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Synopsis

The Allahabad High Court recently denied bail to four men involved in an acid attack case against a woman bank manager. These men, acting as bank brokers, allegedly pressured the manager to approve loan applications. When she resisted, she became the victim of an acid attack.

The prosecution alleged a conspiracy involving the present accused namely Man Singh, Santlal, Dharmendra and Dilip Kumar. As per the prosecution, the attack, which took place in 2022, aimed to coerce the victim into illegal loan approvals.

There were also several applications submitted by the victim which indicated pressure not only on herself but also on her family to withdraw the case.

In defense, the counsel for the four accused argued that the alleged motive lacked support by any cogent evidence. They pointed out the absence of eyewitnesses linking the accused men to the crime.

Additionally, they argued that since other co-accused had been granted bail and the victim hadn't suffered severe injuries, the present accused should also be released on bail. 

However, it emerged that some co-accused were granted bail because their names were disclosed in the confession of another accused.

The bench of Justice Saurabh Shyam Shamshery noted that it was a case where the victim, being a woman, suffered consequences for refusing to yield to pressure to approve unqualified loan applications. 

The court underscored that Section 326A of the IPC not only considers a crime when an acid attack causes physical harm to the victim, but also encompasses acts undertaken with the intention to cause or the knowledge that such injury or harm is likely to occur.

Therefore, court held that the present case was not fit for granting bail to the accused persons. 

"The Court also takes note of evidence collected during investigation about purchase of acid and actual involvement of some applicants and supporting role assigned to other applicants. There are CDR details as well as all applicants and other co-accused are part of large conspiracy. The Court also takes note that certain relevant facts were not brought into notice of co-ordinate Bench, which have granted bail to some co-accused," court highlighted. 

Court rejected the bail applications. However, it asked the trial court to make all endeavours to conclude the trial expeditiously.

Court also permitted the victim to avail protection under the Witness Protection Scheme, 2018.

Case Title: Man Singh v. State of UP and Connected Matters