ASHIQ ALI Vs. UNION TERRITORY OF J&K

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The application in hand has been filed by the petitioner seeking bail in anticipation of his arrest in FIR No. 69/2019 registered with Police Station, Mahore for the commission of offence punishable under Section 420 IPC.

(2.) The case of the petitioner is that the petitioner is a government employee of the Education Department, serving as Teacher in Govt. Girls Middle School, Chachi, Mahore, District Reasi. He has invested in the company named as "Future Life Care Pvt. Ltd." and was duped by the aforesaid company like its other customers, for which an FIR already registered and the Managing Director of the aforesaid Company is under custody. It is contended that the petitioner is not involved in the commission of any offence and has been threatened by the police concerned that he would be arrested in the aforesaid FIR. It is contended that the petitioner's status is same as of the complainant, as both of them have lost their deposits with the Company. It is further stated that the petitioner was granted interim bail by the learned Principal Sessions Judge, Reasi on 28.11.2019 and the report was called from the respondent. Thereafter, the interim bail granted to the petitioner was dismissed on 04.12.2019 because the petitioner's counsel was not present on that date.

(3.) Objections have been filed by the respondent-Station House Officer, Police Station Mahore, contending therein that the bail application filed by the petitioner is not maintainable as the petitioner is involved in the commission of offence under Section 420 IPC. It is further averred that the complainant, namely, Bashir-ud-Din filed an application before the respondent, alleging therein that the accused persons have cheated and duped the innocent people of area including the complainant by investing their money in the Chit Fund Company, but have not returned the same on maturity. It is further stated that the investigation in FIR No. 69/2019 is at its preliminary stage.