Allahabad High Court
MANOHAR SINGHversusSTATE OF U.P.
- Decided
Holding
The applicant is entitled to be released on bail.
Summary
Manohar Singh was arrested in connection with a case (Crime No. 0195 of 2025) involving multiple offences under Sections 191(2), 191(3), 190, 115(2), 351(2), 351(3) and 103(2) of the B.N.S., 2023. The FIR and witness statement alleged a collective involvement of 13 persons, but did not assign a specific role to any individual, and only one fatal injury was recorded. The applicant argued that two co‑accused, Golu Raja alias Hardev Singh and Indrapal Singh, had already been released on bail, and therefore he should be granted bail on the ground of parity, especially since a charge‑sheet had been filed and custodial interrogation was no longer required. The State opposed the bail but did not dispute the parity argument. Relying on the Supreme Court’s decision in Kapil Wadhawan v. CBI and the policy pronouncement in the Suo Motu Writ Petition (Crl.) No. 4 of 2021, the court held that the applicant was entitled to bail and ordered his release on personal bond with conditions.
Issues considered
- Whether the applicant is entitled to bail despite the seriousness of the offences alleged.
- Whether parity with co‑accused already released on bail warrants granting bail to the applicant.
- Whether the filing of a charge‑sheet eliminates the necessity for custodial interrogation and influences bail considerations.
- Whether overcrowded prisons and pendency of trials justify the grant of bail.
Legislation cited
- B.N.S., 2023 — s. 103(2), 115(2), 190, 191(2), 191(3), 351(2), 351(3)
Subjects
- bail
- parity
- criminal procedure
- overcrowded prisons
- charge sheet
- Sections 191, 190, 115, 351, 103
- Supreme Court precedent
- Kapil Wadhawan case
- Policy Strategy for Grant of Bail
Judgment
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
CRIMINAL MISC. BAIL APPLICATION No. - 8761 of 2026
Manohar Singh
.....Applicant(s)
Versus
State of U.P.
.....Opposite
Party(s)
Counsel for Applicant(s) : Shalvin
Counsel for Opposite Party(s) : G.A., Narendra Kumar Singh
Court No. - 67
HON'BLE ARUN KUMAR SINGH DESHWAL, J.
1. Heard Mr. Salvin, learned counsel for the applicant, Sri Narendra Kumar
Singh, learned counsel for the first informant and learned A.G.A. for the
State.
2. The instant bail application has been filed with a prayer to release the
applicant on bail in Case Crime No. 0195 of 2025, under Sections 191(2),
191(3), 190, 115(2), 351(2), 351(3), 103(2) of B.N.S., 2023, Police Station
Madavara, District Lalitpur, during the pendency of the trial.
3. Contention of learned counsel for the applicant is that, in the FIR as well
as in the statement of the injured witness, general allegations have been
made against 13 persons. Only one injury was found to be fatal on the
person of the deceased, and no specific role has been assigned to any of the
co-accused persons though a recovery of one danda has been shown to be
recovered on the pointing out of the applicant and two other accused persons
while they were arrested. It is further submitted that co-accused Golu Raja
Alias Hardev Singh and Indrapal Singh, having similar role to that of the
applicant, have already been released on bail by this Court in Criminal Misc.
Bail Application No. 41248 of 2025 and 11189 of 2026 respectively.
Therefore, the applicant is also entitled to be released on bail on the ground
of parity. It is further submitted that the applicant has explained the criminal
history of three cases in the accompanying affidavit. It is further submitted
that charge sheet has been filed in the present case, therefore, there is no
requirement of custodial interrogation. The applicant is a law abiding citizen
and he is languishing in jail since 05.08.2025. In case, he is granted bail, he
will not misuse the liberty of bail and would cooperate in the trial
BAIL No. 8761 of 2026
2
proceedings.
4. Per contra, learned A.G.A. vehemently opposed the prayer for bail but
could not dispute the parity of the applicant with co-accused Golu Raja @
Hardev Singh and Indrapal Singh, who has been enlarged on bail by this
Court.
5. Considering the entire facts and circumstances of the case, submissions of
learned counsel for the parties and taking into account the fact that similarly
situated co-accused has been enlarged on bail and keeping in view the nature
of offence, evidence, complicity of accused and taking into account
overcrowded jails and heavy pendency of criminal cases before the trial
courts as well as considering the mandate of the judgement of the Apex
Court in the case of Kapil Wadhawan vs Central Bureau of Investigation
reported in 2025 SCC Online SC 3038 and without expressing any opinion
on the merits of the case, I am of the opinion that the applicant is entitled to
be enlarged on bail. Accordingly, the present application is allowed.
6. Let the applicant- Manohar Singh involved in the aforementioned crime
be released on bail, on his 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 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.
ii. The applicant shall cooperate in the trial/investigation sincerely without
seeking any adjournment.
iii. The applicant shall not indulge in any criminal activity or commission of
any crime after being released on bail.
iv. The applicant shall attend in accordance with the conditions of the bond
executed by him.
7. In case of breach of any of the above conditions, it shall be a ground for
cancellation of bail.
8. Identity, status and residence proof of the applicant and sureties be
BAIL No. 8761 of 2026
3
verified by the court concerned before the bonds are accepted.
9. Verification of mobile number as well as Aadhaar Card of the applicant
and sureties should also be conducted by the court concerned.
9. It is made clear that the applicant shall be released on the basis of
downloaded copy of this order from the official website of High Court
Allahabad and verified by the concerned counsel with the undertaking that
the certified copy will be filed within 15 days.
10. It is directed that the trial court shall send the release order to the
concerned jail through Bail Order Management System (BOMS) to ensure
early release of the applicant.
11. Office is directed to send a copy of this order to the applicant through
Lalitpur Jail Superintendent via e-mail or e-prison portal within 24 hours in
compliance of the order of the Apex Court in the case of Policy Strategy for
Grant of Bail, In Re: Suo Motu Writ Petition (Crl.) No. 4 of 2021
decided on 31.01.2023 reported in (2024) 10 SCC 685.
May 6, 2026
A.Kr.
(Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal,J.)
Digitally signed by :-
AJAY KUMAR
High Court of Judicature at Allahabad
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