Citation : 2006 Local Law (CG) 61
The Chhattisgarh High Court has granted bail to Amit Jogi, son of former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, in connection with the high-profile murder of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ram Avtar Jaggi. The order was passed by Chief Justice S.R. Nayak, who observed that the prosecution’s evidence was too weak to justify continued detention.
This was the second bail plea filed by Amit Jogi under Section 439 of the Criminal Procedure Code. His earlier application was rejected in September 2005, with the court directing that the trial be completed within six months. The Supreme Court also declined to interfere with that order, though it briefly allowed interim bail for Jogi to visit his ailing father.
When the trial failed to conclude within the prescribed period, Jogi approached the High Court again. His counsel, Senior Advocate Surendra Singh, argued that the delay was caused by the prosecution and that most of the key witnesses had already been examined. Singh contended that the evidence against Jogi was largely circumstantial and that several key witnesses had turned hostile, including those who were alleged to have witnessed or participated in the conspiracy.
The prosecution, represented by the CBI and the State, opposed the bail plea, asserting that Jogi had influenced witnesses and could tamper with evidence if released. However, the Court found no substantial proof of such interference.
Chief Justice Nayak observed that the testimonies of witnesses failed to substantiate the charge of conspiracy. He noted that those who were said to have attended a meeting at Raipur’s Green Park Hotel, where the alleged plot to kill Jaggi was hatched, had denied any such meeting took place. Even the hotel’s manager confirmed that no booking was made on the date in question.
The Court concluded that the evidence presented by the prosecution was too weak to establish a prima facie case of conspiracy or murder against Amit Jogi. It also noted that the applicant was not responsible for the delay in the trial, had no criminal record, and was unlikely to abscond.
Granting bail, the Court ordered Jogi to execute a bond of Rs. 1 lakh with two sureties of the same amount. He was directed to surrender his passport, report to the local police station once a month, attend all hearings, and refrain from influencing witnesses.
Chief Justice Nayak emphasized that the observations made in the bail order should not affect the trial proceedings or influence the final judgment. The ruling marks a key moment in one of Chhattisgarh’s most politically charged cases, which had drawn widespread attention since 2003 when Jaggi was shot dead near Maudhapara Police Station in Raipur.
Case Details : M.C.R.C. No. 850 of 2006, Amit Jogi vs. State of Chhattisgarh and Ors. (03.05.2006)
Counsels:
For Appellant/Petitioner/Plaintiff: Surendra Singh, Sr. Counsel and Pratul Shandilya, Adv. For Respondents/Defendant: Pramod Kumar Verma, Addl. Adv. General, Utkarsh Verma, Dy. GA. and Bhishma Kinger, Standing Counsel for C.B.I.
Relevant Section:
INDIAN PENAL CODE, 1860 (IPC) – Section 439
Acts/Rules/Orders:
Arms Act 1959 – Section 25, Arms Act 1959 – Section 27; Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC) – Section 164; Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC) – Section 313; Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC) – Section 437; Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC) – Section 439; Indian Penal Code 1860, (IPC) – Section 120A; Indian Penal Code 1860, (IPC) – Section 120B; Indian Penal Code 1860, (IPC) – Section 193; Indian Penal Code 1860, (IPC) – Section 218; Indian Penal Code 1860, (IPC) – Section 259; Indian Penal Code 1860, (IPC) – Section 302; Indian Penal Code 1860, (IPC) – Section 307; Indian Penal Code 1860, (IPC) – Section 324; Indian Penal Code 1860, (IPC) – Section 34; Indian Penal Code 1860, (IPC) – Section 427; Indian Penal Code 1860, (IPC) – Section 447
Cases Referred:
Shri Gurbaksh Singh Sibbia and Ors. vs. State of Punjab ; Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal vs. State of Tamil Nadu ; Param Hans Yadav and Sadanand Tripathi vs. State of Bihar and Ors. ; Saju vs. State of Kerala ; Ram Kishan Singh vs. Harmit Kaur and Anr. ; State (Delhi Administration) vs. Sanjay Gandhi
Supreme Court Status:
Judgment challenged vide ( 2007 ) 11 SCC 195 dated: 30.04.2007
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अपराधिक मामला – जमानत – अनुमति – भारतीय दंड संहिता, 1860 (धारा 120-बी, 193, 259, 302, 324 और 427) तथा दंड प्रक्रिया संहिता, 1973 की धारा 439
अपीलकर्ता पर भारतीय दंड संहिता की उपरोक्त धाराओं के तहत अभियोजन चलाया गया। ट्रायल कोर्ट में दायर जमानत आवेदन को खारिज कर दिया गया। इसके बाद अपीलकर्ता ने उच्च न्यायालय में जमानत के लिए आवेदन किया, जिसे एकल न्यायाधीश ने खारिज करते हुए निर्देश दिया कि मुकदमे की सुनवाई छह माह के भीतर पूरी की जाए। अपीलकर्ता ने तत्पश्चात सर्वोच्च न्यायालय में जमानत के लिए आवेदन किया, जिसे भी अस्वीकार कर दिया गया, हालांकि उसे अपने बीमार पिता से मिलने के लिए सात दिनों की अंतरिम जमानत दी गई।
बाद में अपीलकर्ता ने यह कहते हुए पुनः जमानत याचिका दायर की कि मुकदमे के छह माह में समाप्त होने की कोई संभावना नहीं है। यह याचिका भी अस्वीकार की गई, जिसके पश्चात उसने दूसरी जमानत याचिका वर्तमान न्यायालय में दाखिल की।
उच्च न्यायालय ने पूरे प्रकरण की परिस्थितियों पर विचार करते हुए कहा कि अपीलकर्ता पहले भी सीबीआई के समन पर तुरंत उपस्थित हुआ था और ऐसा कोई संकेत नहीं है कि वह फरार हो सकता है। अभियोजन की यह आशंका भी निराधार पाई गई कि अपीलकर्ता गवाहों को प्रभावित कर सकता है, क्योंकि अब जो गवाह शेष हैं वे केवल औपचारिक (formal) गवाह और जांच अधिकारी हैं। किसी भी गवाह ने यह शिकायत नहीं की कि अपीलकर्ता ने किसी प्रकार से गवाहों से छेड़छाड़ की है।
इन तथ्यों और परिस्थितियों को देखते हुए, न्यायालय ने माना कि अपीलकर्ता को जमानत का लाभ दिया जाना चाहिए।
नतीजा: जमानत आवेदन स्वीकार किया गया और अपीलकर्ता को कुछ शर्तों के साथ जमानत पर रिहा करने का निर्देश दिया गया।
