SATENDRA KUMAR ANTIL Vs. C.B.I.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Sri Anurag Khanna, learned senior advocate assisted by Sri Sanjay Singh, learned counsel for the applicant and Sri Gyan Prakash, learned senior counsel assisted by Sri Sanjay Kumar Yadav, learned counsel appearing for the C.B.I, through video conferencing. Present Anticipatory Bail Application has been filed with a prayer to grant an anticipatory bail to the applicant, namely, Satendra Kumar Antil in R.C. No.1202020A0003 under sec. 120-B IPC and Sec. 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, Police Station - C.B.I. (ACB), District Ghaziabad.

(2.) Submission of learned counsel for the applicant is that the applicant was posted as Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner at Regional Office EPFO, Noida. Allegations levelled against him are false. He was not arrested on the spot. Nothing was recovered from his possession to connect him with the present matter. Applicant has always made himself available to the Investigating Officer for interrogation. Thus, he fully cooperated with the investigating agency. Recovery is against co-accused, who has been allowed on regular bail. No fruitful purpose will be served directing the applicant to surrender before the court concerned. It is further submitted that no prima facie case is made out against the applicant. He never pressurized the complainant to make payment. Huge amount was due towards the P.F. Fund of the Employees which had not been deposited by the complainant and due to that reason, present prosecution has been launched on the basis of false facts. At this juncture, learned counsel has referred to the bail order of co-accused Narendra Kumar annexed with the application and further submitted that if the applicant is allowed on interim bail, he will not misuse the liberty and will fully cooperate with the court below as well as investigating agency. There is apprehension that police will arrest the applicant at any time as non-bailable warrant is going on against the applicant.

(3.) Learned counsel appearing for the C.B.I, argued that the applicant is the main perpetrator of the crime. He was present in the office at the time of recovery. He has pressurized the complainant to pay bribe amount. Charge-sheet has been submitted in the matter on 12/10/2020. Cognizance has been taken on 20/1/2021 issuing summons to the applicant. He did not turn up before the court concerned. Thereafter, bailable warrant was issued on 2/2/2021. Again he did not turn up. Thereafter, non-bailable warrant was issued on 17/2/2021 which is continuing till today. Applicant has not surrendered before the court below. He is not cooperating to the trial court and avoiding the order of the court concerned. Thus, referring to the law laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Lavesh Versus State (NCT of Delhi), (2012) 8Supreme Court Cases 730, it is further argued that applicant cannot be allowed on anticipatory bail. I have considered the rival contentions raised by learned counsel for the parties and have gone through the entire record including the case law relied upon by the party carefully.