Mayank Pathak vs The State (Govt. Of Nct Of Delhi) &Amp Anr
- SCC(2015) 11 SCC 798
- Neutral2014 INSC 498
Ratio decidendi
The rule this decision rests on
Where serious allegations of cruelty and torture, including beatings causing physical injury and miscarriage, are supported by objective medical evidence, anticipatory bail may be denied under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code, notwithstanding the possibility of settlement between the parties, where the allegations themselves wholly disentitle the accused to bail consideration.
Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.
Judgment
As delivered
T1 NON-REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (CRIMINAL) No. 2845 OF 2014
MAYANK PATHAK .... PETITIONER
VERSUS
THE STATE (GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI) & ANR. .... RESPONDENTS
JUDGMENT
S. A. BOBDE, J.
1. The Additional Sessions Judge, Rohini Court, Delhi denied
to the petitioner anticipatory bail, in view of the serious
allegations made by Mrs. Anisha Sharma, wife (respondent -
Signature Not Verified complainant) under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code. Digitally signed by Rajni Mukhi
Aggrieved, the petitioner (Mayank Pathak) approached the Delhi Date: 2014.07.23 11:32:29 IST Reason: 1 High Court. The Delhi High Court has also rejected the
petitioner’s prayer for anticipatory bail, in view of the serious
allegations of illegal demands of dowry made by the petitioner on
the complainant and cruel treatment.
2. The High Court has observed that there are allegations of
the complainant that she suffered bleeding due to beating and
could not save her pregnancy. The High Court has also referred
to the medical record of 6th February, 2013 on which the complainant visited Dr. Krishna Snagwan at Rohtak along with
the petitioner due to bleeding and threatened abortion, which
ultimately resulted in miscarriage. It is thus found that there is
also objective material for denial of anticipatory bail to the
petitioner.
3. As noted earlier, a First Information Report (FIR) was
lodged by the Mrs. Anisha Sharma, complainant/respondent no.
2 with the Crime Against Women (CAW) Cell, Maurya Enclave,
New Delhi making serious allegations of illegal demands of
dowry, beating etc., as mentioned above. Particular instances
are set out in the Order of the Additional Sessions Judge, Rohini
Court, Delhi, dated 21.12.2013 as also the Order of the Delhi
High Court dated 18.02.2014 and we do not consider it
necessary to reproduce the same.
2
4. Suffice it to say that the courts below have found the
allegations serious enough to deny grant of anticipatory bail. We
are entirely in agreement with the observations and prima facie
conclusions of the courts below.
5. In this case, we would like to make a note of the fact that
attempts made to reconcile the parties for an amicable
settlement of the dispute have met with failure, mainly, due to
the denial and refusal of the petitioner and his family to return
the complainant’s streedhan, which according to the complainant
is valued more than Rs. 50 lakhs. According to the petitioner, he
has no such articles of the complainant and that the complainant
has taken back not only her articles but also those from the
petitioner’s family. The petitioner has not agreed to this even
though the complainant has not asserted any demand of alimony
in case of mutual divorce but only asked for return of her
articles. The respondent even complained that the petitioner’s
father threatened herself and her father with consequences of filing the case. For reasons best known to the petitioner, he has
ultimately stuck to his stand and the attempts for amicable
settlement have been unsuccessful.
6. This Court finds it unfortunate that the parties cannot
settle such a matter and the petitioner is willing to fight out the
matter in court. We are conscious that the statements made in
3 the court in the attempt for conciliation are not evidence before
the court and will not be used as such. In any case, we are of
the view that the allegations of cruelty and torture at the hands
of the petitioner and the alleged desertion of the complainant as
a result of beating, completely disentitle the petitioner to any
consideration for anticipatory bail.
7. In view of the above, we find no merits in this special
leave petition and the same is dismissed. The orders of the High
Court and Additional Sessions Judge are affirmed.
..........................................................J. [SUDHANSU JYOTI MUKHOPADHAYA]
........................................................J.
[S.A. BOBDE]
New Delhi, July 21, 2014
4 ITEM NO.1B COURT NO.5 SECTION II (FOR JUDGMENT) S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) No(s). 2845/2014 (Arising out of impugned final judgment and order dated 18/02/2014 in BA No. 2468/2013 passed by the High Court Of Delhi At N. Delhi)
MAYANK PATHAK Petitioner(s) VERSUS
THE STATE (GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI) & ANR Respondent(s)
Date: 21/07/2014 This petition was called on for JUDGMENT today.
For Petitioner(s) Mr. M.C. Roshan, Adv. Dr. Kailash Chand ,Adv.
For Respondent(s)
Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.A. Bobde pronounced the judgment of
the Bench comprising Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sudhansu Jyoti
Mukhopadhaya and His Lordship.
Special leave petition is dismissed and the order of
the High Court and Additional Sessions Judge are affirmed.
(NEELAM GULATI) (USHA SHARMA) COURT MASTER COURT MASTER
(Signed non-reportable is placed on the file)
5
This page reproduces a public judgment and a summary of it. It is research material, not legal advice, and it is no substitute for advice from an advocate on your own facts.
Research this judgment with Miss Lucy
Ask what it holds, what has followed it, and what it means for your matter — in plain English, with the citations.
Try Miss Lucy free