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2025 DIGILAW 921 (JHR)

Nikki Kumari Wife of Praveen Kumar v. State of Jharkhand

2025-03-18

PRADEEP KUMAR SRIVASTAVA, SUJIT NARAYAN PRASAD

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ORDER : 1. The instant appeal filed under Section 21(4) of the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008, is directed against the order dated 02.07.2024 passed by the learned Sessions Judge, Chatra in A.B.P. No. 497 of 2024 by which the prayer for anticipatory bail of the appellants in connection with Hunterganj P.S. Case no. 54 of 2023 registered under Sections 370, 370A and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, Sections 75 and 81 of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection)Act has been refused. 2. It has been contended by the learned counsel appearing for the appellants that even if the entire prosecution version will be accepted, no case is being made out attracting the ingredient of Section 370 of the Indian Penal Code. 3. It has further been contended that the rejection of the pre-arrest bail is based upon the reference of the various paragraphs made in the case diary but if the entire case will be taken into consideration, then there is no ingredient of exploitation said to be attracted under Section 370 of IPC as the victim girl has been returned. 4. Learned counsel has further submitted that nothing has been said in the statement recorded under Section 164 Cr.P.C. either by the mother of the victim or the victim so as to attract the ingredient of Section 370 of the Indian Penal Code. 5. Learned counsel for the appellants, in view of the aforesaid grounds, has submitted that instant application is fit to be allowed by interfering with the order impugned. 6. On the other hand, Mr. V.S. Sahay, learned Additional Public Prosecutor, has vehemently opposed the prayer for pre-arrest bail. 7. It has been contended by referring to Page 21 of the case diary wherein the ingredient of Section 370 will be said to be there if the aforesaid content of the said page will be taken into consideration. 8. On the basis of aforesaid submission, learned counsel appearing for the State has submitted that the impugned order may not be interfered with. 9. This Court has heard learned counsel for the parties, gone through the material available on record as also the impugned order. 10. 8. On the basis of aforesaid submission, learned counsel appearing for the State has submitted that the impugned order may not be interfered with. 9. This Court has heard learned counsel for the parties, gone through the material available on record as also the impugned order. 10. This Court, in order to appreciate the arguments advanced on behalf of the learned counsel for the parties as also the reasons of the rejection of anticipatory bail wherein one of the reasons is said to be by making the case of human trafficking of minor girl, is now going to consider the penal offence as referred in Section 370 of the Indian Penal Code along with its explanation. For ready reference, the same is being referred herein which reads as under: “[370. Trafficking of person.—(1) Whoever, for the purpose of exploitation, (a) recruits, (b) transports, (c) harbours, (d) transfers, or (e) receives, a person or persons, by— First.—using threats, or Secondly.—using force, or any other form of coercion, or Thirdly.—by abduction, or Fourthly.—by practising fraud, or deception, or Fifthly.—by abuse of power, or Sixthly.— by inducement, including the giving or receiving of payments or benefits, in order to achieve the consent of any person having control over the person recruited, transported, harboured, transferred or received, commits the offence of trafficking. Explanation 1.—The expression "exploitation" shall include any act of physical exploitation or any form of sexual exploitation, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude, or the forced removal of organs. Explanation 2.—The consent of the victim is immaterial in determination of the offence of trafficking. (2) Whoever commits the offence of trafficking shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than seven years, but which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine. (3) Where the offence involves the trafficking of more than one person, it shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than ten years but which may extend to imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine. (4) Where the offence involves the trafficking of a minor, it shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than ten years, but which may extend to imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine. (4) Where the offence involves the trafficking of a minor, it shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than ten years, but which may extend to imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine. (5) Where the offence involves the trafficking of more than one minor, it shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than fourteen years, but which may extend to imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine. (6) If a person is convicted of the offence of trafficking of minor on more than one occasion, then such person shall be punished with imprisonment for life, which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of that person’s natural life, and shall also be liable to fine. (7) When a public servant or a police officer is involved in the trafficking of any person then, such public servant or police officer shall be punished with imprisonment for life, which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of that person’s natural life, and shall also be liable to fine.” 11. It is evident from the explanation furnished under Section 370 of the Indian Penal Code that the expression "exploitation" shall include any act of physical exploitation or any form of sexual exploitation, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude, or the forced removal of organs. 12. In the backdrop of the aforesaid, we have considered the First Information Report as also the Paragraph-68 of the case diary wherein the statement of the mother of the victim girl and the victim herself has been recorded under Section 164 Cr.P.C . 13. It is evident from the statement of the mother of the victim as referred in Paragraph 68 of the case diary wherein it has been stated that she was the consenting party to hand over the victim for the purpose of her engagement as domestic help on the remuneration of Rs. 1,000 but the girl had not found congenial atmosphere and since she was not happy, she fled away. 14. The victim girl in her statement under Section 164 Cr.P.C. has also stated that she was carried to Bhagalpur for the purpose of taking care of children of the present appellants, but she herself has fled away from the house. 15. 1,000 but the girl had not found congenial atmosphere and since she was not happy, she fled away. 14. The victim girl in her statement under Section 164 Cr.P.C. has also stated that she was carried to Bhagalpur for the purpose of taking care of children of the present appellants, but she herself has fled away from the house. 15. This Court, considering the statement so recorded under Section164 Cr.P.C. of the mother of the victim and victim herself and adverting to the explanation as referred in Section 370 of the Indian Penal Code, is of the view that the ingredient of exploitation as stipulated in Section 370 of the Indian Penal Code is not available herein. 16. This Court, on consideration of the essential elements of the alleged Section i.e. Section 370 of IPC and the factual aspect of the case that the appellants are having no criminal antecedent is of the view that the impugned order needs to be interfered with 17. Accordingly, the order dated 02.07.2024 passed in connection with A.B.P. No. 497 of 2024 is hereby quashed and set aside. 18. In view thereof, the instant appeal stands allowed. 19. In consequence thereof, the appellants, above named, are directed to surrender before the learned court below within a period of four furnishing bail bond of Rs.10,000/- (Rupees Ten Thousand) each weeks’ and on their surrender, they shall be released on bail on with two sureties of the like amount each to the satisfaction of the learned Judicial Magistrate-Ist Class, Chatra in connection with Hunterganj P.S. Case no. 54 of 2023 subject to the conditions that the appellants shall co-operate in the trial and shall not absent themselves on the date fixed without any cogent cause and shall not commit offence of the like nature. In failure, the learned court shall have liberty to pass appropriate order in accordance with law so that trial be not hindered and further that one of the bailors should be close relative of the appellants, which are to be accompanied by affidavit justifying that such bailors are close relative of the appellants. 20. Further subject to the condition that the appellants will co-operate with the investigation and co-operate in trial after filing of the charge-sheet, failing which the Officer concerned is at liberty to file an application for cancellation of bail. 21. Accordingly, the instant appeal stands disposed of.