Allahabad High Court
VISHNU KUMAR AND 2 OTHERSversusSTATE OF U.P. AND ANOTHER
- Decided
- Bench
- VIVEK KUMAR SINGH
Holding
The court granted anticipatory bail to the applicants, holding that the prosecution failed to establish the specific intent required for abetment of suicide and that the applicants did not pose a risk of tampering or fleeing.
Summary
The Allahabad High Court considered an anticipatory bail application under Section 108 of the B.N.S. filed by Vishnu Kumar and two others, who were accused in a suicide‑abetment case (Crime No. 592 of 2026). The applicants claimed innocence, arguing that the FIR was lodged after an unreasonable delay and was motivated by ulterior motives, with no direct or indirect evidence linking them to the alleged abetment. The court examined precedents on anticipatory bail, emphasizing the need to assess the nature of the offence, the applicant’s role, and the risk of tampering with evidence or fleeing. Relying on Supreme Court judgments that require specific intent to abet suicide under Sections 306 IPC/108 B.N.S., the court found that the prosecution’s case did not satisfy these criteria. Consequently, the court granted anticipatory bail with a personal bond, sureties, and conditions to cooperate with the investigation and not leave India without permission.
Issues considered
- Whether the applicants are entitled to anticipatory bail under Section 108 B.N.S. in the absence of concrete evidence of abetment of suicide.
- Whether the facts disclose a likelihood of the applicants influencing the investigation, tampering with evidence, or absconding.
Legislation cited
- B.N.S. — s. 108, 45
- Indian Penal Code — s. 107, 306
Subjects
- anticipatory bail
- Section 108 B.N.S.
- abetment of suicide
- Section 306 IPC
- personal liberty
- bail conditions
- false implication
- investigation
Judgment
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
CRIMINAL MISC. ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION U/S 482 BNSS No.
- 10349 of 2026
Vishnu Kumar And 2 Others
.....Applicant(s)
Versus
State of U.P. and Another
.....Opposite
Party(s)
Counsel for Applicant(s) : S.K. Verma, Vikas Mishra
Counsel for Opposite Party(s) : G.A.
Court No. - 72
HON'BLE VIVEK KUMAR SINGH, J.
1. Heard learned counsel for the applicants and learned A.G.A for the
State and perused the record.
2. The present application has been filed on behalf of the applicant in
Case Crime No. 592 of 2026, under Sections 108 of B.N.S., Police Station
- Dibai, District Bulandshahar, with a prayer to grant them anticipatory
bail.
3. Learned counsel for the applicants submits that the applicants are
absolutely innocent and have been falsely implicated in the present case.
They have nothing to do with the alleged offence in spite of that the
police are trying to arrest the applicants. The first information report was
lodged after 12 days. No plausible explanation has been offered by the
first informant in respect of delay in filing the first information report.
There is no allegation or direct or indirect evidence against the applicants
that the deceased was instigated or abetted to commit suicide by the
applicants. The first information report was lodged due to ulterior motive.
The applicant no. 1 is brother-in-law (devar), applicant no. 2 is father-in-
law and applicant no. 3 is mother-in-law of the deceased. The marriage
between the co-accused Somveer Singh and the deceased was solemnized
nine years ago on 25.04.2017. From the wedlock of the deceased and the
co-accused Somveer Singh, two children were born who are aged about 8
years and 4 years respectively. It is alleged in the F.I.R. that the deceased
was subjected to cruelty and harassment for the demand of dowry. It is
further contended that after such a long time, the story adduced by the
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2
prosecution in the F.I.R. appears to be improbable. As per the post-
mortem report, cause of death of the deceased is asphyxia as a result of
ante-morten hanging. No other injury except ligature mark over neck was
noticed in the post-mortem report.
4. It is further submitted by learned counsel for the applicants that the
arrest of the applicants would cause an irreparable hardship to the family.
The deceased was under mental stress and she committed suicide under
depression without any provocation or instigation by the applicants. The
essential ingredients of abetment as required under law are completely
missing in the present case. Learned counsel for the applicants further
submits that the applicants undertake to cooperate during investigation
and trial and shall appear as and when required by the Investigating
Agency or the Court concerned. It has also been stated that, in case the
applicants are granted anticipatory bail, they shall not misuse the liberty
of bail and shall cooperate with the investigation, and shall abide by all
the conditions that may be imposed by the Court.
