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Allahabad High Court

CHANDAN SINGHversusSTATE OF U.P. AND ANOTHER

Decided

Holding

The High Court granted anticipatory bail to the applicant, subject to strict conditions.

Summary

The Allahabad High Court considered an anticipatory bail application filed under Section 482 of the CrPC by Chandan Singh, who was implicated in a case (Crime No. 931 of 2018) involving alleged offences under Sections 409, 417, 120‑B IPC and 66‑C of the IT Act, arising from a complaint under the Essential Commodities Act. The applicant, a salesman, claimed he merely distributed rations and had no substantive role, and sought bail to avoid arrest while cooperating with the investigation. The State opposed the bail. Relying on Supreme Court precedents (Gurubaksh Singh Sibbia, Siddharam Satlingappa Mhetre, Sushila Aggarwal) the Court examined factors such as the seriousness of the accusation, the applicant’s criminal history, flight risk, and willingness to cooperate. Finding low flight risk and assurance of cooperation, the Court granted anticipatory bail with a personal bond and several conditions, while clarifying that the order does not prejudice the trial court’s merits.

Issues considered

  • What is the appropriate exercise of discretion by the High Court in granting anticipatory bail under Section 482 of the CrPC in the present facts?
  • Whether the applicant’s alleged role, criminal antecedent, and the nature of the offences justify denial of anticipatory bail?

Legislation cited

Subjects

  • anticipatory bail
  • Section 482 CrPC
  • essential commodities
  • flight risk
  • bail conditions
  • IPC offences
  • IT Act

Judgment

         HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
CRIMINAL MISC. ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION U/S 482 BNSS No.
                        - 3769 of 2026

Chandan Singh
                                                            .....Applicant(s)
                                   Versus

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

Counsel for Applicant(s)                    :   Shashi Kant Pandey
Counsel for Opposite Party(s)               :   G.A.

Court No. - 71
                    HON'BLE AVNISH SAXENA, J.

1. Sri Shashi Kant Pandey, learned counsel for the applicant hands up the
supplementary affidavit explaining the criminal history of the accused-
applicant. The same is taken on record.

2. Heard Sri Pandey, learned counsel for the accused-applicant, learned
AGA for State and perused the record.

3. The instant anticipatory bail application has been filed by applicant to
grant anticipatory bail in Case Crime No. 931 of 2018, under Sections
409, 417, 120-B IPC & 66-C of I.T. Act, P.S.- Katghar, District-
Moradabad.

4. It is contended by learned counsel for accused-applicant that the F.I.R.
is lodged by the Regional Food Officer on 31.08.2018. The allegation in
the F.I.R. is such that the accused-applicant is a salesman at the fair price
shop. The role attributed to him is that he has given the ration to 48 ration
card holders on the basis of two aadhar cards. Further submits that the
accused-applicant has no role. The F.I.R. is lodged under the provisions
of Essential Commodities Act. The investigation is still continuing. In the
two cases of criminal history, the accused-applicant is not charge sheeted
in one case and in another case, he is on bail. The applicant wants to
cooperate in the investigation, but apprehending arrest and hence, seeks
anticipatory bail.

5. Per contra, learned A.G.A. has opposed the prayer for bail of the
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                                2


applicant.

6. The scope of ambit of anticipatory bail is encapsulated in three
insightful judgments of Hon’ble Supreme Court right from Gurubaksh
Singh Sibbia Vs. State of Punjab reported in (1980) 2 SCC 565,
Siddharam Satlingappa Mhetre Vs. State of Maharashtra reported in
(2011) 1 SCC 694 and Sushila Aggarwal and others Vs. State (NCT of
Delhi) and another reported in (2020) 5 SCC 1, wherein it is
consistently held by Hon’ble Apex Court that while granting anticipatory
bail, the Court should considering the application of the applicant to
evaluate the threat or apprehension of arrest vis-a-vis the nature and
gravity of accusation, criminal antecedent of the accused, false or
exaggerated implication, need of custodial interrogation, willingness of
the accused to cooperate in investigation and trial and the conduct of the
accused and flight risk.

7. This Court while considering that the role of accused-applicant and
further considering the gravity of accusation and apprehension of arrest in
the case vis-a-vis low flight risk and assurance of the accused in
cooperating with the investigation and trial, is of considered view to grant
anticipatory bail.

8. The applicant- Chandan Singh involved in the aforesaid case crime
shall appear before the trial court or the Investigating Officer, as the case
may be within 30 days from the date of this order and shall be released on
bail on furnishing a personal bond of Rs. 25,000/- with two sureties each
in the like amount to the satisfaction of the court concerned with
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 not pressurize/intimidate the prosecution
witnesses.

(iii) The applicant shall remain present, in person, before the trial court on
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                                3


the dates fixed for (i) opening of the case, (ii) framing of charge and (iii)
recording of statement under Section 351 of BNSS.

(iv) The applicant shall file an undertaking to the effect that he/she shall
not seek any adjournment on the dates fixed for evidence when the
witnesses are present in the trial court.

(v) The applicant shall remain present before the trial court on each date
fixed, either personally or through his counsel.

9. In case of breach of any of the above conditions, it shall be a ground for
cancellation of bail.

10. It is clarified that anything said in this order is limited to the purpose
of determination of this bail application and will in no way be construed
as an expression on the merits of the case. The trial court shall be
absolutely free to arrive at its independent conclusions on the basis of
evidence led unaffected by anything said in this order.

11. The below mentioned directions shall be complied with for
expeditious disposal of trial; in case charge sheet is submitted against
accused/applicant.

11.1 As the investigation is continuing, in the event charge sheet is
submitted and cognizance is taken, it would be the duty of the
accused/applicant to appear before the trial court or Magistrate concerned
as the case may be without waiting for the issuance of summons, within
60 days from the date of cognizance or on the date fixed, which ever is
earlier. So that the trial may not be delayed for non execution of summons
or processes.

11.2 The District Judge concerned shall direct each Magistrate and
Special courts to maintain a register of Anticipatory Bail orders granted
by this Court, wherein the details of Anticipatory Bail shall be entered.
The dedicated official shall be nominated in each Special court and
Magistrate court for maintaining the register.

11.3 The accused/applicant shall provide a copy of the final order of
anticipatory bail within 30 days, to the official concerned in whose
jurisdiction the case lies and shall provide his complete contact details
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                                    including the mobile number and E-mail ID (if maintained); any change
                                    in detail shall be informed by the applicant.

                                    11.4 On the submission of charge sheet and cognizance taken, the
                                    Presiding Officer shall fetch the details of the accused/applicant and the
                                    dedicated official shall inform the accused at the given detail.


                                                                                          (Avnish Saxena,J.)
                                    May 5, 2026
                                    Shivangi




Digitally signed by :-
SHIVANGI YADAV
High Court of Judicature at Allahabad


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