State of Maharashtra v. Madhukar Wamanrao Smarth

DR. ARIJIT PASAYAT, J. 1. Leave granted. 2. In each of these cases challenge is to the bail granted B to the respondent by the Bombay High Court, Nagpur Bench. Since all these appeals have a common matrix, they are taken up together. 3. On the basis of allegations that the respondents were c guilty of having committed cheating, preparing forged and false documents for the purpose of cheating, using the said documents as genuine, abetment of crime, committing criminal breach of trust by forming criminal conspiracy in furtherance of their common intention, law was set into motion. D ,~ 4. They were convicted by the trial Court, and have preferred appeals before the High Court and had prayed for grant of bail by suspension of sentence in terms of Section 389 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (in short the 'Code'). The High Court primarily granted bail to each of the respondents on the ground that bail was granted during trial and the liberty was not misused. Further ground indicated was that there was likelihood of delay in disposal of the appeals. In the case of respondent-Madhukar it was stated that the evidence appeared F . .), to be scanty against him . 5. Questioning correctness of the order passed in each case, learned counsel for the State submitted that there was large scale of manipulation of records resulting in manipulation G of results of the candidates and each of the respondents had a definite role to play. Apart from the cases where they have been convicted, large number of connected cases are also pending. In the case of respondent-Yadav Nathoba Konchade, two cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (in short 'PC Act') H 306 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2008] 5 S.C.R. A were pending. In one case the said accused had offered bribe to the investigating officer and was caught red handed. It was submitted that considering the gravity of the offence the sentences were directed to run consecutively in terms of Section 31 (1) of Code. It was stated that the High Court was misled in B the case of respondent-Madhukar who made a false statement before the High Court that he had deposited fine amount while -. - in fact he had not done so as would be apparent from the s~cond order. It was essentially submitted that without indicating any plausible reason, much less, the reasons contemplated under C Section 389 of the Code, the bail has been granted. The seriousness of the allegations for which the accused respondents have been already convicted has been completely lost siuht of. D 6. Learned counsel for the respondents on the other hand submitted that the parameters for grant of bail and cancellation 'I....,.. of bail are different. It was submitted that some of them are very elderly persons and have retired from services. It is not a case where any irrelevant factor has been taken into consideration. E It is pointed out on behalf of respondent-Madhukar that the only link the said accused is stated to have centres round two chits which were exhibited. They did not in any way establish the involvement of the accused in the alleged crime. That is why in his case the High Court observed that the evidence F is scanty. 7. In reply, learned counsel for the State submitted that in some cases, for example, accused Shamrao Kisanrao Kamlakar the ground for releasing him was the grant of bail to ' G co-accused. Further, the plea taken by Madhukar is not correct inasmuch as one of the co-accused has categorically stated that pressure was exerted by accused Madhukar for doing the illegal acts. H 8. The factual details involved are as follows: STATE OF MAHARASHTRA v. MADHUKAR 307 . WAMANRAO SMARTH [DR. ARIJIT PASAYAT, J.) SI. Case Name Case No. Date of Date Sen· Date of Conviction Imprison- A No & No. con- of bail tence supply of under ment viction under- copy of section gone the Judgment 1. State of Regular· 10.1.07 22.2.07 43 No (A) U/S 420 (A) RI for Maharashtra Criminal days infor- r/w S.34, 6 years B v. Case No. mation 109 IPC And fine of Sunil Mishra 372102 S.248 Rs.20000/- (ii) Cr.P.C. and in defaultto suffer RI for 3 months (B) U/S 468 (B)Rlfor. r/w S.34 5 years IPC+S. And fine of 248(ii) Rs.15,000/- Cr.P.C. in Default to suffer RI for D 2 months (C) U/S 471 (C) RI for r/w 34 IPC+ 1 year s. 248 and fine of (ii) Cr.P.C Rs.5,000/- in Default E to suffer RI for 1 month (D)U/S (D)Rlfor 1208+ 6 Months F S.248 and fine of (ii)IPC Rs.2,000/- In default to Suffer RI for 15 days (sentences G to run con- secutively) Total 12 years Imprison- 6 months ment H 'I A 2. State of Regular 1.3.07 23.3.07 22 4.3.07 (A) U/S 420 (A) RI for Maharashtra Criminal days r/w S.34, 4 years vs. Case No. IPC and to pay Rajendra 380/02 fine of Yadav Rs.20000/- : and in default to suffer RI for B 2 months (B) U/S 468 (B) RI for r/w S.34 3 years IPC And to pay fine of c Rs.15,000/- And in Default to suffer RI for 1 month ' (C) U/S 471 (C) RI for D r/w S.34 1 year IPC and to pay fine of Rs.5,000/- and in Default to suffer RI for E one month I (D) UIS (D)RI for 1208 r/w 6 Months S. 109 and and to pay S.34 IPC fine of : Rs.2,000/- and in defaultto F Suffer RI for 15 days i (E) U/s 409 (E) RI for IPC 4 years And to pay G fine of ! Rs.20,000/- and In defaultto suffer RI for H I 2 months t 3. ... STATE OF MAHARASHTRA v. MADHUKAR WAMANRAO SMARTH [DR. ARIJIT PASAYAT, J.] Total Imprison- ment State of Regular 18.6.07 30.6.07 12 20.6.07 (A) U/S 420 Maharashtra Criminal days r/w Sec.34 vs. Case No. IPC Shailesh . 