Allahabad High Court
LAVKUSHversusSTATE OF U.P. AND ANOTHER
- Decided
- Bench
- AVNISH SAXENA
Holding
The court grants anticipatory bail to the applicant, subject to a personal bond and specified conditions.
Summary
The High Court of Allahabad considered an anticipatory bail application filed by Lavkush in a case involving alleged participation in a mob that assaulted a Nagar Palika team during an encroachment removal operation. The applicant argued that he was not named in the FIR and had no prior criminal record, while similar co‑accused had already been granted anticipatory bail. The State opposed the bail, citing the seriousness of the charges under multiple sections of the BNSS, the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1932 and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984. Relying on Supreme Court precedents governing anticipatory bail, the court evaluated the nature of the accusation, flight risk, and the applicant’s willingness to cooperate. Finding a low flight risk and noting the grant of bail to similarly situated persons, the court ordered anticipatory bail with a personal bond and specific conditions. The order also directed procedural compliance for future trial proceedings.
Issues considered
- What is the appropriate exercise of discretion by the court in granting anticipatory bail to an accused not named in the FIR but implicated during investigation?
- Whether the applicant’s lack of criminal antecedents and the grant of bail to co‑accused justify anticipatory bail despite serious charges under multiple statutes?
Legislation cited
- BNSS — s. 109, 115(2), 121(1), 125, 132, 190, 191(2), 191(3)
- Criminal Law Amendment Act — s. 7
- Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984
Subjects
- anticipatory bail
- criminal procedure
- FIR
- flight risk
- bail conditions
- Uttar Pradesh
- public property damage
- court discretion
Judgment
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
CRIMINAL MISC. ANTICIPATORY BAIL APPLICATION U/S 482 BNSS No.
- 3868 of 2026
Lavkush
.....Applicant(s)
Versus
State of U.P. and Another
.....Opposite
Party(s)
Counsel for Applicant(s) : Shailendra Singh
Counsel for Opposite Party(s) : G.A.
Court No. - 71
HON'BLE AVNISH SAXENA, J.
1. Heard Sri Shailendra Singh, learned counsel for the accused-applicant,
learned AGA for State and perused the record.
2. The instant anticipatory bail application has been filed by applicant to
grant anticipatory bail in Case Crime No. 396 of 2025, under Sections
191(2), 191(3), 190, 115(2), 125, 109, 121(1), 132 of BNS and Section 7
Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1932 and 3 Prevention of Damage to
Public Property Act, 1984, P.S.- Mahua Kheda, District- Aligarh.
3. It is contended by learned counsel for accused applicant that the
accused-applicant is not named in the F.I.R. Eight persons were named in
the F.I.R. dated 29.10.2025 has disclosed the name of the accused-
applicant. The allegation in the F.I.R. is that the Nagar Palika Team when
visited the spot for removing the encroachment, have been roughed up by
the group of nearly 40 persons, including the accused-applicant, whose
name has been figured out during the investigation. Further submits that
the charge sheet is submitted against some of the accused, whereas the
investigation is still continuing against the accused-applicant. The other
co-accused, who have not been named in the F.I.R. and even named in the
F.I.R. have been granted anticipatory bail by the coordinate Bench of this
Court. He has no criminal history. The accused-applicant is apprehending
arrest and wants to join the investigation, hence, seeks anticipatory bail of
this Court.
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4. Per contra learned A.G.A. has opposed the prayer for bail of the
applicant.
5. 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.
6. This Court while considering the accused-applicant is not named in the
F.I.R. and the similarly situated persons have already been granted
anticipatory bail 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.
7. The applicant- Lavkush 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.
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(iii) The applicant shall remain present, in person, before the trial court on
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.
8. In case of breach of any of the above conditions, it shall be a ground for
cancellation of bail.
9. 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.
10. The below mentioned directions shall be complied with for
expeditious disposal of trial; in case charge sheet is submitted against
accused/applicant.
10.1 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.
10.2 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.
10.3 The accused/applicant shall provide a copy of the final order of
anticipatory bail within 30 days, to the official concerned in whose
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jurisdiction the case lies and shall provide his complete contact details
including the mobile number and E-mail ID (if maintained); any change
in detail shall be informed by the applicant.
10.4 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.)
April 23, 2026
Shivangi
Digitally signed by :-
SHIVANGI YADAV
High Court of Judicature at Allahabad
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