Allahabad High Court Denies Bail To 4 Men Accused Of Throwing Acid On Woman Bank Manager

The Allahabad High Court on Thursday rejected bail petitions filed by four men accused of subjecting a woman bank manager to an acid attack in 2022 (in UP's Kaushambi district) after she purportedly refused to sanction such loan applications which were not qualified for it. Single Judge Justice Saurabh Shyam Shamshery denied them bail while considering the evidence collected during the investigation about the purchase of acid, the actual involvement of some applicants, and the supporting roles assigned to other applicants. The court noted that there are CDR details, and all applicants and other co-accused are part of a large conspiracy. As per the prosecution's case, the Victim, who was working as a Bank Manager, was waylaid by two bike-borne miscreants while she was heading for her office, and they threw acid on her. During the case investigation, the names of the applicant and other co-accused came to light. They all acted as brokers in the bank to facilitate the sanctioning of loans, etc. As per the allegations against the accused, she was pressurised when the victim rejected some of the loan applications while exercising her duties as Bank Manager. However, when she did not succumb to their pressure it led her to suffer an acid attack. Seeking bail in the case, the accused persons moved the HC to submit that they have been languishing in jail since August 2022 and that there is no likelihood of early trial. On the other hand, the Counsel for the state opposed the bail applications of the accused. At the outset, the Court noted that last month the Supreme Court, in the case Shivani Tyagi Versus State of U.P. & Anr. 2024 LiveLaw (SC) 333 took a strong stance against increasing rape attacks. Further, considering the nature and manner of occurrence, where the victim, being a lady, had suffered an acid attack and is “still recovering from the scars of it” as well as taking note of other factors of law concerning bail, the Court refused to grant them bail. The Court also emphasized that the case victim “had to pay the cost for not succumbing to pressure to undertake an illegal act” to sanction such loan applications which were not qualified for it. The Court, however, directed the Trial Court to make all endeavours to conclude the trial expeditiously, and if the victim's statement has not been recorded to date, it may be recorded within six months. Case title - Man Singh vs. State of U.P and connected petitions 2024 LiveLaw (AB) 295Case citation: 2024 LiveLaw (AB) 295Click Here To Read/Download Order

Allahabad High Court Denies Bail To 4 Men Accused Of Throwing Acid On Woman Bank Manager

Sparsh Upadhyay

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