NEW DELHI | 3RD JUNE 2025
BACKGROUND
In a significant development, the Supreme Court on Wednesday censured a murder convict, Vinod @ Ganja, for repeatedly approaching the apex court to seek further delay in surrendering before the jail authorities.
The Bench of Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Justice SVN Bhatti expressed serious disapproval after noting that a coordinate bench headed by Justice Abhay S. Oka had already rejected a similar plea on May 14.
“How dare you file this… coordinate bench headed by Justice [Abhay] Oka (rejected it) and you have guts to file it during vacation,” the Court remarked sharply.
PETITIONER’S ARGUMENT
Senior Advocate Rishi Malhotra, appearing for the convict, submitted that the petitioner was only seeking an additional three weeks to surrender, given that his premature release plea is pending before the Delhi High Court and is scheduled for hearing on July 10, 2025.
Malhotra emphasized that the earlier bench had granted three weeks’ time to surrender, and the new application merely sought an extension of that period.
However, the Court remained unconvinced with this justification.
“Filing of present case is absolutely uncalled for, unwarranted and needs to be dealt with strictly,” the Court stated.
COURT’S DIRECTION
The Bench ordered immediate surrender and warned of serious consequences for the misuse of judicial process.
“Accordingly, it is directed petitioner should surrender today itself and the Court will consider what other order needs to be passed in facts and circumstances of the case,” the Court ordered.
WITHDRAWAL ATTEMPT REJECTED
At this stage, Advocate-on-Record (AOR) Sweta Rani attempted to withdraw the plea:
“Lordship, I am AOR in the matter, I am extremely sorry. I may be allowed to withdraw this petition. My humble request.”
However, the Court refused to allow withdrawal:
“Not permitted. Rejected.”
CASE HISTORY
The petitioner is a convict in a 1992 FIR (No. 40/1992) registered at Police Station Mukherjee Nagar, Delhi under Sections 302/307/34 IPC and Sections 27/30/54 of the Arms Act.
He has undergone more than 14 years of actual imprisonment, and 16 years including remission.
On April 28, 2025, he was granted furlough.
The Delhi High Court, while issuing notice on his premature release plea on May 5, 2025, declined to stay his surrender date of May 20.
“Since the main petition is coming up for hearing on 10.07.2025, this Court, at this stage, does not find it appropriate to pass any order or to direct the petitioner to not surrender on 20.05.2025,” the High Court had ruled.
The Supreme Court had earlier agreed with the High Court’s stance but granted three weeks to surrender, which the petitioner again sought to extend on May 27, 2025—prompting today’s censure and refusal.
