Full Order Text
Order 14 · 04 Apr 2025 · CNR DLND010039582024
Order Details: COPY OF ORDER Pdf Text: CNR-DLND01-003958-2024 SC No. 171/2024 STATE Vs. MANJEET SINGH FIR No. 111 /2024 PS Vasant Kunj South U/Sec. 306/34 IPC 04.04.2025 (At 4:00 PM) 1. This order shall decide the fourth bail application filed under Section 439 of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (in short ‘Cr.P.C.’) by applicant/accused Manjeet Singh. 2. Facts in brief: On 18.02.2024, a PCR call was recorded in Police Station-Vasant Kunj South vide DD entry no. 55A. As per the information, one person was found lying in an unconscious state inside a car bearing registration no. HR08AE7633, parked near Air Force Station, Rajokari Village Road, Rajokari, New Delhi. On inspection of the car, dead body of a person, who was later identified as Pankaj Kumar was recovered. Along with the body, a note book having suicide note and a video of the deceased Pankaj Kumar was also recovered. In the FIR, wife of deceased namely Seema Devi alleged that applicant/ accused and his family members wanted to grab their property situated at Prempuri, Village- Jharsa, Gurugram. On 15.02.2024, applicant/accused forcefully dispossessed the family of the deceased from the shop and changed the locks of the premises, which lead to a quarrel between the parties and police complaints FIR No. 111 /2024 PS Vasant Kunj South U/Sec. 306/34 IPC Page 1 of 7 -- 1 of 7 -- were made from both the sides. The complainant further divulged that applicant threatened the deceased that he will not let him live in the locality unless he vacates the premises. After registration of the FIR, the investigation commenced and applicant alongwith his wife, mother and two of friends were arrested. 3. Initially, on 11.03.2024, the bail application of the applicant was dismissed by the court of Ld. ACMM, New Delhi. Thereafter, application seeking regular bail under Section 439 Cr.P.C. was filed by the applicant before the court of Ld. ASJ, New Delhi, which was dismissed as withdrawn on 15.03.2024. Another application was filed seeking regular bail of the applicant under Section 439 Cr.P.C., which was dismissed by detailed order of Ld. ASJ, PHC, New Delhi on 21.03.2024. On 07.05.2024, again an application under Section 439 Cr.P.C. for seeking regular bail was filed before this court, which was dismissed on merits. On 21.10.2024, an application for seeking regular bail for applicant Manjeet Singh was dismissed as withdrawn by the applicant from the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi. This is the fourth bail application of the applicant Manjeet Singh before this court. 4. Arguments in detail are advanced from both the sides. 5. It is submitted by the Ld. Counsel for applicant that the applicant has nothing to do with the suicide of late Mr. Pankaj Kumar and the applicant has been falsely implicated in the present matter. FIR No. 111 /2024 PS Vasant Kunj South U/Sec. 306/34 IPC Page 2 of 7 -- 2 of 7 -- 6. The Ld. Counsel for the applicant also submits that late Mr. Pankaj Kumar had some family dispute amongst his family, due to which he went out on 17.02.2024 and later committed suicide. Thus, the applicant has neither instigated nor had any role in the abetment to commit suicide of the deceased. 7. The Ld. Counsel further contended that in the chargesheet, there is no iota of proof against the applicant. The FSL report mentions that no poison of any kind whatsoever has been found either in the viscera or the vomit of the deceased. 8. Further, Ld. Counsel for the applicant submits that filing of the supplementary chargesheet establishes that in the CDR report also, no calls were made by the applicant/accused to the deceased. 9. The Ld. Counsel for the applicant argued that the dispute between the parties is civil in nature and the entire allegations levied against the applicant are contrary to the documents on record. 10. The Ld. Counsel for the applicant also contended that there is no proof on the file to establish that the suicide note which was found in the car of the deceased was written by the deceased. FIR No. 111 /2024 PS Vasant Kunj South U/Sec. 306/34 IPC Page 3 of 7 -- 3 of 7 -- 11. It is submitted by the Ld. Counsel for the applicant that applicant is in custody for more than six months leading to pre- trial punishment and violation of his right to life and liberty. Hence, the bail application is pressed upon. 12. In support of above noted submissions, Ld. Counsel for applicant/accused relies on the following cases: ➢ Gangula Mohan Reddy Vs. State of Andhra Pradesh, (2010) 1 SCC 750. ➢ Ramesh Kumar Vs. State of Chhattisgarh, (2001) 9 SCC 618. ➢ M. Arjuna Vs. State, Representated by its Inspector of Police, (2019) 3 SCC 315. ➢ Sanju @ Sanjay Singh Sengar Vs. State of M.P., AIR 2002 SC 1998. ➢ Ude Singh & Ors. Vs. State of Haryana, Crl. Appeal No.223 of 2010. 