   2020   was   already registered   on   18 th   March,   2020.     However,   the   petitioner   was not named in the said FIR No.70 of 2020.  A charge­sheet after investigation   in   the   said   FIR   No.70   of   2020   was   filed   on   10 th September,   2020,   wherein   the   wife   of   the   petitioner   and   one clerk   of   the   Basic   Shiksha   Adhikari   were   arrayed   as   accused persons.     A   letter   was   addressed   by   the   complainant   to   the Investigating Officer (“I.O.” for short) on 24 th  April, 2022, stating therein   that   though   the   petitioner   was   also   liable   to   be   made accused   in   the   said   FIR   No.70   of   2020,   no   action   was   taken against him.   6. The   said   M.A.   was   orally   mentioned   before   this   Court   on 26 th   April,   2022   and   on   29 th   April,   2022,   seeking   listing   of   the said M.A.   On 2 nd   May, 2022, though the said M.A. was listed, the same could not be taken up and was directed to be listed on 6 th  May, 2022.  7. It   appears   that   during   the   pendency   of   the   said   M.A.,   an application   was   made   by   I.O.   to   the   Additional   Chief   Judicial 6 Magistrate,   Rampur   on   5 th   May,   2022,   seeking   summoning   of the   petitioner   in   FIR   No.   70   of   2020.     The   learned   Magistrate passed   an   order   summoning   the   petitioner   on   the   very   same day,   i.e.,   on   5 th   May,   2022   in   respect   of   the   said   FIR   No.70   of 2020.   8. When   the   said   M.A.   was   listed   on   6 th   May,   2022,   it   was submitted   before   this   Court   by   the   respondent­State   that   the judgment   had   already   been   reserved   by   the   Allahabad   High Court   in   relation   to   the   bail   application   in   respect   of   the   said FIR No.312 of 2019 and as such, the matter  was adjourned to 11 th  May, 2022.   9. The   Additional   Chief   Judicial   Magistrate,   Rampur   passed an   order   on   6 th   May,   2022   and   arrayed   the   petitioner   as   an accused   in   FIR   No.   70   of   2020   and   on   the   very   same   day, passed   an   order   remanding   the   petitioner   to   custody. Accordingly, the Custody Warrant was issued, directing Sitapur Jail Superintendent to keep the petitioner in custody.   7 10. In   light   of   the   subsequent   developments   implicating   the petitioner in FIR No. 70 of 2020, the present writ petition came to   be   filed   by   the   petitioner   being   Writ   Petition   (Criminal) No.188   of   2022   vide   Diary   No.14644   of   2022,   seeking   prayers as   stated   above.     An   Interlocutory   Application   being   I.A.   No. 71580   of   2022   was   also   moved   in   the   said   M.A.   to   bring   on record these developments and to seek interim bail in respect of FIR No.70 of 2020. 11. During   the   pendency   of   these   proceedings,   the  Allahabad High   Court,   by  a   detailed  order   dated   10 th   May,  2022,  granted bail   to   the   petitioner   in   the   said   FIR   No.   312   of   2019,   while imposing severe conditions.   12. We   have   heard   Shri   Kapil   Sibal,   learned   Senior   Counsel appearing   on   behalf   of   the   applicant/petitioner   and   Shri   S.V. Raju,   learned   Additional   Solicitor   General   appearing   on   behalf of the State of Uttar Pradesh.  8 13. Shri   Kapil   Sibal,   learned   Senior   Counsel,   submits   that from the facts, it is clear that the Ruling Party is making every attempt   possible   to   keep   the   petitioner   behind   the   bars   by implicating   him   in   one   FIR   after   the   other.       He   submits   that the present case is a case of political vendetta.   14. Shri   Sibal   further   submits   that   when   the   petitioner approached this Court by way  of the  said M.A. pointing  out  to this   court   that   though   the   High   Court   had   heard   the   bail application   concerning   the   said   FIR   No.312   of   2019   and reserved   the   same  for  orders  for   number   of  months,  no   orders were   passed.     He   submits   that   anticipating   that   the   petitioner would   be   granted   bail   in   the   said   matter,   he   has   been   falsely implicated   as   an   accused   in   FIR   No.   70   of   2020.     He   submits that   in   the   said   crime,   not   only   the   FIR   is   registered   on   18 th March, 2020, but a charge­sheet in the said FIR was also filed long   ago,   i.e.,   on   10 th   September,   2020.     