Supreme Court Suspends Sentence of Occult Fraud Convict Pending Appeal Before Rajasthan HC

The Supreme Court has suspended the sentence of a man convicted in connection with an occult based money-doubling fraud case, holding that he had made out a case for interference with the Rajasthan High Court’s order refusing him bail. The Court said that considering the totality of circumstances and the period of incarceration already undergone by the appellant, it was inclined to suspend his sentence pending appeal.

A Bench of Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh passed the order while setting aside the April 30, 2025 decision of the Rajasthan High Court, Jaipur Bench, which had declined to suspend the sentence of the accused Santosh Meena, convicted by a trial court in Dausa district for offences of cheating and robbery. The Top Court directed that the sentence imposed on the appellant be suspended and that he be released on bail on such terms and conditions as may be fixed by the trial court, while expediting the hearing of his pending appeal before the High Court.

The Bench observed that the appellant had already undergone around 16 months of incarceration in connection with Sessions Case No. 29 of 2020 and, upon hearing both sides, found that he had made out a case warranting interference.

“We have noticed the nature of crime and the manner in which it was allegedly committed. Having heard learned counsel for the parties, and perused the material placed on record, we are of the considered view that the appellant has made out case for interference with the impugned order dated 30.04.2025,” the order stated.

The Court said that the totality of circumstances, coupled with the period of imprisonment already undergone, justified suspension of the sentence during the pendency of appeal. Accordingly, it ordered that the appellant be produced before the trial court forthwith to enable compliance with its order.

The Bench further directed that the hearing of the appeal before the Rajasthan High Court be expedited and cautioned that the appellant shall not misuse the liberty in any manner and shall cooperate fully with the proceedings. It clarified that the High Court would be at liberty to cancel the bail should any breach of conditions occur.

The order came in a case arising from a peculiar set of facts involving allegations of an occult ritual fraud that had reportedly duped a businessman from Dausa district of Rajasthan. The prosecution's case was that the complainant, who had been undergoing business losses, was introduced by one Kaluram to the accused, who identified himself as Narendra Meena alias Rajesh Meena. He claimed to possess mystical powers inherited from his tribal ancestors and offered to double money through rituals, in exchange for 30% of the profit.

Believing the representation, the complainant and his family agreed to bring Rs. 70 lakh in cash to village Gerota in Dausa, where the accused and his associates were to perform the ritual. The proceedings continued for nearly two to two and a half hours before a staged act was allegedly executed; fake police jeeps arrived with sirens blaring, and persons posing as police officers seized the cash. The complainant's family was told to flee through the back gate and return once the “police team” had left.

When they returned a few minutes later, they were informed that the police had confiscated the money and were threatened to run if they wanted to save their lives. When they resisted, they were allegedly attacked by the accused and other villagers.

The police later registered a First Information Report and, after investigation, discovered that the main accused's real name was Santosh Meena. He was charge-sheeted and tried before the Additional Sessions Judge, Sikrai, Dausa. The trial court convicted him of cheating and robbery and sentenced him to seven years’ imprisonment along with fine.

The Rajasthan High Court, however, declined to suspend his sentence during the pendency of appeal, noting that he was also facing four other criminal cases.

Aggrieved, Santosh Meena approached the Supreme Court through Advocate-On-Record Namit Saxena, seeking suspension of sentence and release on bail. It was submitted that the appellant had already spent over 16 months in custody, that the appeal was pending before the High Court, and that no useful purpose would be served by continued incarceration during the pendency of appeal. The State of Rajasthan was represented by Advocate-on-record Nidhi Jaswal, who opposed the plea.

The Supreme Court observed that it was satisfied that a case for suspension of sentence was made out. It set aside the High Court's order and allowed the appeal. “Considering the totality of circumstances and also the fact that the appellant has suffered an incarceration for a period of 16 months (approximate), we are inclined to suspend the sentence imposed by the trial court and grant bail to the appellant on such terms and conditions as may be fixed by the trial court, pending consideration of the appeal before the High Court. Ordered accordingly,” the Bench directed. The appeal was accordingly allowed.

Case Title: Santosh v. State of Rajasthan & Anr.

Bench: Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh

Order Date: October 14, 2025