Anil Cheppa v. State of Haryana
In the High Court of Punjab & Haryana
CRM-M 38071/2014
Before Justice Rameshwar Singh Malik
Decided on January 24, 2015

Relevancy of the case: Anticipatory bail in a case involving possession of soft and hard copies of the respondent’s drawings

Statutes & Provisions Involved

• The Information Technology Act, 2000 (Section 66)
• The Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Section 406, 408, 420, 120-B)
• The Copyright Act, 1957 (Section 63B)

Relevant Facts of the Case

• The Petitioner seeks anticipatory bail in FIR number 276 dated 1.8.2013.
• Notice of motion was issued and the petitioner was granted interim protection vide order dated 13.11.2014.
• The petitioner not only made use of the plaintiffs’ drawings but also did not cooperate with the local commissioner appointed by the Hon’ble Delhi High Court.
• Petitioner with the co-accused gave an undertaking stating that he would return the soft as well as the hard copy of the drawing lying with him for more than two weeks back to the plaintiff.

 Opinion of the Bench

• The petitioner has not returned either soft or hard copies of the plaintiffs’ drawings, in compliance of order dated 25.2.2015 passed by Delhi High Court. The court feels no hesitation to conclude that the petitioner has violated his undertaking. He is trying to misuse the process of law. Further, the petitioner is not cooperating with the investigating agency even though the Court had granted him interim protection.

Final Decision

• Custodial interrogation of the petitioner would be a necessity.
• The petitioner is not entitled to anticipatory bail and the petition stands dismissed.