The Allahabad High Court has rejected the bail applications of four police personnel in connection with the 2021 custodial death of 24-year-old Krishna Kumar Yadav alias Pujari in Jaunpur. Justice Samit Gopal passed the order on September 30, 2026, deciding four connected bail applications filed by Jaysheel Tiwari, Ramkrit Yadav, Raj Kumar Verma and Angad Prasad Chaudhary.
Background
The case arose from an FIR registered on February 12, 2021, after Krishna Kumar Yadav died while in police custody. The FIR alleged that he had been taken from his home by the SOG team and police personnel and was later found dead. The original post-mortem recorded three ante-mortem injuries and attributed the death to shock and syncope resulting from myocardial infarction. A subsequent medical opinion and investigation, however, formed part of the material considered by the CBI and the High Court.
The High Court had earlier transferred the investigation to the CBI in September 2021 after examining concerns surrounding the investigation by the local police. The CBI later filed a chargesheet against 11 accused persons, and charges were framed in September 2024. Ninety-three prosecution witnesses are proposed to be examined, with 11 having been examined when the present bail applications were considered.
While considering Jaysheel Tiwari's plea, the Court noted material concerning his alleged role in the arrest of the deceased, his conduct during investigation and the earlier cancellation of bail granted to another co-accused by the Supreme Court.
The Court observed:
"After having heard learned counsels for the parties and perusing the records and as per the judgments of the Apex Court as referred to above, it is evident that the present case is a case of custodial death. The case of the prosecution is of the deceased being taken away from his house to Police Station Baksa, District Jaunpur which is not in dispute. An arrest memo was prepared regarding his arrest by the officials of the police after which a GD was also drawn regarding the same. In the arrest memo, the applicant is one of the persons arresting him and is also a signatory to it. His name as such finds place in the corresponding GD No. 005 dated 12.02.2021. The injuries as received by the deceased cover basically the entire back side of his body. The opinion of the Board of AIIMS, New Delhi is specific to the fact that he died due to collective effect of the injuries received by him."
The Court also considered the fact that Ramkrit Yadav and Raj Kumar Verma were seeking bail for the second time and found no fresh ground warranting reconsideration of their earlier bail rejections. In Raj Kumar Verma's case, the Court further held that parity with another accused cannot, by itself, justify bail.
For Angad Prasad Chaudhary, the Court noted that he was named in the FIR, was a police personnel and that the CBI had placed material against him in the chargesheet. The Court found no ground for granting bail.
The Allahabad High Court accordingly rejected all four bail applications. The Court, however, directed the trial court to expedite the proceedings and avoid unnecessary adjournments, recognising the applicants' right to a speedy trial.
Case Details
- Case Title: Jaysheel Tiwari v. Union of India & Connected Matters
- Judge: Justice Samit Gopal
- Decision Date: September 30, 2026
