Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 2: High Court has granted bail to former Principal GMC Dr Shashi Sudan in alleged date of birth forging case registered by Crime Branch.
After hearing Senior Advocate Pranav Kohli with Advocates Aftab Malik, Farhan Mirza and Vastav Sharma for the applicant whereas Senior AAG Monika Kohli for the Crime Branch, Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul observed, “in the present case, prima facie, no case of forgery is made out against the petitioner as her date of birth certificate had been corrected by the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education following due process of law”.
“The record of investigation would reveal that most of the documents relevant for the investigation have already been seized by the Investigating Agency. The fact that the petitioner is in Government service and there is no chance of her absconding from trial is also to be taken into consideration for the purpose of considering this bail application”, High Court said, adding “the respondents have nowhere stated that the petitioner is hiding or is not cooperating with the investigation of the case”.
“These facts are relevant while considering an application for bail. Therefore, the petitioner has made out a case for grant of bail in anticipation of her arrest under the provisions of Section 438 CrPC”, High Court said, adding “it is not in dispute that in compliance to earlier order passed by this court, the petitioner has already appeared before the investigating Agency and has participated in the investigation. All the relevant documents are stated to have been collected by the Investigating Officer”.
“Thus, this court is of the opinion that custodial investigation of the petitioner in this case is not necessary as a consequence of which the interim bail granted to the petitioner on 12.07.2023 is made absolute”, High Court said.
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