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Allahabad High Court

RAKESH KUMAR TIWARIversusSTATE OF U.P.

Decided

Holding

Bail was granted to the applicant.

Summary

The applicant, Rakesh Kumar Tiwari, a Revenue Inspector, was arrested for allegedly demanding Rs 10,000 for land measurement, an offence punishable under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. He has been in custody since 8 August 2026 and has no prior criminal record. The State opposed bail but did not allege any flight risk, evidence tampering, or intimidation of witnesses. The court noted the constitutional principle that bail is the rule and jail the exception, citing the Supreme Court’s decision in Satyendra Kumar Antil v. CBI. No material facts were presented to justify denial of bail. Consequently, the court held that the applicant had made out a case for bail. The bail was granted subject to standard conditions including non‑tampering with evidence and appearance before the trial court.

Issues considered

  • Whether bail should be granted to an accused under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
  • Whether the applicant poses a risk of fleeing, tampering with evidence, or intimidating witnesses.

Legislation cited

Subjects

  • bail
  • Prevention of Corruption Act
  • Section 7
  • corruption
  • Article 21
  • flight risk
  • witness tampering
  • criminal procedure

Judgment

         HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
         CRIMINAL MISC. BAIL APPLICATION No. - 31573 of 2026

Rakesh Kumar Tiwari
                                                           .....Applicant(s)
                                  Versus

State of U.P.
                                                              .....Opposite
                                                                    Party(s)

Counsel for Applicant(s)             :     Aditya Gupta, Sr. Advocate
Counsel for Opposite Party(s)        :     G.A.

Court No. - 55
                 HON'BLE VIKRAM D. CHAUHAN, J.

1. Learned A.G.A. for the State submits that instructions have been
received and has no objection in case the bail application is heard on
merits.

2. Heard Sri G.S. Chaturvedi, learned Senior counsel assisted by Sri
Aditya Gupta, learned counsel for the applicant, learned A.G.A. for the
State and perused the record.

3. It is submitted by learned Senior Counsel appearing for the applicant
that applicant is the Revenue Inspector and it is alleged that a sum of Rs.
10,000/- was demanded by the applicant for measurement of the land.
Subsequently trap team was constituted and applicant was apprehended
with Rs. 10,000/-. The maximum punishment provided under Section 7 of
the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 is seven years and is triable by
Magistrate concerned. The applicant has no criminal history. Applicant is
languishing in jail since 8.8.2026 and in case he is released on bail, he
will not misuse the liberty of bail and will cooperate in the trial.

4. Learned A.G.A. for the State opposed the prayer for bail but does not
dispute factual matrix of the case.

5. Learned AGA for the State has not brought any fact or circumstances to
indicate criminal history or antecedents of the applicant which would
disentitle the applicant for Bail.
                                                         BAIL No. 31573 of 2026
                                2


6. It is not the case of the State that the applicant has not cooperated in the
investigation or proceedings before the trial court.

7. The principle that Bail is a rule and Jail is an exception has been well
recognised by Apex Court more specifically on the touch stone of Article
21 of the Constitution. The said principle has been reiterated by the Apex
Court in Satyendra Kumar Antil Vs. Central Bureau of Investigation
and another, 2022 (10) SCC 51. Learned AGA for the State has not
shown any exceptional circumstances which would warrant denial of bail
to the applicant.

8. No material, facts or circumstances has been shown by learned AGA
for the State that the accused may tamper with the evidence or witnesses
or the accused is of such character that his mere presence at large would
intimidate the witnesses or that accused will use his liberty to subvert
justice or tamper with the evidence.

9. It is settled principle of law that the object of bail is to secure the
attendance of the accused at the trial. No material particulars or
circumstances suggestive of the applicant fleeing from justice or
thwarting the course of justice or creating other troubles in the shape of
repeating offences or intimidating witnesses and the like have been shown
by learned AGA for the State.

10. Learned AGA for the State has not shown any material or
circumstances that the accused/applicant is not entitled to bail in larger
interests of the public or State.

11. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, nature of offence,
evidence, complicity of the accused, submissions of learned counsel for
the parties and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case,
the Court is of the view that the applicant has made out a case for bail.
The bail application is allowed.

12. Let the applicant-Rakesh Kumar Tiwari involved in Case Crime No.
06 of 2026, under Sections 7/12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act,
1988, Police Station Prayagraj Sector, Vigilance Establishment, District
Prayagraj be released on bail on furnishing a personal bond and two
                                                                                            BAIL No. 31573 of 2026
                                                                   3


                                    sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the court concerned
                                    subject to the following conditions:-

                                    i. The applicant will not tamper with the evidence during the trial.

                                    ii. The applicant will not pressurize/intimidate the prosecution witness.

                                    iii. The applicant will appear before the trial court on the date fixed,
                                    unless personal presence is exempted and/or the applicant shall make
                                    himself available for interrogation by a police officer as and when
                                    required.

                                    iv. The applicant shall not commit an offence similar to the offence of
                                    which he is accused, or suspected, of the commission of which he is
                                    suspected.

                                    v. The applicant 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 him from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police
                                    officer or tamper with the evidence.

                                    vi. The applicant shall not leave India without the previous permission of
                                    the Court.

                                    vii. In the event, the applicant changes residential address, the applicant
                                    shall inform the court concerned about new residential address in writing.

                                    13. In case of breach of any of the above condition, the prosecution shall
                                    be at liberty to move bail cancellation application before this Court.



                                                                                      (Vikram D. Chauhan,J.)
                                    September 8, 2026
                                    VMA




Digitally signed by :-
VISHWA MOHAN ARORA
High Court of Judicature at Allahabad


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