Crl.M.No.M-2964 of 2010 (O&M) -1- IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH. Crl.M.No.M-2964 of 2010 (O&M) Date of Decision: April 7, 2010 Rajesh .....Petitioner v. State of Haryana ......Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE RAM CHAND GUPTA Present: Mr.Jitender Dhanda, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr.P.M.Anand,Addl.AG.,Haryana. ...... RAM CHAND GUPTA, J.(Oral) The present petition filed under Section 439 Cr.P.C. is for grant of bail to the petitioner in case FIR No.188 dated 19.9.2003, under Sections 148/149/186/353/307/506 IPC, registered at Police Station Sadar, Rohtak. I have heard learned counsel for the petitioner and have gone through the whole record carefully. The FIR in this case was registered on 19.9.2003 against the petitioner and co-accused. Petitioner remained absconding and hence, he was declared proclaimed offender. Other five co-accused faced trial and were convicted by learned Additional Sessions Judge, Rohtak, vide judgment dated 6.11.2004. Petitioner was arrested later on and subsequently challan was filed against him. It has been contended by learned counsel for the petitioner that he has been continuing in custody since 4.4.2007, i.e., for the last about three years and that trial has not been completed so far and hence, it is contended that he is entitled for bail. Bail application has been opposed by learned State counsel on the ground that petitioner is habitual offender and that he was involved in as many as 26 FIRs of different police stations and that he is still in custody in Crl.M.No.M-2964 of 2010 (O&M) -2- FIR No.208 dated 6.7.2006, under Sections 306/34 IPC, Police Station Narnaund and FIR No.108, dated 8.4.2004, under Sections 302/376/120-B and 34 IPC, Police Station Narnaund. Hence, it is contended that he is likely to abscond and likely to pressurise the witnesses, if released on bail. In view of the fact that petitioner remained absconding for more than four years and that he was involved in as many as 26 cases and he is still in custody in two other criminal cases, I am of the view that he is not entitled for bail in this case. Hence, in view of these facts and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, bail application filed by petitioner-Rajesh is dismissed being devoid of any merit. However, as the petitioner-accused has been continuing in custody since 4.4.2007, learned trial Court is directed to expedite the trial and efforts be made to conclude the same within four months from the next date of hearing. 7.4.2010 (Ram Chand Gupta) meenu Judge