Balwinder Singh vs State of Punjab

Mehinder Singh Sullar, J.—Petitioner-Balwinder Singh son of Teja Singh, has preferred the instant petition for the grant of concession of anticipatory bail, in a case registered against him, vide FIR No. 116 dated 13.04.2014, on accusation of having committed the offences punishable under Sections 167, 467, 468, 471, 201 and 120-B, by the police of Police Station Sangrur, District Sangrur.

Notice of the petition was issued to the State.

After hearing the learned counsel for the parties, going through the record with their valuable assistance and after deep consideration of the entire matter, to my mind, the present petition for anticipatory bail deserves to be accepted in this context.

During the course of preliminary hearing, the following order was passed by this Court on May 14, 2014:-

Learned counsel, inter alia, contended that petitioner is working as a Deputy Superintendent of Police. He has been falsely implicated in this case by complainant-Tara Singh son of Malkiat Singh as a counter blast of case registered against him (complainant) and Jagtar Singh, vide FIR No. 68 dated 12.08.2011 by the police of police station Sherpur, Sangrur and in order to wreak vengeance. He is not in any way connected with the commission of indicated crime. Moreover, nothing is to be recovered from the petitioner. The argument is that since the case was registered in the wake of judgment dated 05.06.2013 of Special Judge, Sangrur against the petitioner, so, the bar contained u/s 195(1) Cr.P.C., is attracted to the facts of the present case.

Heard.

Notice of motion be issued to the respondent, returnable for 26.05.2014.

Meanwhile, the petitioner is directed to join the investigation before the next date of hearing. In the event of his arrest, the Arresting Officer would admit him to bail on his furnishing adequate bail and surety bonds in the sum of Rs. 25,000/- to his satisfaction.

In pursuance thereof, petitioner has earlier joined the investigation but at the request of Investigating Officer, he was again directed to join the investigation, by way of order dated 26.05.2014.

At the very outset, on instructions from Inspector Kashmir Singh, learned State counsel has acknowledged the relevant factual matrix and submitted that the petitioner has already joined the investigation. He is no longer required for further interrogation, at this stage. There is no history of his previous involvement in any other criminal case. Moreover, all the offences alleged against the accused are triable by the Court of Magistrate. Even, since the prosecution has not yet submitted the final police report (challan) against the accused, so, the final conclusion of trial will naturally take a long time.

In the light of aforesaid reasons and taking into consideration the totality of facts and circumstances, emanating from the record, as discussed here-in-above and without commenting further anything on merits, lest it may prejudice the case of either side, during the course of trial of main case, the instant petition for anticipatory bail is accepted. The interim bail already granted to the petitioner, by virtue of indicated order by this Court, is hereby made absolute, subject to the compliance of the conditions, as contemplated u/s 438(2) Cr.P.C.

Needless to mention that, nothing observed here-in-above, would reflect, in any manner, on merits of the case, as the same has been so recorded for a limited purpose of deciding the present petition for pre-arrest bail. At the same time, in case, the petitioner does not cooperate or join the investigation, the prosecution would be at liberty to move a petition for cancellation of his bail, in this Court.