13. This bail application is strongly opposed by the State on the ground that this is the fourth application seeking regular bail for the applicant Manjeet Singh. It is further submitted by the State that there is no material change in the circumstances for entertaining the present bail application. 14. Ld. Addl. PP for the State submitted that the postmortem report of the deceased clearly mentions that the death was by suicide. 15. It is elaborated by the State that on 15.02.2024, applicant forceably dispossessed the deceased from the shop for which a complaint was also made by the deceased Pankaj Kumar on 16.02.2024. The tale of continuous harassment and torture FIR No. 111 /2024 PS Vasant Kunj South U/Sec. 306/34 IPC Page 4 of 7 -- 4 of 7 -- inflicted by the applicant is narrated by the deceased in his suicide note and is recorded in a video, which points out towards the culpability of applicant for commission of offence punishable under Section 306 IPC. The applicant and complainant are residents of the same locality. Hence, it is contended by the State that the applicant is in a position to influence the material witnesses in the present case. 16. This court has considered the arguments from both the sides and has gone through the record carefully. 17. The perusal of the record reveals that the plea of the applicant that no offence is committed by him has already been dealt with in the previous order deciding the bail application of the accused. Further, on 26.07.2024, this court has taken into consideration other grounds of the applicant for seeking bail while dismissing the bail application of the applicant/accused Manjeet Singh. 18. It is argued by the Ld. Counsel for the applicant that there is a change of circumstances as after filing of the supplementary chargesheet, it is mentioned that no poison was found in the viscera or in the vomit of the deceased. Taking note of this argument, it is observed by this court from the record that the forensic report clearly mentions that- ‘postmortem findings are consistent with death due to poisoning. However, deceased had consumed alcohol prior to death’. Further, there is a video of the deceased, which was made immediately before the suicide. This FIR No. 111 /2024 PS Vasant Kunj South U/Sec. 306/34 IPC Page 5 of 7 -- 5 of 7 -- video gives the detail account of the circumstances under which the deceased committed suicide and the same cannot be brushed aside at this stage. Also, there is a suicide note which is authenticated by the FSL finding, being in the writing of the deceased. 19. It is further observed by this court that in the present case, applicant Manjeet Singh is chargesheeted for a grave and serious offence. This court finds no material change in the circumstances from the earlier dismissal of the bail application of applicant. The trial is yet to commence. The material witnesses including the wife/ complainant and other family members of the deceased are yet to be examined. As per record, the family of the accused and the witnesses are residing in the same locality. Thus, apprehension of extension of threat and influence on the witnesses and consequent hampering of the trial cannot be ruled out. 20. The judgments relied upon by Ld. Counsel for the applicant are more on providing clarity on the ingredients of the offence of abetment to suicide punishable under Section 306 of IPC. 21. In light of the above observations, this court is of the view that this is not a fit case for grant of bail to the applicant/accused. The bail application of applicant/accused Manjeet Singh is hereby dismissed. FIR No. 111 /2024 PS Vasant Kunj South U/Sec. 306/34 IPC Page 6 of 7 -- 6 of 7 -- 22. It is clarified that the above observations will have no bearing on the merits of the case. 23. Copy of this order be given dasti to Ld. Counsel for applicant/accused. In compliance of Sanjay Singh Vs. State (Govt. of NCT of Delhi), Writ Petition, Crl. No. 974/22, copy of this order be sent to concerned Jail Superintendent to be served upon the accused/applicant. (Aparna Swami) ASJ-07/PHC/New Delhi 04.04.2025 FIR No. 111 /2024 PS Vasant Kunj South U/Sec. 306/34 IPC Page 7 of 7 -- 7 of 7 --
