(1.) Heard Ms. Mahima Maurya Kushwaha, learned counsel for the applicant, Mr. Desh Ratan Chaudhary, learned counsel for the informant, Mr. Amit Singh Chauhan, learned AGA for the State and perused the record.
(2.) The instant bail application has been filed on behalf of the applicant, Amit Maurya @ Amit Kumar Singh with a prayer to release him on bail in Case Crime No.0259 of 2023, under Sec. 386, 389, 504, 506 IPC, Police Station ? Lalpur, District?Varuna (Commissionerate Varanasi), during pendency of trial.
(3.) As per the allegations in the FIR, the informant, serving as the Vice President of the Purvanchal Truck Owners Association, stands as the prime witness and key individual in the FIR lodged against R.S. Yadav, the A.R.T.O. of Chandauli. It is alleged that the informant was instrumental in pursuing the case against R.S. Yadav on behalf of the government, leading to Yadav's detention in jail for the past three years. Additionally, the informant was actively involved in pursuing cases seen by the Anti-Corruption Court. However, the applicant allegedly coerced the informant into refraining from pursuing the case against R.S. Yadav, offering a bribe of one crore rupees. Furthermore, the applicant demanded monthly payments of one lakh rupees from the informant, threatening to tarnish his reputation by publishing damaging articles in newspapers if his demands were not fulfilled. It is also alleged that the applicant resorted to sending threatening messages and engaging in verbal abuse towards the informant. Moreover, the applicant is accused of utilizing social media platforms to propagate hate speech against public figures, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, while also making derogatory remarks against religious figures.