It   is   therefore submitted   that   the   petitioner   has   been   implicated   in   the   said matter only in order to deny him his personal liberty.   9 15. Shri   S.V.   Raju,   learned   Additional   Solicitor   General, vehemently   opposed   the   application(s)/petition.     He   submits that   under   Section   173(8)   of   the   Code   of   Criminal   Procedure, 1973,   the   Investigating   Agency   is   always   free   to   file   a   charge­ sheet against an additional accused if during the investigation, material is found against him.  He submits that the petitioner is a   heavy­weight   politician   and   due   to   his   pressure,   though   he was   involved   in   number   of   criminal   acts,   no   FIRs   were registered against  him.   It is submitted that the  petitioner  is a land­grabber   and   is   a   habitual   offender.     He   submits   that merely   because   the   petitioner   is   a   politician,   he   cannot   be permitted   to   by­pass   the   remedy   of   filing   regular   bail application   before   the   appropriate   Court.     Shri   Raju   further submits   that   when   the   petitioner’s   statement   was   recorded   by the I.O. in respect of FIR No.70 of 2020, he threatened the I.O. with   dire   consequences.   He   therefore   submits   that   both   the Interlocutory Application as well as the writ petition deserve to be dismissed.  10 16. In ordinary circumstances, we would not have entertained the   present   writ   petition.   The   petitioner   would   have   been directed to take recourse to the remedy available to him in law. However, the facts in the present case are very peculiar.   17. The   petitioner   approached   this   Court   by   way   of   Writ Petition   (Criminal)   No.   39   of  2022,  stating   therein   that  though in 84 FIRs he had already been granted bail, insofar as 3 FIRs are concerned, though the applications for bail were filed, they were either adjourned or heard and no orders were passed.   As such,   this  Court   passed  the   order   dated  8 th   February,   2022  in the said Writ Petition (Criminal) No. 39 of 2022, granting liberty to   the   petitioner   to   approach   the   concerned   court   and   request for expeditious disposal of the bail applications.  Though it was sought  to be urged before this Court that  FIRs were registered just   before   elections   and   most   of   them   related   to   events   that occurred   long   back,   this   Court   had   declined   to   entertain   the writ   petition   and   requested   the   concerned   Court   to   dispose   of the bail applications expeditiously.   11 18. Subsequently,   though   the   petitioner   was   granted   bail   in Crime No. 02 of 2018 dated 25 th  April, 2018, registered at Police Station   SIT,   Sadar,   Lucknow,   UP   for   the   offences   punishable under   Sections   409,   420,   120B,   201   IPC   and   Section   13(1)   of the   Prevention   of   Corruption   Act,   1988   and   Crime   No.79   of 2019,   dated   1 st   February,   2019,   registered   with   Police   Station Hazratganj,   Lucknow,   UP   for   the   offences   punishable   under Section   500   and   505   IPC,   insofar   as   FIR   No.312   of   2019   is concerned,   though   the   Allahabad   High   Court   had   closed   the Bail   Application   for   orders   on   4 th     December,   2021,   no   orders were   passed.     In   this   background,   the   petitioner   had approached this Court by way of said M.A., praying for interim bail  in  the   said  FIR  No.312  of  2019.   The  said  M.A.  was  listed from   time   to   time.     When   we   heard   the   said   M.A.   on   6 th   May, 2022,   we   simply   adjourned   it   to   11 th   May,   2022   as   it   was informed to this Court that the Allahabad High Court was likely to pass the order shortly in the Criminal Misc. Bail Application No. 40580 of 2021 relating to the said FIR No. 312 of 2019.  On 12 the same day, i.e., 6 th   May, 2022, on which date we adjourned the   said   M.A.,   an   order   was   passed   by   the   Additional   Chief Judicial Magistrate remanding the petitioner to custody.    19. After the said M.A. was adjourned, the I.O. started acting on the letter dated 24 th   April, 2022 of the complainant, stating therein   that   though   the   petitioner   was   involved   in   the   crime reported   in   FIR   No.70   of   2020,   no   action   was   taken   against him.     During   the   pendency   of   the   said   M.A.,   the   statements came   to   be   recorded   implicating   the   petitioner.     