Allahabad High Court
SOHAN URF GOREversusSTATE OF U.P.
- Decided
- Bench
- SAMEER JAIN
Holding
The applicant is entitled to bail as his prima facie involvement is doubtful and Section 149 IPC does not warrant denial of bail.
Summary
The High Court considered a bail application filed by Sohan Urf Gore, who is charged under several IPC sections for an alleged assault that resulted in one death and three injuries. The prosecution alleged that the applicant participated in the assault, wielding a spear, while co‑accused Vivek used an axe to cause the fatal injury. The defence argued that the applicant’s involvement is doubtful as no injuries could be linked to a spear and the informant was not an eye‑witness; the applicant also has no prior criminal record and has been in custody for ten months. The court examined the applicability of Section 149 IPC concerning a common object and noted that the evidence does not conclusively implicate the applicant. Relying on bail principles and the lack of prima facie evidence, the court granted bail with conditions.
Issues considered
- Whether the applicant's alleged participation under a common object (Sec. 149 IPC) justifies denial of bail.
- Whether the evidence establishes the applicant's role in causing the death or injuries.
- Whether bail should be granted considering the applicant's custody duration and clean criminal record.
Legislation cited
- Indian Penal Code — s. 103(1), 109, 115(2), 149, 190(2), 191(2), 191(3), 34, 351(3), 352
Subjects
- bail
- Section 149 IPC
- common object
- prima facie evidence
- assault
- homicide
- criminal procedure
- Indian Penal Code
Judgment
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
CRIMINAL MISC. BAIL APPLICATION No. - 24726 of 2026
Sohan Urf Gore
.....Applicant(s)
Versus
State of U.P.
.....Opposite
Party(s)
Counsel for Applicant(s) : Pawan Shukla
Counsel for Opposite Party(s) : G.A., Gaurav Tripathi
Court No. - 65
HON'BLE SAMEER JAIN, J.
1. Heard Sri Pawan Shukla, learned counsel for the applicant, Sri Gaurav
Tripathi, learned counsel for informant and Sri Vijay Bahadur Maurya,
learned AGA for the State.
2. The instant bail application has been filed seeking release of the applicant
on bail in Case Crime No. 42 of 2025, under Sections 190(2), 191(2),
191(3), 103(1), 109, 115(2), 352, 351(3) BNS, Police Station Bithauli,
District Etawah during pendency of the trial.
3. Learned counsel for the applicant submits, however, applicant is named in
the FIR along with others and as per allegation due to the assault made by
applicant and others one person died and three persons sustained injuries but
admittedly informant of the case was not the eye witness.
4. He further submits, however when the statements of injured persons were
recorded then they also disclosed the name of applicant but from their
statements it is apparent that co-accused Vivek caused injuries to the
deceased through axe due to which he died.
5. He further submits, however, as per injured witnesses applicant also
participated in the alleged incident and also made assault upon them and
according to them he was having spear but from the medical reports of the
injured and deceased it could not be reflected, they sustained any injury
caused by spear.
6. He further submits, applicant is innocent and he never participated in the
alleged incident. He further submits, in the present matter applicant is in jail
BAIL No. 24726 of 2026
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since 13.11.2025 i.e. for last ten months.
7. Per contra, learned AGA as well as learned counsel for informant
vehemently opposed the prayer for bail and submit, applicant equally
participated along with other accused and however from the statements of
injured witnesses it reflect, co-accused Vivek was the person who caused
axe injury to the deceased but from the medical reports of the injured
witnesses it cannot be said that they did not sustain any injury caused by
spear as one injured Ankit also sustained one incised wound.
8. They further submit, considering the facts of the case it is apparent that
applicant was also having common object along with other accused. Learned
counsel for informant placed reliance on the judgements of the Apex Court
passed in the cases of Dablu Etc. Vs. State of Madhya Pradesh 2026 SCC
OnLine SC 356 and Shobha Namdev Sonavane Vs. Samadhan Bajirao
Sonavane and others 2026 SCC OnLine SC 291.
