NEERAJ SEHRAWAT @ NEERAJ BAWANIYA vs STATE NCT OF DELHI

Judgment text excerpt

$~J- * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI Date of decision: 15th January, 2025 + BAIL APPLN. 1203/2024 NEERAJ SEHRAWAT @ NEERAJ BAWANIYA .....Petitioner Through: Mr. N. Hariharan, Sr. Advocate with Mr. Siddharth S. Yadav, Mr. Gagan Bhatnagar, Mr. Rahul Yadav, Mr. Ayush Kumar Singh, Ms. Kashish Ahuja, Ms. Sneha Bakshi Ram, Mr. Arjan Singh Mandla, Ms. Sana Singh, Ms. Punya Rekha Angagar, Mr. Rahul and Mr. Tushar, Advocates. versus STATE NCT OF DELHI .....Respondent Through: Ms. Rupali Bandhopadhya, ASC for the State with Mr. Abhijeet Kumar, Advocate with Insp. Suneel Siddhu, P.S. Mangolpuri and Insp. Brahm Prakash, P.S. Crime Branch. CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE ANUP JAIRAM BHAMBHANI J U D G M E N T ANUP JAIRAM BHAMBHANI J. Does the period of custody undergone by itself entitle an undertrial to be released on regular bail premised on the right to speedy trial arising from Article 21 of the Constitution of India ? This is the question that arises for consideration in the present case. Signature Not Verified Signed By:ANJALI KAUSHIK Signing Date:15.01.2025 14:37:19 BAIL APPLN. 1203/2024 Page 1 of 31 2. The present petition was filed by the petitioner under section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 („Cr.P.C.‟) seeking regular bail in case FIR No.1683/2015 dated 25.08.2015 registered under sections 302/120-B/34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 („IPC‟) at P.S.: Mangol Puri, Delhi („subject FIR‟). 3. Notice having been issued on the petition, the State filed its Status Reports dated 15.05.2024 and 29.05.2024 in the matter, vociferously opposing the grant of bail. 4. Since the petitioner has several other criminal involvements, an updated Nominal Roll dated 06.08.2024, a State Crime Record Bureau („SCRB‟) report dated 26.04.2024, and an updated list dated 29.08.2024 of