On   the   same day when we adjourned the said M.A., i.e., on 6 th  May, 2022, an order   was   passed   by   the   Additional   Chief   Judicial   Magistrate, Rampur,   remanding   the   petitioner   to   judicial   custody   in   FIR No.70   of   2020.     Thereafter   on   10 th   May,   2022,   the   learned Single Judge of the Allahabad High Court has passed an order in   Criminal   Misc.   Bail   Application   No.40580   of   2021,   thereby granting bail to the petitioner in the said FIR No.312 of 2019.   20. The   order   of   the   learned   Single   Judge   of   the   Allahabad High Court dated 10 th   May, 2020 runs into 40 pages. Stringent 13 conditions   have   been   imposed   by   the   learned   Single   Judge   of the Allahabad High Court while releasing the petitioner on bail. We do not wish to make any comments with regard to the said bail order.   The least that  could  be said is that this Court has repeatedly held that while deciding a bail application, the Court should  not   embark  upon  a  detailed enquiry  with   regard  to  the merits of the matter.  The learned Single Judge of the Allahabad High Court rightly  observed that  bail is a right  of any  accused and   jail   is   an   exception   and   therefore,   on   humanitarian grounds   and   keeping   in   view   the   applicant’s/petitioner’s deteriorating   health,   old   age   and   the   period   undergone   in   jail, considered   it   just   to   grant   bail   by   imposing   stringent conditions.   21. It could thus be seen that the petitioner, who was accused in 87 criminal cases when he approached this Court by way of Writ Petition (Criminal) No. 39 of 2022 and was granted bail in 84 cases at that point of time, has now been granted bail in all 87 cases.   It is only  on account of implication of the petitioner 14 in   FIR   No.   70   of   2020   that   he   would   be   denied   his   personal liberty.     Though   FIR   No.   70   of   2020   was   registered   on   18 th March, 2020 and the charge­sheet in the said FIR was filed on 10 th   September,   2020,   the   petitioner   in   the   said   FIR   has   only now been implicated, i.e., after a period of 1 year and 7 months, by   order   dated   6 th   May,   2022   passed   by   the   Additional   Chief Judicial Magistrate, Rampur.  It is not as if that the allegations which   are  now   sought   to   be   made   against   the   petitioner   could not have been made at that point of time.   The main allegation against the petitioner in the said FIR No.70 of 2020 is that the certificates   are   forged.     Further   allegation   is   that   the   person who   had   issued   the   certificates   was   not   authorized   to   issue those certificates.   22. Taking   into   consideration   the   delay   in   implication   of   the petitioner   in   FIR   No.   70   of   2020   and   the   nature   of   the allegations  made  therein,  we   are   of  the   considered   view   that   it will not be in the interest of justice to deprive the petitioner of his personal liberty, particularly when in respect of 87 criminal 15 cases/FIRs,   which   were   the   subject   matter   of   Writ   Petition (Criminal) No. 39 of 2022, he has already been released on bail. The last of such bail order has been passed on 10 th   May, 2022 by the learned Single Judge of the Allahabad High Court after a gap   of   so   many   months   from   the   date   of   reserving   the   order, i.e., 4 th  December, 2021.   23. Insofar   as   the   contention   that   the   petitioner   threatened the I.O. is concerned, we may only observe that it appears to be a matter of sheer coincidence that the General Diary (GD) entry with   regard   to   said   threats   is   registered   on   17 th   May,   2022   at 03:04 hrs., i.e., the date on which the present proceedings were to   come   up   for   hearing   and   were   heard.     We   therefore   do   not find it necessary to make any further comments thereon.   24. We are therefore of the view that this is a fit case wherein this   Court  should  exercise   its  jurisdiction   under   Article   142   of the Constitution of India and grant interim bail to the petitioner in the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case, till he files 16 the   application   for   regular   bail   and   the   same   is   considered   by the Competent Court.   