Sandeep Kumar vs. State NCT of Delhi
Background
The applicant was accused of, along with a co-accused, forcibly entering a complainant's car after a cash payment for jewellery was delivered, impersonating police officers, abducting the complainant and his brother at gunpoint, and robbing them of roughly ₹40 lakh in cash, phones, a watch and jewellery, besides the car itself. A Test Identification Parade (TIP) of both the applicant and the robbed articles had succeeded, and one co-accused remained absconding.
Decision Breakdown
The Court found the offence, impersonating police, abduction, and armed robbery, to be serious, with charges yet to be framed and a real risk the applicant could pressure the complainant if released. Given the successful TIP identifications, CCTV evidence still awaiting forensic results, and the applicant's own allegedly fake Aadhar identity document, the Court declined to grant bail and dismissed the application.
Lesson Learnt
In cases involving serious, violent crimes with strong corroborating identification evidence and a real risk of witness pressure, courts are far less willing to grant bail even where the trial has not yet formally begun.