SRIDHAR DAS Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard the learned counsel for both sides.

(2.) By this application under Sections 439 Cr. P.C. the petitioner has prayed for his release on bail as he is detained to custody in connection with Regent Park. P.S. Case No.1 dated 3-1-1996 under Sections 302/34/109/120B I.P.C. and Sections 24/27 of the Arms Act.

(3.) Charge-sheet in this case was filed on or about 3-4-1996 against large number of accused including the petitioner showing him therein as an absconder. Sometime in January 1997 the petitioner was arrested in connection with some other case. It is also stated that the petitioner is accused in six other police cases apart from the, present case. While in custody in connection with some other cases since January 1997, the petitioner was shown arrested in connection with this case also on 23-4-1997. Though in course of time of the petitioner was granted bail so far as other cases are concerned his prayers for bail in this case were rejected on large number of occasions by the courts below as also by this court. Therefore, the petitioner is in custody in connection with this case alone for about ten months since 23-4-1997. As a matter of fact, the petitioner is in custody for more than a year since January 1997 because of his arrest in connection with some other police cases and subsequently. in connection with this case. Further grievance of the petitioner is that though he is in custody for about ten months since 23-4-1997 in connection with this case alone and the charge-sheet was filed on or about 3-4-1996 yet he has not been furnished with copies of the charge-sheet statements of witnesses and other relevant documents which are likely to be relied upon by the prosecution in course of trial. For falure of the committing court to provide the petitioner with the aforesaid documents the petitioner could not make effective representation against his continued detention and in support of his various applications before the Courts below as also to this Court for his release on bail. In these circumstances, the petitioner has renewed his prayer for bail again in this court.