Zeba Khan v. State of Uttar Pradesh & Ors.
Facts:
An FIR was registered alleging an organised racket involving forged LL.B. degrees and fake academic certificates used to impersonate advocates.
Respondent No. 2 allegedly procured and used a forged law degree to practice as an advocate and facilitate similar fraud for others.
The Sessions Court rejected bail, but the High Court granted bail relying on disputed documents and claims of innocence.
The appellant challenged the bail order citing suppression of multiple FIRs, serious criminal antecedents, and reliance on forged material.
Court Decision:
The Supreme Court set aside the High Court’s order granting bail, holding it to be perverse and legally unsustainable.
It held that the High Court relied on disputed and prima facie forged documents, ignored material evidence, and failed to consider criminal antecedents and gravity of offences.
The Court emphasized that suppression of material facts, including multiple FIRs, vitiates the exercise of judicial discretion in granting bail.
It clarified that appellate courts can annul bail where the order suffers from illegality, perversity, or non-consideration of relevant factors, irrespective of post-bail conduct.
The prayer for transfer of investigation to a special agency was rejected as investigation was complete and no exceptional circumstances were shown.
Cases Referred by Court:
• State of Karnataka v. Sri Darshan
• Yogendra Pal Singh v. Raghvendra Singh
• Manik Madhukar Sarve v. Vitthal Damuji Meher
• Ajwar v. Waseem
• Mahipal v. Rajesh Kumar
• P v. State of Madhya Pradesh
• Dolat Ram v. State of Haryana
• Prasanta Kumar Sarkar v. Ashis Chatterjee
• Ash Mohammad v. Shiv Raj Singh
• Neeru Yadav v. State of Uttar Pradesh
• Brijmani Devi v. Pappu Kumar
• Disha v. State of Gujarat
• K.V. Rajendran v. Superintendent of Police
• Kusha Duruka v. State of Odisha
Other Case Law
King Enterprises vs. Union of India & Ors.
Validity of "negative blocking" of Input Tax Credit (ITC) under Rule 86A of the CGST Rules, 2017, i.e., blocking ITC in excess of the actual credit balance available in the Electronic Credit Ledger.
Background & Relevant FactsThe petitioner, King Enterprises, challenged an o...
Read MoreInfac India Pvt. Ltd. v. Deputy Commissioner of GST & Central Excise
Refund of wrongly adjusted interest on transitional credit under GST regime (Sections 49(5), 50(3), 140, 142(3) – Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017; Section 11B – Central Excise Act, 1944)
Facts :Petitioner wrongly transitioned balance from Personal Ledger Account as i...
Read MoreKanhaiya Nilambar Jha vs. Union of India & Ors.
: Legality of summons and alleged illegal detention during GST inquiry – Sections 69, 70 and 132 of the CGST Act, 2017.
Facts :The petitioner alleged that GST officers illegally detained him from 17.0...
Read More