Priti vs State Of Punjab

Hari Pal Verma, J

The matter has been taken up for hearing through video conferencing due to outbreak of COVID-19.

Prayer in this petition filed under Section 439 Cr.P.C. is for grant of regular bail to the petitioner in FIR No.222 dated 16.09.2020 under Sections 454,

380, 342 IPC (the offences under Sections 379-B, 120-B, 411 IPC were added later on), registered at Police Station Model Town, District Hoshiarpur.

Learned counsel for the petitioner has argued that the petitioner is in custody since 21.09.2020. He submits that other co-accused Harjinder Singh @

Kaka has been granted bail by the trial court, whereas other co-accused Ranjit Singh @ Jeetu has been admitted on bail by this Court vide order dated

05.11.2020 passed by this Court in CRM-M-34564-2020 (Ranjit Singh Versus State of Punjab) and trial in the case is not likely to be concluded in the

near future.

Learned State Counsel, on instructions from ASI Jugraj Singh, does not dispute the custody of the petitioner and the fact that co-accused Harjinder

Singh @ Kaka and Ranjit Singh @ Jeetu have been admitted on bail.

Heard learned counsel for the parties.

Petitioner is in custody since 21.09.2020. Co-accused Harjinder Singh @ Kaka has been granted bail by the trial Court, whereas co-accused Ranjit

Singh @ Jeetu has already been admitted on bail by this Court vide order dated 05.11.2020. Moreover, in view of COVID-19 pandemic, conclusion of

trial will take sufficient long time. Thus, this Court deems it appropriate to admit the petitioner on bail.

Accordingly, the present petition is allowed and the petitioner is admitted on regular bail, subject to her furnishing adequate bail bonds/surety bonds to

the satisfaction of trial Court/Duty Magistrate.

However, it is made clear that the observations made hereinabove shall not be construed as an expression on the merits of the case and the trial Court

shall proceed with the trial independently without being influenced by the order of bail passed by this Court.