Allahabad HC Grants Bail To Life-Convict Woman Who Allegedly Killed A Doctor By Chopping Off His Private Part In 2013

The Allahabad High Court last week granted bail to a life-convict woman who was sentenced to life imprisonment by the trial (in 2016) after finding her guilty of killing a doctor (in 2013) by chopping off his private part and later sending the same to his wife.

The bench of Chief Justice Pritinker Diwaker and Justice Nalin Kumar Srivastava passed this order on the second bail plea filed by the convict woman on the grounds of her detention period.

"Considering the totality of the case, in particular, the detention period of the appellant, the fact that the appeal may take some time for its final disposal and judgements of Supreme Court, without further commenting on the merits of the case, we are inclined to release the appellant on bail," the order of the bench reads.

Essentially, the appellant/convict was arrested in the year 2013 on the charges of chopping off the private part of a doctor in a private hotel with a surgical blade. During the investigation, it was found that she had packed the chopped part in a box and sent the same to the wife of the deceased via courier.

Following a trial, the court of Additional Sessions Judge, Kanpur Dehat had found her guilty and sentenced her to life imprisonment in the year 2016. 

Before the High Court, her counsel argued that the appellant had already served more than 10 years of actual jail sentence and since the appeal against her conviction would take some time for its final disposal, therefore, she be released on bail during the pendency of her appeal.

In this regard, her counsel referred to the Supreme Court's judgment in the cases of Saudan Singh Vs. State of U.P. and Suleman v. The State of Uttar Pradesh. On the other hand, the State counsel though opposed the bail application, but was not in a position to dispute the detention period.

In view of this, granting bail to the appellant, the Court ordered for her released on furnishing a personal bond in the sum of Rs.50,000/- and two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the court concerned. The Court also directed the listing of her appeal for a final hearing in its due course.

Appearances

Counsel for Appellant: Siya Ram Verma, Lok Nath Shukla, Mary Puncha (Sheeb Jose), Mohd. Kalim, Pradeep Kumar Mishra, Raj Kumar Tiwari, Vinay Saran

Counsel for Respondent: G.A., Vindhyachal Singh

Case title - Preeti Lata vs. State of U.P [CRIMINAL APPEAL No. - 5365 of 2016]

Case Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (AB) 315

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