High Court erred in granting bail, order of cancellation of bail in earlier round of litigation: SC

The SC on July 12, 2021 {Mamta Nair vs. State of Rajasthan & Anr.} held that  the   documents   already   taken   note   by   this   Court in earlier appeal indicates that there is prima facie material against the respondent No. 2. It was held though subsequently the appellant herein, i.e., the wife of the deceased has been examined and a contention has been put forth with regard to her statement, it is not the   evidence   in   its   entirety   and   it   is   premature   to conclude   on   the   basis   of   a   stray   sentence. 

It was also held by the Bench, comprising of Chief Justice N.V. Ramana, Justice A.S. Bopanna and Justice Hrishikesh Roy that merely   classifying   the   appellant   as   the   principal   star witness   and   referring   to   her   statement   is   of   no consequence since the entire evidence will have to be assessed   by   the   Sessions   Court   before   arriving   at   a conclusion. It was held that if that be the position when this Court at an earlier instance had taken note of all aspects and had arrived   at   the   conclusion   that   there   is prima   facie material   against   the   respondent   No.   2,   the   mere examination of the appellant herein cannot be considered as   a   change   in   circumstance   for   the   High   Court   to consider the fourth bail application of the respondent No. 2 and enlarge him on bail.

In the   instant   appeal before the SC, the wife of the deceased  assailed   the   order   dated 01.12.2020 passed by the High Court of Judicature for Rajasthan, Bench whereunder   the respondent No. 2 has been ordered to be enlarged on bail. Whereas  in   an   earlier   instance   the Supreme   Court   while disposing of an earlier Criminal Appeal No. 780 of 2018 relating to the same incident had cancelled   the   bail,   and   thereafter   the   statement   of witnesses   has   been   recorded - which formed the basis before HC to grant bail. 

In the above background, the SC held that the order dated 01.12.2020 granting bail passed by the High Court of Judicature for Rajasthan, Bench at Jaipur, was   not   sustainable.   The   same  was accordingly set aside and the bail granted to respondent No. 2 was cancelled by the SC. The appeal was accordingly allowed.