High Court of KeralaSingle JudgeBail granted

Amineesh M Anil v. State of Kerala

Case / Petition Number:BA No.2579 of 2024

Case Details & Bench

Court
High Court of Kerala
Hon'ble Judges
  • P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN
Judgment Date
2024-04-16
Court Decision / Holding
Bail application allowed with stringent conditions: the petitioner shall appear before the Investigating Officer within ten days for interrogation; if arrest is proposed, he shall be released on bail on a bond of Rs. 50,000 with two solvent sureties; petitioner shall cooperate with the investigation, shall not cause deterrence or influence witnesses, shall not leave India without court permission, shall not commit a similar offence, and bail may be canceled for violation. The Investigating Officer may effect recoveries on information, if any, consistent with Sushila Aggarwal guidance. The order reflects the general bail jurisprudence that favors bail over incarceration pending trial.
Final Disposition
Bail granted

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

  • Amineesh M Anil

Respondents

  • State of Kerala represented by Public Prosecutor, High Court of Kerala
  • Circle Inspector of Police Eravipuram Police Station represented by Public Prosecutor, High Court of Kerala

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

  • • Adv ARUN.R

Counsels for Respondents

  • • Sm t.C.Seema, Public Prosecutor

Case Synopsis & Summary

Amineesh M Anil, a 24-year-old accused in Crime No. 141/2024 of Eravipuram Police Station, approaches the Kerala High Court seeking anticipatory bail in a case alleging offences under IPC Sections 143, 147, 148, 294(b), 506, 323 and 326 read with 149. The FIR, dated 22-01-2024, is said to arise from an incident on 21-01-2024 around 10:45 pm, in which the accused allegedly assaulted the victim, causing a fracture of the nasal bone; the first accused is claimed to have used a sword, while others allegedly attacked using a pipe and other dangerous weapons. The petitioner contends that his name does not appear in the FIR, that the victim was the aggressor and attacked the petitioner and the fifth accused, and that serious injuries were inflicted on him; he notes that other co-accused were released on bail. He expresses willingness to abide by stringent conditions if anticipatory bail is granted. The Public Prosecutor opposes bail. After hearing, the court recognizes two versions of the incident and reiterates the well-established principle that bail is the rule and jail is the exception, citing Chidambaram P. v. Directorate of Enforcement. The court grants bail subject to conditions including personal appearance before the Investigating Officer within ten days, a bond of Rs. 50,000 with two solvent sureties, cooperation with the investigation, no leaving the jurisdiction without permission, non-commission of similar offences, and potential cancellation on violation, with authority to the IO to pursue recoveries if required under applicable law.

Provisions of Law Cited

Section 143 IPCSection 147 IPCSection 148 IPCSection 294(b) IPCSection 506 IPCSection 323 IPCSection 326 IPCSection 149 IPC

Legal Doctrines & Maxims

  • Bail is the rule and jail is the exception
  • Fair trial principle / opportunity of a fair trial

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

The petitioner contends that his name is not in the FIR, and that the victim was the aggressor who attacked him and the fifth accused. He asserts that he and the others sustained serious injuries and notes that other accused were granted bail. He submits willingness to comply with stringent bail conditions and requests anticipatory bail.

Contentions of Respondents

The Public Prosecutor opposes bail, arguing the gravity of the charges and the likelihood of violence in the alleged incident, with two versions arising. He contends that bail should be refused to ensure a fair investigation and to prevent possible interference with the case.

Cited Precedents (2)

Case NameCitationTreatmentExplanation
Chidambaram P. v. Directorate of Enforcement2019 (16) SCALE 870PositiveCourt relies on this decision to affirm the principle that bail is the rule and jail is the exception to safeguard fair trial.
Sushila Aggarwal v. State (NCT of Delhi) and Another2020 (1) KHC 663PositiveReferenced for on-bail recoveries and investigation permissible while on bail, as affirmed by higher courts.

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Extracted Judgment Text

Exact text extracted from official judgment records.

