MANZOOR AHMED vs STATE
The petitioner sought post-arrest bail in a case registered under Section 376 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 regarding allegations of Zina-bil-Jabr. The core legal question was whether the unexplained six-month delay in lodging the FIR, delayed medical examination, and improbable conduct of alleged eye-witnesses made the case one of further inquiry under Section 497(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898. The Lahore High Court held that the case warranted further inquiry into the guilt of the accused due to the highly improbable behavior of the eye-witnesses who acted as silent spectators, the significant delay in the medical examination rendering semen swabs inconsequential, and the absence of incriminating recovery. The court established that glaring improbabilities in ocular accounts coupled with delayed medical corroboration justify the grant of post-arrest bail.
- Whether an unexplained six-month delay in lodging an FIR and conducting a medical examination makes a case one of further inquiry?
- Does the failure of eye-witnesses to intervene during the commission of an alleged crime create sufficient doubt to warrant post-arrest bail?
- Can post-arrest bail be granted when the prosecution's story appears concocted and lacks corroborative recovery?
- Section 376, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
ORDER
The petitioner seeks post arrest bail in case FIR No, 593/2007 dated 5.5.2007, registered under Section 376 PPC at Police Station Sadar Faisalabad.
2. Precise allegations against the petitioner are that he on 28.11.2006 had committed Zina-bil-Jabr with his sister in law Abida Parveen.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that there is an unexplained delay of six months in lodging of the FIR. The medical examination of the victim was conducted after the lapse of six months. He further submits that there are three eye-witnesses of the occurrence and one of those is real brother of the victim. The petitioner has falsely been implicated in this case in fact no such occurrence has ever taken place. The petitioner is in jail for the last one year, therefore, petitioner's case is that of further inquiry into his guilt.
4. Learned DPG opposes bail application of the petitioner and submits that the petitioner has committed heinous offence of committing Zina-bil-Jabr with his sister-in-law, which is unpardonable sin and offence. He has also given explanation regarding the delay of six months in lodging of the FIR and has submitted that the complainant did go to the concerned police station for the registration of the criminal case against the petitioner but the concerned police officer was not inclined in registering the case against the petitioner, therefore, she was left with no other option except to file an application to the learned Justice of Peace seeking directions for registration of criminal case against the petitioner which was accordingly given to the concerned police officer and ultimately case was registered against the petitioner. He further submits that the petitioner is nominated in the FIR with specific role and there are three eye-witnesses who had seen the occurrence. He lastly submits that the petitioner is not entitled to be released on bail.
5. I have heard the learned counsel for the petitioner as well as learned DPG and have also perused the record. There are two aspects of the case, wherein it would cast serious doubt in one's mind regarding commission of said offence. Firstly, at the time of occurrence as stated by the learned DPG, there are three eye-witnesses who had witnessed the occurrence but I am afraid none of the eye-witnesses had tried to apprehend the petitioner when very serious offence being committed and that too in the house of the petitioner. It seems highly improbable, implausible and unbelievable that serious crime of Zina-bil-Jabr was being committed and the real brother of the victim being the eye-witness of the occurrence did not try to apprehend the petitioner especially when petitioner was not armed and rest of two eye-witnesses stood there like silent spectators and watched the occurrence and did not move forward to sate the victim from the clutches of the petitioner. Secondly, the medical examination of the victim was conducted after the lapse of six months. Had the story narrated in the FIR been true, then there was absolutely no reason whatsoever to get her medically examined after six months. This factum also does not appeal to one's mind for the reason that semen stained swabs collected from the vagina of the victim after six months are of no significance and are inconsequential, therefore, no reliance can be placed on the medical report as well. The police also did not recover any incriminating material which could connect the petitioner with the commission of said offence.
6. Under the circumstances, story narrated in the FIR seems concocted, fabricated and unbelievable and it is clear case of further inquiry into the guilt of the petitioner. I, therefore, admit the petitioner to post arrest bail subject to his furnishing bail bonds in the sum of Rs, 50,000/- with two sureties in the like amount each to the satisfaction of the learned trial Court/Illaqa Magistrate.
Petition stands disposed of.