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
Patanjali Foods Limited v. Assistant Commissioner CGST, Narela Division & Ors.
A composite demand spanning periods both before and after approval of a resolution plan that took over an insolvent company on a clean-slate basis. At issue: the operative cut-off date separating dues extinguished by the plan from dues still open to recov
Background. Ruchi Soya Industries Ltd. underwent insolvency proceedin...
Read MoreChief Commissioner of Central Goods and Service Tax & Ors. Vs. Safari Retreats Private Ltd. & Ors.
Eligibility of Input Tax Credit (ITC) on construction of immovable property used for renting (Section 17(5)(c) & (d), Section 16, CGST Act, 2017 – Blocked Credit, Constitutional Validity, ITC on Immovable Property)
Case Facts:The respondent constructed a shopping mall for leasing purposes and p...
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