5. On the other hand, learned A.G.A. has opposed the application for
anticipatory bail, however, he does not dispute the factual aspect.
6. I have heard the rival submissions of both sides and perused the
record.
7. In Sushila Aggarwal and others vs. State (NCT of Delhi) and
another, (2020) 5 SCC 1, the Hon'ble Apex Court has held that while
considering an application for grant of anticipatory bail, the court has to
consider the nature of the offence, the role of the person, the likelihood of
his influencing the course of investigation, or tampering with evidence
including intimidating witnesses, likelihood of fleeing justice, such as
leaving the country, etc. It has further been held that Courts ought to be
generally guided by considerations such as the nature and gravity of the
offences, the role attributed to the applicant, and the facts of the case,
while considering whether to grant anticipatory bail, or refuse it. Whether
to grant or not is a matter of discretion.
8. In Siddharth Vs. State of Uttar Pradesh & Another, (2022) 1
Supreme Court Cases 676, the Hon'ble Apex Court has held that
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3
personal liberty is an important aspect of our constitutional mandate. The
occasion to arrest an accused during investigation arises when custodial
investigation becomes necessary or it is a heinous crime or where there is
a possibility of influencing the witnesses or accused may abscond. Merely
because an arrest can be made because it is lawful does not mandate that
arrest must be made. A distinction must be made between the existence of
the power to arrest and the justification for exercise of it. If arrest is made
routine, it can cause incalculable harm to the reputation and self-esteem of
a person. If the Investigating Officer has no reason to believe that the
accused will abscond or disobey summons and has, in fact, throughout
cooperated with the investigation, then there is no compulsion on the
officer to arrest the accused.
9. By a long line of judgments, the Hon'ble Supreme Court has reiterated
that in order to make out an offence under Section 306 IPC / 108 BNS,
specific abetment as contemplated by Section 107 IPC / 45 BNS on the
part of the accused with an intention to bring about the suicide of the
person concerned as a result of that abetment is required. It has been
further held that the intention of the accused to aid or instigate or to abet
the deceased to commit suicide is a must for attracting Section 306 IPC /
108 BNS [See Madan Mohan Singh vs. State of Gujarat and Another
(2010) 8 SCC 628]. Further, the alleged harassment meted out should
have left the victim with no other alternative but to put an end to his / her
life and that in cases of abetment of suicide there must be proof of direct
or indirect acts of incitement to commit suicide [See Amalendu Pal alias
Jhantu vs. State of West Bengal, (2010) 1 SCC 707 and M. Mohan vs.
State (2011) 3 SCC 626 and Ramesh Kumar vs. State of Chhattisgarh
(2001) 9 SCC 618].
10. These principles have been reiterated recently by Hon'ble Supreme
Court in Mahendra Awase vs. The State of Madhya Pradesh, 2025
INSC 76.
11. The case of the applicants is squarely covered by the aforesaid
judgments.
12. Considering the settled principle of law regarding anticipatory bail,
submissions of the learned counsel for the parties, nature of accusation,
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4
role of applicants and all attending facts and circumstances of the case,
without expressing any opinion on merits, a case for anticipatory bail is
made out.
13. Accordingly, the anticipatory bail application is allowed with
following directions:-
(i) In the event of arrest of the applicants- Vishnu Kumar, Kesari Singh @
Chhote Lal, Smt. Basanti involved in aforesaid case shall be released on
anticipatory bail till the conclusion of trial, on their furnishing a personal
bond of Rs.50,000/- with two sureties each of the like amount to the
satisfaction of the Station House Officer of the police station concerned or
the court concerned.
(ii) The applicants shall co-operate with the Investigating Officer during
investigation and shall report to the Investigating Officer as and when
required for the purpose of conducting investigation;
(iii) The applicants 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/him from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any
police officer; and
(iv) The applicants shall not leave India without the previous permission
of the Court.
14. In default or misuse of any of the conditions, the Public Prosecutor/
Investigating Officer/ first informant-complainant is at liberty to file
appropriate application for cancellation of anticipatory bail granted to the
applicants, before the concerned court.
(Vivek Kumar Singh,J.)
October 1, 2026
A.P. Pandey
Digitally signed by :-
ANAND PRAKASH PANDEY
High Court of Judicature at Allahabad
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