2025 INSC 385

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

(HON’BLE SUDHANSHU DHULIA, J. AND K. VINOD CHANDRAN, JJ.)

STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH

Appellant

VERSUS

DR. RITU GARG & ORS.

Respondent

Criminal Appeal No.______OF 2025 (@Special Leave Petition (Crl.) No.7422 of 2023)-Decided on 24-03-2025

Criminal

Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, Section 439 – Bail application – Directions - Direction to the Director, Central Bureau of Investigation to register a case based on the statement of one Dr. ‘U’ under Section 161 of the Cr.P.C. and conduct investigation thereon - Bail application stood allowed but based on a Section 161 Cr.P.C. statement, confronted to the Investigating Officer; present in Court, who also stated that the allegations made therein was not got verified from the senior officers of the Government; the directions were issued – Held that there can be no such direction issued in a bail application - Impugned order liable to be set aside to the extent the directions are issued to the C.B.I.

(Para 1, 7 and 8)

JUDGMENT

K. Vinod Chandran, J. :- Leave granted.

2. The State of Uttar Pradesh is aggrieved with the directions issued by the learned Single Judge of the High Court, directing the Director, Central Bureau of Investigation["the C.B.I."] to register a case based on the statement of one Dr. Umakant under Section 161 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973["the Cr.P.C."] and conduct investigation thereon; in a bail application.

3. Shri K.M. Nataraj, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the State took umbrage in such directions being issued in a bail application; which, according to him, has been deprecated by this Court also. The learned Senior Counsel has relied on the following decisions of this Court:

i) State of West Bengal and others v. Committee for Protection of Democratic Rights, West Bengal and others[(2010) 3 SCC 571];

ii) State Represented by Inspector of Police v. M. Murugesan and another[(2020) 15 SCC 251];

iii) Seemant Kumar Singh v. MaheshPS and others[(2023) SCC OnLine SC 304]; and

(iv) Union of India Thr. I.O. Narcotics Control Bureau v. Man Singh Verma[2025 INSC292].

4. It was also contended that the Uttar Pradesh Government had requested the Government of India for a C.B.I. inquiry as early as on 11.10.2022 and on 13.04.2023, there was a communication that it would not be feasible. As of now, the investigation has considerably progressed and transferring the same at this stage, would seriously affect the morale of the State Police.

5. The learned Counsel appearing for the respondent who is the applicant for bail, does not join issue.

6. The State of West Bengal2 held that it was permissible for the High Court under Article 226 and the Supreme Court under Article 32 of the Constitution of India["the Constitution"] in exercise of the power of judicial review, to protect and enforce fundamental rights in general and Article 21 in particular, to issue directions to the CBI to investigate a case even without the consent of the State Government. However, it was cautioned that this extraordinary power has to be exercised sparingly, cautiously and in exceptional situations where it becomes necessary to provide credibility and instil confidence in investigations or where the incident may have national and international ramifications or where such an order may be necessary for doing complete justice or enforcing fundamental rights. M. Murugesan3 was a case in which this Court unequivocally held that the jurisdiction in a bail application ends, when a bail application is finally decided, either granting or refusing bail. Therein, after taking decision on bail application, the High Court had retained the file and directed the State to form a Committee and seek its recommendations on improving the quality of investigation; which was held to be improper, finding no such jurisdiction under Section 439 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973. The said decision was followed in Seemant Kumar Singh4 and Man Singh Verma5; in which latter decision it was noticed that time and again, the act of Courts overstepping the limits of its jurisdiction, has clearly been frowned upon.

7. In the instant case, the bail application stood allowed but based on a Section 161 Cr.P.C. statement, confronted to the Investigating Officer; present in Court, who also stated that the allegations made therein was not got verified from the senior officers of the Government; the directions were issued. We are afraid that no exceptional or extraordinary circumstance has been brought out from the Section 161 Cr.P.C. statement or a statement made by the Investigating Officer, who was present in the Court, without verifying the records. We are also bound by the precedents which unequivocally hold that there can be no such direction issued in a bail application.

8. The impugned order is set aside to the extent the directions are issued to the C.B.I. We make it clear that even the State did not have an objection to the bail granted in the present appeal and in that circumstance, we have refrained from looking at the facts leading to the investigation; lest that, in any manner, interfere with the investigation.

9. The appeal stands allowed as above.

10. Pending application(s), if any, shall stand disposed of.

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