Section 132 of the CGST Act, 2017— Non production of Sureties under Bail order due to COVID-19-—The petitioner submitted application that in spite of bail granted by the court vide order dated 22nd May, 2020 in the case under Section 132(1) Act, 2017, he could not be released for want of sureties as per the conditions mentioned in the bail order. The applicant submitted that Meerut district itself is a "Red Zone" declared as such due to Pandemic Covid-19, so he has not been able to produce sureties and resultantly the applicant could not be released. The applicant relied upon the judgment of the Division Bench of the Court dated 6th April, 2020 in PIL No.- 564 of 2020 which ordered that all the accused-applicants whose bail applications came to be allowed on or after 15th March, 2020 but have not been released due to non-availability of sureties as a consequence to lockdown may be released on executing personal bond as ordered by the Court or to the satisfaction of the jail authorities where such accused is imprisoned.
Held that:- The Hon’ble High Court held that Pradeep kumar be released on bail on his furnishing a personal bond to the satisfaction of the Jail authorities. The applicant shall furnish two sureties within a period of four weeks from the date of lifting of the complete lock-down in the District, failing which the bail granted by this court shall stand cancelled.—Pradeep Kumar Vs. State of U.P. And Anr. [2020] 25 TAXLOK.COM 004 (Allahabad)