## **`IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM`** ## **`PRESENT`** ``` THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN ``` ``` TUESDAY, THE 16[TH] DAY OF APRIL 2024 / 27TH CHAITHRA, 1946 BAIL APPL.NO.2579 OF 2024 ``` ``` CRIME NO.141/2024 OF ERAVIPURAM POLICE STATION, Kollam PETITIONER/S: ``` ``` AMINEESH M ANIL AGED 24 YEARS AMINIMA HOUSE, DHAVALAKUZHI, MAYYANAD. P. O, KOLLAM, PIN - 691303 ``` ``` BY ADV ARUN.R ``` ## **`RESPONDENT/S:`** - **`1 STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,HIGH COURT OF KERALA, PIN - 682031`** - **`2 CIRCLE INSPECTOR OF POLICE ERAVIPURAM POLICE STATION REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA, PIN – 682031`** ``` BY SMT.C.SEEMA, PUBLIC PROSECUTOR ``` ``` THIS BAIL APPLICATION HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 16.04.2024, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: ``` B.A. No.2579 of 2024 2 ## **`P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN, J.`** ``` ------------------------------------------- B.A.No.2579 of 2024 ------------------------------------------- Dated this the 16[th] day of of April, 2024 ``` ## **`O R D E R`** ``` Petitioner is one of the accused in Crime No.141/2024 of Eravipuram Police Station. The above case is registered alleging offences punishable under Sections 143, 147, 148, 294(b), 506, 323, 326 read with 149 of the Indian Penal Code. ``` ``` 2. The prosecution case is that on 21.01.2024 at about 10.45 p.m, the accused attacked the victim. It is alleged that the 2[nd]accused assaulted the victim, which resulted in fracture to the nasal bone of the victim. The 3[rd] accused used abusive words and threatened that the victim need not conduct shop at that place. It is also submitted that the 1[st] accused used a sword and ``` B.A. No.2579 of 2024 3 ``` attacked the victim and the victim escaped from it. The 4[th] accused used a pipe and the 5[th] accused also attacked using dangerous weapons. Hence it is alleged that the accused committed the offence. ``` ``` 3. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Public Prosecutor. ``` ``` 4. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the name of the petitioner is not mentioned in the FIR. According to the petitioner, the victim is the aggressor in the case and he attacked the 1[st] accused, the petitioner and the 5[th] accused. It is submitted that the petitioner and the 5[th] accused sustained serious injuries. It is also submitted that the other accused were released on bail, except the petitioner. The petitioner also produced Annexure A3 & A4 to show that the injuries sustained to him and the 5[th] accused. The learned counsel for the petitioner ``` B.A. No.2579 of 2024 4 ``` also submits that the petitioner is ready to abide any conditions if this Court grants him anticipatory bail. The learned Public Prosecutor seriously opposed the bail application. ``` ``` 5. After hearing both sides, I think this bail application can be allowed on stringent conditions. There are two versions about the same incident. Who is the aggressor is to be decided at the time of investigating the case or at the time of trial. ``` ``` 6. Moreover, it is a well accepted principle that, the bail is the rule and the jail is the exception. The Hon'ble Supreme Court in Chidambaram P. v. Directorate of Enforcement (2019 ``` ``` (16) SCALE 870), after considering all the earlier judgments, observed that, the basic jurisprudence relating to bail remains the same inasmuch as the grant of bail is the rule and refusal is the ``` B.A. No.2579 of 2024 5 ``` exception so as to ensure that, the accused has the opportunity of securing fair trial. ``` ``` 7. Considering the dictum laid down in the above decision and considering the facts and circumstances of this case, this Bail Application is allowed with the following directions: ``` ``` i. Petitioner shall appear before the Investigating Officer within ten days from today and shall undergo interrogation; ``` ``` ii. After interrogation, if the Investigating Officer proposes to arrest the petitioner, she shall be released on bail on executing a bond for a sum of Rs.50,000/-(Rupees Fifty Thousand only) with two solvent sureties each for the like sum to the satisfaction of the officer concerned; ``` ``` iii. Petitioner shall appear before the Investigating Officer for interrogation as and when required. The petitioner shall co-operate ``` B.A. No.2579 of 2024 6 ``` with the investigation and shall not, directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade her from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police officer; ``` ``` iv. Petitioner shall not leave India without permission of the jurisdictional Court; ``` ``` v. Petitioner shall not commit an offence similar to the offence of which they are accused, or suspected, of the commission of which they are suspected; ``` ``` vi. If any of the above conditions are violated by the petitioner, the jurisdictional Court can cancel the bail in accordance to law, even though the bail is granted by this Court. ``` ``` vii. Needless to mention, it would be well within the powers of the Investigating Officer to investigate the matter and, if necessary, to ``` B.A. No.2579 of 2024 7 ``` effect recoveries on the information, if any given by the petitioner even while the petitioner is on bail as laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Sushila Aggarwal v. State (NCT of Delhi) and Another [2020 (1) KHC 663]. ``` ``` Sd/- ``` ``` P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN JUDGE ``` ``` sp/16/04/2024 ``` B.A. No.2579 of 2024 8 ## **`APPENDIX OF BAIL APPL. 2579/2024`** ## **`PETITIONER ANNEXURES`** ``` Annexure A1 ``` ``` COPY OF BAIL DISSMISSAL ORDER IN CRLMC 414/2024 DATED 16-03-2024 ``` ``` Annexure A2 ``` **`2. COPY OF FIR IN CRIME NO 141/2024 DATED 22-01-2024 OF ERAVIPURAM POLICE STATION`** ``` Annexure A3 ``` **`3. COPY OF THE OP TICKETS OF THE PETITIONER AND THE 5TH ACCUSED ISSUED FROM THE DR SHEYA HOSPITAL, MAYYANAD DATED 21-01-2024.`** - **`Annexure A 4 4. A COPY OF THE RECEIPT DATED 22-012024, ISSUED FROM THE OFFICE OF THE 2ND RESPONDENT`**