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

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.321 OF 2017 [ARISING FROM SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (CRIMINAL) NO.10138/2016 ]

KUYADAT ALI AND ORS.      APPELLANT(S)

                               VERSUS STATE OF U.P. AND ORS. RESPONDENT(S)

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

Leave granted.   2. The appellants are before this Court, aggrieved by the order dated 7.11.2016 passed by the High Court of  Judicature  at  Allahabad.   The  said  order  was passed on a petition filed by the appellants herein before  the  High  Court  for  quashing  the  FIR  dated 1.10.2016  registered  at  Police  Station  Kotwali, District Etawah, Uttar Pradesh. 3. The  High  Court  declined  to  quash  the  FIR. However,  protection  from  arrest  was  granted  to appellant Nos.2 to 5, subject to their cooperation during the investigation till filing of the Report under Section 173(2) Cr.P.C. 4. The matter came before this Court.  On 6.1.2017, this Court passed the following order:-

“Issue  notice  to  Respondent  No.3, returnable on 13.2.2017.

The  Respondent  No.3  is  directed  to file an affidavit as to what is the stage

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of  investigation  and  whether  petitioner Nos.2  to  5  have  cooperated  with  the investigation  and  how  much  time  is required  for  completion  of  the investigation.   

The  affidavit,  as  above,  shall  be filed within four weeks.

The  High  Court  has  granted  interim protection  to  petitioner  Nos.2  to  5. Having  regard  to  the  facts  and circumstances  of  the  case,  we  are inclined to grant the same protection to petitioner  No.1  as  well.   Ordered accordingly.

Therefore,  we  direct  all  the petitioners  to  be  present  before Respondent  No.3  on  23.1.2017  at  11.00 A.M.  and  on  such  further  dates,  the Respondent  No.3/Investigating  Officer requires.

We make it clear that we are inclined to grant this order with the hope that the petitioners will fully cooperate with the investigation.”

5. Learned counsel appearing for the State submits that the investigation has been completed and final Report under Section 173(2) Cr.P.C. has been filed before  the  Court  of  competent  jurisdiction  on 2.2.2017.  Learned counsel appearing for Respondent No.4 submits that the Court has since summoned the appellants pursuant to the final Report, referred to above. 6. In  the  peculiar  facts  of  this  case  and  the developments referred to above, we are of the view that there is no point in keeping this appeal pending before  this  Court  any  more.   The  appellants  are directed  to surrender  before the  Trial Court.   On such surrender, we direct the Trial Court to release them on bail, on their furnishing bail bonds for a sum of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand only) each with two solvent sureties for the like amount. 7. The appeal is disposed of, as above.

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8. We make it clear that we have not considered the merits of the matter. 9. Pending  application(s),  if  any,  shall  stand disposed of.

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

.......................J.               [A.M. KHANWILKAR]  

NEW DELHI; FEBRUARY 13, 2017.

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