Criminal Procedure Code, 1973
Section 438—Anticipatory Bail—Cheating and forgery—Rejection of application by High Court—Appeal—Crime registered for offences punishable under Sections 420, 467, 468, 469, 470, 471, 472 and 120B of IPC—Prayer to quash FIR was rejected by High Court, however, till conclusion of investigation/submission of police report under Section 173(2) of CrPC, protection from arrest was accorded—Submission of appellant that investigation is completed; subject matter of dispute is an agreement, which the complainant party claims to be forged; the agreement is genuine and has been acted upon by the complainant party, therefore, allegations are incorrect—Merits of allegations is not to be tested at this stage—What weighs in favour of appellant is that there was protection order in favour of appellant pending investigation and now, since charge-sheet has already been filed, no custodial interrogation is required—Ends of justice would be served if the appellant co-operates in the trial—Appellant directed to co-operate in the trial and submit bail bonds to the satisfaction of the trial court within a period of two weeks—On his furnishing bail bonds, he shall not be arrested in connection with any coercive process that may have been taken in connection with the trial, pursuant to the charge-sheet in the instant case—Interim protection earlier granted by the Apex Court shall continue for a period of two weeks to enable appellant to furnish bail bond in the terms directed.
[Paras 6 to 9]