25. Insofar   as   the   other   reliefs   being   sought   in   Writ   Petition (Criminal) No.188 of 2022 are concerned, we are not inclined to consider the same.   26. In the result, we pass the following order: (i) The   Writ   Petition   (Criminal)   No.188   of   2022   is   partly allowed; (ii) The petitioner is directed to be released on interim bail in   respect   of   FIR   being   Case   Crime   No.70   of   2020, registered   with   Police   Station   Kotwali,   Rampur,   Uttar Pradesh for the offences punishable under Sections 420 and   120B   of   the   IPC   on   such   terms   and   conditions   as found appropriate by the trial Court;  (iii) The   petitioner   is   directed   to   file   an   application   for regular bail before the Competent Court within a period of two weeks from today.  The same shall be decided by 17 the   Competent   Court   on   its   own   merits   without   being influenced   by   any   of   the   observations   made   in   the present order;   (iv) The interim bail granted to the petitioner by the present order   shall   continue   to   operate   till   the   decision   of   the Competent Court in the application for regular bail and in the event that the regular bail application is decided against   the   interest   of   the   petitioner,   the   present interim   bail   shall   continue   to   operate   for   a   further period   of   two   weeks   from   the   date   of   the   order   passed by   the   Competent   Court   in   the   application   for   regular bail;   (v) No  orders  are necessary  to   be  passed  in   Miscellaneous Application   No.   766   of   2022   in   Writ   Petition   (Criminal) No.   39   of   2022   and   I.A.   No.   71580   of   2022   in Miscellaneous   Application   No.   766   of   2022   in   Writ Petition   (Criminal)   No.   39   of   2022.     The   same   are accordingly disposed of. 18 27. Pending   application(s)   if   any,   including   the   application(s) for directions, shall stand disposed of in the above terms.     …..….......................J. [L. NAGESWARA RAO]     …….........................J.        [B.R. GAVAI] …….........................J.        [A.S. BOPANNA] NEW DELHI; MAY 19, 2022. 19 1 ITEM NO.1503 COURT NO.5 SECTION X S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS I.A. No.71580 OF 2022 IN/AND Miscellaneous Application No.766/2022 in W.P.(Crl.) No.39/2022 MOHAMMAD AZAM KHAN Applicant/ Petitioner(s) VERSUS THE STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH Respondent(s) (IA No.62399/2022-EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T. and IA No.62398/2022- APPROPRIATE ORDERS/DIRECTIONS) WITH W.P.(Crl.) No. 188/2022 (X) Date : 19-05-2022 These matters were called on for pronouncement of order today. For Petitioner(s) Mr. Kapil Sibal, Sr. Adv. Mr. Lzafeer Ahmad B. F., AOR Mr. Nizam Pasha, Adv. Mr. Jubair Khan, Adv. Mr. Aditya Samaddar, Adv. Mr. Ahmad Ibrahim, Adv. For Respondent(s) Mr. S V Raju, Ld. ASG Ms. Garima Prasad Sr. Adv./AAG Mr. Ajay Vikram Singh, AOR. Mr. Divyanshu Sahay, Adv Ms. Priyanka Singh, Adv Mr. Narender Rana, Adv Mr. Neelambar Jha, Adv The Order is pronounced by the Bench comprising Hon’ble Mr. Justice L. Nageswara Rao, Hon’ble Mr. Justice B.R. Gavai and Hon’ble Mr. Justice A.S. Bopanna. This Court inter alia passed the following order: (i) The Writ Petition (Criminal) No.188 of 2 2022 is partly allowed; (ii) The petitioner is directed to be released on interim bail in respect of FIR being Case Crime No.70 of 2020, registered with Police Station Kotwali, Rampur, Uttar Pradesh for the offences punishable under Sections 420 and 120B of the IPC on such terms and conditions as found appropriate by the trial Court; (iii) The petitioner is directed to file an application for regular bail before the Competent Court within a period of two weeks from today. The same shall be decided by the Competent Court on its own merits without being influenced by any of the observations made in the present order; (iv) The interim bail granted to the petitioner by the present order shall continue to operate till the decision of the Competent Court in the application for regular bail and in the event that the regular bail application is decided against the interest of the petitioner, the present interim bail shall continue to operate for a further period of two weeks from the date of the order passed by the Competent Court in the application for regular bail; (v) No orders are necessary to be passed in Miscellaneous Application No. 766 of 2022 in Writ Petition (Criminal) No. 39 of 2022 and I.A. No. 3 71580 of 2022 in Miscellaneous Application No. 766 of 2022 in Writ Petition (Criminal) No. 39 of 2022. The same are accordingly disposed of.” Pending application(s) if any, including the application(s) for directions, shall stand disposed of in the above terms.   (Geeta Ahuja) (Anand Prakash) Court Master Assistant Registrar (Signed non reportable order is placed on the file)