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Synopsis

A Delhi Court on Sunday denied bail to a lady accused of stealing laptops, iPads from the Delhi High Court complex.

The incident occurred on July 10, 2023 when the bag containing laptop and iPad of a law intern was stolen from the 1st floor of main building of the high Court. The CCTV footage clearly shows the accused lifting the bag and then taking an auto from Gate No. 7 of the High Court.

While denying bail to the accused lady, Duty Metropolitan Magistrate Paras Dalal of the Patiala House Court took note of the seriousness and gravity of the offence and how there was an apprehension that she would commit such an offence again.

“Having considered the seriousness of the allegations, this court deems it appropriate to commit the accused to judicial custody since the apprehension of the Investigation officer is true that once released on bail, the accused may abscond and even threatened the witness or indulge in similar offence vide same modus operandi”, the court said.

“This court is also not convinced with the averments of the accused herself that the woman seen in the footage is not her”, the Judge added.

Advocates Prabhav Ralli and Stuti Gupta on behalf of the complainant (Law Intern), submitted that the accused, Bala Saraswati was a habitual offender and was involved in various incidents of theft having taken place in the Delhi High Court.

The counsels further submitted that such incidents were "creating fear amongst practicing lawyers" who carry bags and laptops on a daily basis.

They also highlight that there is “serious lapse of security” since the accused is not an Advocate having no ID card yet she is seen in the compound of the High Court premises without any entry pass.

Delhi Police while opposing the bail plea stated that the accused has been non-co-operative throughout the investigation. After her identity was established, she was served notice to join the investigation, yet she failed and when the police officials reached her house, she refused to join the investigation and even resisted the police officers in the investigation. Investigation Officer further stated that the accused refused to share her details and as much as failed to provide any identity proof of herself.

While rejecting the bail application, the court sent the accused to judicial custody (JC) till August 26 and directed her to be produced before the concerned MM/Duty MM.

Case Title: State v. Bala Saraswati