368/02 Tupkari (B) UIS 468 r/w S.34 IPC . (C) U/S 471 r/w S.34 IPC (D) U/S 1208 r/w S.109 and S.34 IPC (E) U/s 409 IPC 309 (sentences A to run con- secutively) 12 years 6 months (A) RI for B 3 years and to pay fine of Rs.10,000/- and in defaultto suffer RI for c 2 months (B) RI for 5 years And to pay fine of Rs.15,000/- D And in Default to suffer RI for 2 months (C) RI for 1 year E and to pay fine of Rs.5,000/- and in Default to suffer RI for 1 month ~ F (D)Rlfor 6 Months and to pay fine of Rs.2,000/- and in G default to Suffer RI for 15 days (E) RI for 3 years H A Anu 10 pay fine of Rs.20,000/- and In defaultto suffer RI for 3 months B Total 12 years Imprison- 6 months ment 4. State of Regular 12.2.08 Imme- In 14.2.08 (A) U/S 420 (A) RI for Maharashtra Criminal diately custody r/w S.34 3 years vs. Case No. taken IPC and to pay Mahendra 361/02 in fine of c Goti custody Rs.10,000/- on and in 12.2.08 default to and is suffer RI for in jail 2 months D (8) U/S 468 (8) RI for r/w S.34 5 years IPC And to pay fine of Rs.15,000/- And in Default to suffer RI for E 2 months (C) UIS 471 (C) RI for r/w S.34 1 year IPC and to pay fine of F Rs.5;000/- and in Default to suffer RI for 1 month (D) UIS (D)Rlfor G 1208 r/w 6 Months S.109 and and to pay S.34 IPC fine of Rs.2,000/- and in default to 1: Suffer STATE OF MAHARASHTRA v. MADHUKAR 311 WAMANRAO SMARTH [DR. ARIJIT.PASAYAT, J.] RI for A 15 days (E) U/s 409 (E)Rlfor IPC 3 years And to pay fine of Rs.20,000/- B and In defaultto suffer RI for 3 months (sentences to run con- c seculively) Total 12 years Imprison- 6 months men! 5. State of Acquittal Acquittal Acquittal Acquittal Acquittal Acquittal Acquittal Maharashtra D Vs. Mohd. lshaq 6. State of Acquittal Acquittal Acquittal Acquittal Acquittal Acquittaf Acquittal Maharashtra Vs. Laxmikant E Zade 7. State of Acquittal Acquittal Acquittal Acquittal Acquittal Acquittal Acquittal Maharashtra Vs Atul Gudadhe 8. State of Acquittal Acquittal Acquittal Acquittal Acquittal Acquittal Acquittal F Maharashtra Vs ParagBagde 9. The parameters to be observed by the High Court while dealing with an application for suspension of sentence and grant G of bail have been highlighted by this Court in many cases. In Kishori Lal v. Rupa and Ors. (2004 (7) SCC 639) it was observed as follows: "Section 389 of the Code deals with suspension of H execution of sentence pending the appeal and release of the appellant on bail. There is a distincti1:m between bail and suspension of sentence. One of the essential ingredients of Section 389 is the requirement for the appellate Court to record reasons in writing for ordering suspension of execution of the sentence or order appealed. If he is in confinement, the said court can direct that he be released on bail or on his own bond. The requirement of recording reasons in writing clearly indicates that there has to be careful consideration of the relevant aspects and the order directing suspension of sentence and grant of bail should not be passed as a matter of routine." 10. The above position was re-iterated in Vasant Tukaram Pawar v. State of Maharashtra (2005 (5) SCC 281). 0 11. It is true that the parameters to be applied in cases where life or death sentence is imposed, may not be applicable to other cases. But, the gravity of the offence, the sentence imposed and several other similar factors need to be considered by the Court. The fact that accused was on bail during trial is certainly not a relevant factor. This position has been fairly E conceded by learned counsel for the respondents. The reasons indicated by the High Court for granting bail in our opinion do not satisfy the parameters. It needs to be pointed out that the trial Court considering the gravity of the offence has directed the sentences to run consecutively. This aspect has also not F been considered by the High Court. In the circumstances, the impugned order in each case is indefensible and deserves to be set aside which we direct. But considering the fact that the High Court had not applied correct principles it would be proper for tne High Court to re-consider the matter and for that purpose G the matter is remitted to the Hi!~h Court. Needless to say the High Court shall consider all the relevant aspects and pass ordets in accordance with law . . 12. The appeals are allowe·d. H N.J. Appeals allowed.