THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE GOPALA KRISHNA TAMADA CRIMINAL APPEAL No.1296 of 2010 JUDGMENT: TOne Avula Venkata Ramana is accused of having committed the offence punishable under Section 354 IPC. The charge sheets were filed and after committal the same were numbered as Sessions Case Nos.12 and 13 of 2001 before the I Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge-cum- Special Court for Dacoity Cases at Visakhapatnam. He moved applications on 03.02.2003 seeking bail. The Court below taking into account the fact that the said Venkata Ramana was detained in central prison as a under trial prisoner for a long time, allowed the said applications and granted bail on his executing a bond for a sum of Rs.25,000/- with two sureties each for the like sum. The petitioners herein offered surety for the said Venkata Ramana and in that view of the matter, the said Venkata Ramana was released on bail. Subsequently, it appears that the said Venkata Ramana jumped bail and he is not appearing before the Court below to face the trial in S.C.Nos.12 and 13 of 2001. In those circumstances, the Court below forfeited the said amount of Rs.25,000/- which was offered by the petitioners as a surety to the said Venkata Ramana. The said order is questioned in this Revision. Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and learned Public Prosecutor appearing for the State. In my considered view, the Court below is justified in ordering forfeiture. The very purpose of issuing a direction while granting bail i.e., execution of bond with two sureties for like sum is only to see that the accused does not jump bail and if he jumps bail, a heavy duty is cast upon the persons who stood as sureties to produce the accused. In this case, admittedly, the petitioners offered sureties and also executed bonds stating that they would produce the said Venkata Ramana as and when required. When the said Venkata Ramana jumped bail and is not appearing before the Court, it cannot be said that the impugned order is illegal or erroneous. However, taking into account the facts and circumstances of the case, the said amount of Rs.25,000/- which was ordered to be forfeited by the Court below is reduced to Rs.10,000/-. Excepting the said modification, in all other aspects, this appeal is dismissed. ___________________________________ JUSTICE GOPALA KRISHNA TAMADA 02nd November 2010 dr