NON-REPORTABLE IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CRIMINAL APPEAL  NO. 195/2018 (ARISING FROM SLP (CRL.) NO.6315 OF 2017)

BIKASH MANNA APPELLANT(S)

                               VERSUS

THE STATE OF WEST BENGAL                         RESPONDENT(S)

J U D G M E N T KURIAN, J.

Leave granted. 2. Application for impleadment is allowed. 3. The appellant approached this Court, aggrieved by the denial of protection under Section 438(2) of the Cr.P.C.  by  the  High  Court  in  connection  with  FIR No.261 of 2017 dated 02.04.2017. 4. When  the  matter  came  up  before  this  Court  on 15.09.2017, this Court passed the following order:-

“The  petitioner  shall  take  steps  to implead the de-facto complainant.  On such an application being filed, notice shall be

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issued  to  the  State  as  well  as  to  the de-facto complainant.   

In  connection  with  FIR  No.  261  of 2017, registered at Police Station Domjur, Howrah, West Bengal, in case the petitioner is arrested, he shall be released on bail on furnishing a self-bond, subject to the condition that he shall cooperate with the investigation  and  also  subject  to  the further condition that the petitioner shall deposit a sum of Rs. 10 Lakhs before this Court within six weeks from today.  The Registry  is  directed  to  keep  the abovementioned  amount  in  an  interest bearing  Fixed  Deposit  in  a  nationalised bank, initially for a period of six months, to be renewed from time to time.”     

5. The  de-facto  complainant,  represented  by  Mr. Pijush  K.  Roy,  learned  counsel,  on  instruction, submits  that  the  de-facto  complainant  has  no objection if protection under Section 438(2) Cr.P.C. is granted to the appellant, in case he is permitted to withdraw the amount deposited before this Court.

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He  further  submits  that  he  is  only  interested  in getting his money and does not want to prosecute the appellant. 6. Learned counsel for the appellant does not have any objection with regard to the submissions made by the learned counsel for the de-facto complainant. 7. In view of the above circumstances, without going into the various other disputes, we dispose of this appeal as follows:-

i.) The  de-facto  complainant  is permitted  to  withdraw  the  amount  deposited before this Court pursuant to our order dated 15.09.2017, along with the interest accrued. ii.) In case the appellant is arrested in  connection  with  FIR  No.261  of  2017 registered at Police Station Damjur, Howrah, West Bengal, he shall be released on bail by the Investigating Officer on his executing a bond  to  the  tune  of  Rs.25,000/-  (Rupees Twentyfive Thousand) with two sureties to the like amount.  However, this order is subject to the other conditions under Section 438(2) of  the  Cr.P.C.  and  the  appellant  shall cooperate with the investigation.

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8. Pending  applications,  if  any,  shall  stand disposed of.

..........................J.               [KURIAN JOSEPH]  

..........................J.               [MOHAN M. SHANTANAGOUDAR]  NEW DELHI; JANUARY 30, 2018

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