Balwinder Singh @ Bholi vs State Of Punjab

N.S.Shekhawat, J

The petitioner has filed the present petition under Section 482 of B.N.S.S with a prayer to grant anticipatory bail to him in case FIR No.57, dated 25.02.2026 (Annexure P-1) under Section 61/1/14 of the Punjab Excise Act, 1914, registered at Police Station City-1, Abohar, District Fazilka.

The FIR in the present case was registered on the basis of the complaint moved by Bhupinder Singh, ASI and the same has been reproduced below:-

"Sat Sri Akal, Station Incharge, Police Station City -I, Abohar. Today I ASI along with HC Manjinder Singh No. 247/FZK, SC Maninder Singh No. 349/FZK, PHG Chander Bhan No. 11088 along with Laptop, Printer and Investigation Kit was present at Bus Stop Seed Farm Kacha for patrolling and in search of suspected persons in a government vehicle Make Bolero bearing No. PB-22R-0873 being driven by its driver SC Vijay Pal No. 1227/Fazilka. Then a secret informer came to me ASI and informed that Balwinder Singh @ Bholi son of Nihal Singh resident of Seed Farm Kacha, Near Canal, Abohar, who is habitual of extracting illicit liquor and after extracting illicit liquor at his Dhani in huge quantity selling it to the customers further. Today also, he has sitting extracted illicit liquor in his house in huge quantity. If immediate raid is conducted then Balwinder Singh @ Bholi can be apprehended along with huge quantity of illicit liquor and Lahan. This act of Balwinder Singh @ Bholi fulfils the ingredients of commission of offence under Section 61/01/14 of Excise Act. Upon this a noting (Ruqa) against above said accused Balwinder Singh @ Bholi is written and same is sent to the Police Station through PHG Chander Bhan No. 11088 for registration of case. After registration of case its number should be informed. PCR Fazilka should be informed through wireless. I ASI along with fellow employees is moving towards the place disclosed by the informer for conducting raid. Today at Bus Stand Seed Farm Kacha, Abohar at 07:30 PM. Sd/- Bhupinder Singh ASI."

Learned counsel for the petitioner contends that a false case has been planted on the present petitioner due to party faction in the village. It fact, it has been alleged that the petitioner is in the habit of distilling and selling illicit liquor at his home, however, not even a single complaint was made out against him in the past. Even neither the petitioner was present at the place of alleged recovery nor he had any concern with the illicit liquor which was alleged recovered from his house. He further contends that there was no other evidence to connect him with the commission of crime.

On the other hand, learned State counsel has vehemently opposed the submissions made by learned counsel for the petitioner on the ground that a raid was conducted at the house of petitioner and during raid, the police had recovered 70 bottles of illicit liquor,1000 litres of lahan (countrymade liquor) and currency notes of Rs.1,10,000/- from the spot. Even, the petitioner is in the business of selling illicit liquor and does not deserve the concession of bail in any manner.

I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the record carefully.

In the present case, from the record, it is apparent that huge quantity of illicit liquor/lahan has been made from the house of the petitioner and it appears that the petitioner had fled from the spot. Even, such huge quantity of illicit liquor/lahan can never be planted and there is no force in the submissions made by learned counsel for the petitioner. Even, in the considered opinion of this Court, the custodial interrogation of the petitioner would be required and the petition deserves to be dismissed by this Court.

Ordered accordingly.