9. They next submit, therefore, considering the facts of the case, the instant
bail application may be dismissed.
10. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the record of the
case.
11. Applicant is named in the FIR along with four others and according to
the FIR applicant and other accused made assault due to which brother of the
informant and some other sustained injuries but informant of the case does
not appear to be an eye witness.
12. Further, it also reflects, initially FIR of the present case was lodged
under Section 109 BNS and other offences but after the death of injured
Madhav, the brother of the informant, case has been converted under Section
103(1) BNS.
13. From the record it reflects, in the incident one person died and three
persons sustained injuries and however from the statements of injured
witnesses it reflect, they also disclosed the name of applicant but according
to them co-accused Vivek was the prime accused who through axe caused
injury to the deceased. From their statements however it also reflects,
applicant also made assault upon them and he was having spear in his hand
but injury reports of injured Mohan and Anshul Singh show, they sustained
lacerated wounds and contusions and therefore prima facie their injuries
BAIL No. 24726 of 2026
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could not be attributed to the applicant.
14. Further, however, from the medical report of the injured Ankit it reflects,
apart from the contusion he also sustained one incised wound but according
to the injured Ankit and other injured co-accused Vivek was having axe in
his hand and he also made assault upon them therefore even from the
medical report of injured Ankit prima facie it cannot be said that applicant
caused injury to him as prima facie it appears, even he did not sustain any
injury allegedly caused by spear and his incised wound could be caused by
axe which was used by co-accused Vivek.
15. Further, however, learned counsel for informant and learned AGA
submit, it is a case in which more than five persons made assault, therefore,
they were having common object to commit the instant crime but as
according to the prosecution applicant was having spear in his hand and
prima facie it reflects, neither any injured nor deceased sustain any injury
caused by spear therefore prima facie his involvement appears to be
doubtful. However, learned counsel for informant relied upon two judgments
of the Apex Court but facts of the present case are distinguishable from the
facts of above cases. As prima facie involvement of the applicant in the
present case appears to be doubtful, therefore, with the aid of Section 149
IPC it is not proper to withhold the instant bail application.
16. The Apex Court in the case of Siddharam Satlingappa Mhetre Vs.
State of Maharashtra (2011) 1 SCC 694 also observed, while considering
bail and anticipatory bail the Courts must evaluate the entire available
material against the accused very carefully. The court must also clearly
comprehend the exact role of the accused in the case. The cases in which
accused is implicated with the help of Section 34 and 149 of the Indian Penal
Code, the Court should consider with even greater care and caution because
over implication in the cases is a matter of common knowledge and concern.
17. Further, applicant is not having any criminal history and in the present
matter he is in jail since 13.11.2025 i.e. for last ten months.
18. Therefore, considering the facts and circumstances of the case discussed
above, in my view, applicant is entitled to be released on bail.
19. Accordingly, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case,
the instant bail application is allowed.
BAIL No. 24726 of 2026
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20. Let the applicant - Sohan @ Gore be released on bail in the aforesaid
case on furnishing a personal bond and two sureties each in the like amount
to the satisfaction of the court concerned with the following conditions:-
(i) The applicant shall appear before the trial court on the dates fixed, unless
his personal presence is exempted.
(ii) The applicant shall not directly or indirectly, make inducement, threat or
promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade
him from disclosing such facts to the Court or any police officer or tamper
with the evidence.
(iii) The applicant shall not indulge in any criminal and anti-social activity.
21. In case of breach of any of the above condition, the prosecution will be
at liberty to move an application before this Court for cancellation of the
bail of the applicant.
22. It is clarified that the observations made herein are limited to the facts
brought in by the parties pertaining to the disposal of bail application and the
said observations shall have no bearing on the merits of the case during trial.
September 18, 2026
AK Pandey
(Sameer Jain,J.)
Digitally signed by :-
ANUPAM KUMAR PANDEY
High Court of Judicature at Allahabad
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