Raj Kumar vs State Of Punjab

Manjari Nehru Kaul, J

The instant petition has been filed under Section 439 Cr.P.C. for grant of regular bail to the petitioner in case FIR No. 0176 dated 22.12.2018 under

Sections 420, 465, 467, 468, 471, 120-B IPC registered at Police Station Sadar, Phagwara, District Kapurthala.

Learned counsel submits that the petitioner has been in custody since 16.05.2019 for the aforementioned offences which are triable by a Magistrate.

He further submits that the trial is unlikely to conclude in the near future as only 01 out of the 31 prosecution witnesses cited has been examined so

far. It has also been submitted that it is essentially a civil dispute pertaining to the sale deed in question which has been given a criminal complexion.

Per contra, the learned State counsel, on instructions from ASI Balwinder Singh, has opposed the submissioons and prayer made by the learned

counsel for the petitiooner by urging that the petitioner is also involved in another FIR No.11 dated 31.08.2020 under Sections 465, 467, 420, 409 and

120-B IPC registered by Vigilance Bureau, Jalandhar. However, the learned counsel for the petitioner has urged that the subsequent FIR has been

registered in consequence to the FIR in question.

Heard.

In view of the submissions made by the learned counsel and keeping in view that the petitioner has been in custody since 16.05.2019 and no useful

purpose would be served by keeping him behind bars as the trial is unlikely to conclude in the near future, more so, in the prevailing conditions due to

the outbreak of COVID-19, I deem it a fit case to grant the concession of regular bail. The petition is allowed and the petitioner is admitted to bail to

the satisfaction of trial Court/Duty Magistrate. However, it is made clear that any observation made herein shall not be construed as an expression of

opinion on the merits of the case.