Dilipbhai Jerajbhai Kanani vs State Of Gujarat

1. This application is filed by the applicant under Section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 for regular bail in connection with FIR registered as C.R. No.I­ 03/2018 with CID Crime Surat Zone Police Station, Surat for the offence punishable under Sections 364(A), 365, 384, 387, 343, 323, 504,506(2), 170, 193, 201, 120 B of the Indian Penal Code and under Section 25 (1)(a) of Arms Act .

2. Learned advocate appearing on behalf of the applicant submits that considering the nature of offence, the applicant may be enlarged on regular bail by imposing suitable conditions. Page 1 of 5

R/CR.MA/18228/2018 ORDER

3. On the other hand, the learned Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent­State has opposed grant of regular bail looking to the nature and gravity of the offence. Learned Public Prosecutor Mr. Mitesh Amin submitted that the presence of the applicant is established where one of the victims was abducted and approximately 350 bitcoins were recovered during the course of investigation and out of that, 159 bitcoins were sold and the remaining bitcoins are with the investigating agency.

4. Learned Advocates appearing on behalf of the respective parties do not press for a further reasoned order.

5. I have heard the learned advocates appearing on behalf of the respective parties and perused the papers. Following aspects are considered :­ I) The applicant is in custody since 20.05.2018; II) Investigation is concluded and chargesheet is filed. III) Submission of learned advocate for the applicant that the only role coming out on record is that the applicant had participated in the abduction of one of the victim.

IV) It is submitted that the co­accused identically situated have been enlarged on regular bail.

V) Submission of learned advocate for the applicant that the applicant is ready and willing to forgo and no stake is claimed on Page 2 of 5 R/CR.MA/18228/2018 ORDER the bitcoins/money recovered during the course of investigation till the conclusion of trial.

VI) Learned Additional Public Prosecutor under the instructions of the Investigating Officer is unable to bring on record any special circumstances against the applicant.

This Court has taken into consideration the law laid down by the Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of Sanjay Chandra v. Central Bureau of Investigation reported in [2012] 1 SCC 40.

6. In the facts and circumstances of the case and considering the nature of the allegations made against the applicant in the First Information Report, without discussing the evidence in detail, prima facie, this Court is of the opinion that this is a fit case to exercise the discretion and enlarge the applicant on regular bail.

7. Hence, the present application is allowed. The applicant is ordered to be released on regular bail in connection with C.R. No.I­ 03/2018 with CID Crime Surat Zone Police Station, Surat on executing a personal bond of Rs.10,000/= (Rupees Ten Thousand Only) with one surety of the like amount to the satisfaction of the trial Court and subject to the conditions that he shall;

(a) not take undue advantage of liberty or misuse liberty;

(b) not act in a manner injurious to the interest of the Page 3 of 5 R/CR.MA/18228/2018 ORDER prosecution;

(c) surrender passport, if any, to the lower Court within a week;

(d) not leave the State of Gujarat without prior permission of the Sessions Judge concerned;

(e) mark presence before the concerned Police Station on alternate Monday of every English calendar month for a period of six months between 11.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m.;

(f) furnish the present address of his residence to the Investigating Officer and also to the Court at the time of execution of the bond and shall not change the residence without prior permission of this Court;

8. The authorities will release the applicant only if he is not required in connection with any other offence for the time being. If breach of any of the above conditions is committed, the Sessions Judge concerned will be free to issue warrant or take appropriate action in the matter.

9. Bail bond to be executed before the lower Court having jurisdiction to try the case. It will be open for the concerned Court to delete, modify and/or relax any of the above conditions, in accordance with law.

10. At the trial, the trial Court shall not be influenced by the observations of preliminary nature qua the evidence at this stage Page 4 of 5 R/CR.MA/18228/2018 ORDER made by this Court while enlarging the applicant on bail.

11. The application is allowed in the aforesaid terms. Rule is made absolute to the aforesaid extent. Direct Service is permitted.

(A.Y. KOGJE, J) Radhika Srinivasan Page 5 of 5