Court Adjourns Bail Plea of Accused in Conspiracy Case, Pending Documents Submission, India

The Delhi High Court has adjourned the bail plea of an accused in a conspiracy case, pending the submission of relevant documents. The division bench, comprising of Justice Siddharth Mridul and Justice Rajnish Bhatnagar, stated that the bail hearing will take place on a day other than Friday. The decision came after the counsel representing the accused informed the court that he would require at least two hours to present his arguments. The court emphasized that all materials relied upon by the lawyers should be on record. During the hearing, Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad highlighted that there are two pending bail applications related to the same case, and the bail application of the third accused may be listed for hearing on the following Monday. Prasad suggested that it would be better to first argue the conspiracy aspect of the case, allowing the court to have a comprehensive understanding of the prosecution’s case. However, the court expressed concerns regarding this approach, stating that it would provide an advantage to the defense. The court remarked that once the prosecution addresses them, the defense can then pinpoint weaknesses in the case. Nonetheless, the court was open to the suggested course of action if the prosecution desired it. Senior advocate Trideep Pais, representing the accused, opposed Prasad’s proposal and referred to FIR number 59 as a blackhole where everything gets dropped. He insisted on presenting his case and allowing the prosecution to respond accordingly. Pais emphasized that he did not want his arguments to be obfuscated by others and highlighted the distinct role he played. In response, the court reminded Pais that the allegations against his client were that the accused acted in concert, rather than independently. Pais countered by stating that he would demonstrate that the allegations themselves were fictitious. The court adjourned the bail plea and granted both parties the liberty to submit any relevant documents within one week. This would contribute to the effective adjudication of the appeal. The case will be heard on a different day, as per the court’s decision. The adjournment provides an opportunity for both the prosecution and the defense to strengthen their arguments and submit any essential documents for the court’s perusal. This step ensures a fair and comprehensive examination of the case, allowing for a balanced view and a just outcome.