HC for a/c-linked proviso for accused at flight risk

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court has observed that in cases where an accused seeking bail is a flight risk or has a history of fleeing from justice, conditions can be inserted that all expenditure incurred to trace the person shall be recovered from him, and the state shall have a lien over his assets to make good the loss.The judge further observed that equipped with a database of citizens, the governments are already proposing social plans of Universal Basic Income (UBI), direct bank transfers of grants to aid equitable distribution.“A multitude of financial instruments, blocking of requisite amounts in the bank account connected to the individual, fixed deposits, payment through UPI interface, etc., can also ensure ease and better compliance. It will improve the possibility of the accused's attendance because they would know their money is safe and accruing interest and the failure to appear shall lead to immediate forfeiture of the money. It is further likely to motivate them to refrain from defaulting even once,” the HC further suggested.The judge has suggested these measures, while observing that the menace of securing sureties by payment is well known.