SC directs Haryana Police to produce murder accused after ‘victory procession’

The Supreme Court directed Haryana Police to execute a non-bailable warrant against murder accused Vishal and produce him before the court on September 21. The order came after the court took exception to his alleged “victory procession” following his bail

New Delhi: Taking a stern view of a murder accused taking out a “victory procession” after being granted bail by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Supreme Court has directed Haryana Police to produce him before the court.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta also recorded in its order that despite a non-bailable warrant being issued against the accused, he had not been produced in custody.

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The bench took note of the submission of counsel for the complainant that the accused, Vishal, had taken out a “victory procession” after being granted bail by the High Court and had threatened witnesses.

On September 8, when the matter was taken up for hearing, the bench noted that the accused was represented through his counsel.

The bench directed Vishal to surrender and then seek bail, pulling him up for taking out the “victory procession” after being granted bail.

“We will hear you once you surrender and then seek bail. Taking out a victory procession on bail is not right,” it said.

The bench noted that the non-bailable arrest warrant issued in August had not been executed and the accused had not been arrested by the police. It added that the warrant could not be executed for reasons that the court was not going into at present.

“However, we direct the superintendent of police, district Charkhi Dadri, Haryana to ensure that a non-bailable warrant is executed and respondent no 2 is produced before this court on the next date, which is being fixed as September 21, 2026,” the top court ordered.

It directed the registry to forward a copy of the order to the SP within 24 hours by email and other modes.

The High Court granted bail to the accused in the murder case on April 23.

The incident took place on October 27, 2022, following which Vishal was arrested and remained in custody for more than three years.

The altercation between the accused and family members of the complainant, Rajbala, took place after Vishal allegedly started constructing tin sheds on a disputed plot of land.

During a heated exchange, Vishal allegedly hit several people with a lathi and an axe, grievously injuring several persons belonging to the complainant’s side, one of whom later died.

The High Court had rejected Vishal’s bail petition four times but accepted it the fifth time after it was pointed out that material witnesses had been examined in the case and he had spent more than three years in custody.