Ravindra Singh - (1.) THIS application has been filed by the applicant Sudhir Giri with a prayer that he may be released on bail in Case Crime No. 7 of 2006 under Sections 147, 148, 149, 379 and 302, I.P.C., P.S. Singhawali Ahir district Baghpat.
(2.) THE prosecution story, in brief, is that the F.I.R. of this case has been lodged by Manoj Kumar at P.S. Singhawali Ahir on 6.1.2006 at 12.15 p.m. in respect of the incident which had occurred on 6.1.2006 at about 10.15 a.m. It is alleged that the deceased Mannu Giri has to inaugurate a cricket match on 6.1.2006. For that purpose when he reached at the play ground, Aman Giri, Dhirendra Giri, Dr. Naresh Giri, Sudhir Giri and 2 unknown boys armed with country made pistol and revolver were also present there. THEy surrounded the deceased Mannu Giri and the deceased was shot dead by causing the firearm injuries. At that time Rakesh, Satya Prakash, Jai Prakash, Surendra and Jai Kumar were also present there, leaving the dead body of the deceased at the place of occurrence the first informant went to the police station to lodge the F.I.R. Heard Sri P. N. Mishra senior advocate assisted by Sri Apul Mishra learned counsel for the applicant and learned A.G.A. for the State of U. P. It is contended by the learned counsel for the applicant that : (i) The applicant had no motive to commit the murder of the deceased. The civil police recorded the statement of witnesses Manoj Kumar, Rakesh Kumar, Satya Prakash, Surendra alias Suresh and Raj Kumar. According to their statement 4 named accused persons Aman Giri, Virendra Giri, Dr. Naresh Giri and Sudhir Giri alongwith 2 unknown persons committed the alleged offence and they discharged the shots, but during the investigation it was found that co-accused Naresh Giri was not present at the time of alleged occurrence. Consequently, the charge-sheet was submitted only against Aman Giri, Virendra Giri and Sudhir Giri, consequently, the case was transferred to S.I.S. and again it was transferred to local civil police and the witnesses were again interrogated. Witness Satya Prakash stated that co-accused Aman Giri, Virendra Giri and the applicant surrounded the deceased and then co-accused Virendra Giri opened the fire with a pistol indiscriminately at the deceased and co-accused Aman Giri also fired in air to terrorize the witnesses. Witnesses Kallu, Jai Prakash, Surendra alias Suresh and Rakesh were also interrogated. They gave an eye-witness account by attributing the role of firing to co-accused Virendra Giri, but some witnesses were again interrogated and again the role of firing was attributed to co-accused Virendra Giri. (ii) The witnesses cannot be relied upon inasmuch as they implicated Dr. Naresh Giri in the F.I.R. as well as in their earlier statements, but his presence was found to be false. Furthermore the number of injuries on the deceased was not consistent with six accused allegedly firing indiscriminately on the deceased. (iii) The applicant is a farmer. He is having no criminal antecedents and he has been falsely implicated in the present case, therefore, he may be released on bail.
(3.) IN reply of the above contention the learned A.G.A. submits that under some political pressure the statement of the witnesses were changed only to protect the interest of the accused persons. The alleged occurrence had taken place in broad day light. The applicant was having strong motive. The F.I.R. was promptly lodged. The prosecution story is fully corroborated by the post mortem examination report. The deceased had received 4 gunshot wounds of entry. IN case the applicant is released on bail he may tamper with the evidence, therefore, he may not be released on bail. Considering the fact that the alleged occurrence had taken place in broad day light, the F.I.R. was promptly lodged, role of firing is assigned to the applicant, the deceased has received 4 gunshot wounds of entry and alleged occurrence was witnessed by the independent witnesses and considering the other circumstances of the case and submissions made by both the parties and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case the applicant is not entitled for bail.;