Ranjeet Singh @ Bhola vs State of Punjab

Gurvinder Singh Gill, J.

By way of filing this petition, the petitioner Ranjeet Singh @ Bhola seeks grant of regular bail in respect of a case registered against him vide FIR

No.33 dated 7.3.2011 under Sections 283, 353, 186, 427, 323, 436, 148 and 149 of Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Section 3 of Prevention of Damage to

Public Property Act, 1984 (Sections 120-B IPC and Section 4 of Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984 and Sections 25, 27, 29, 54, 59

of Arms Act were added later on) at Police Station City, Moga, District Moga.

The allegations, as per the FIR, are that on 7.3.2011, about 200-300 followers of Dera Sacha Sauda, who were armed with ‘sticks’ and sharp

edged weapons had blocked traffic on Moga-Kot Kapura bypass road and had set on fire one Pepsu Road Transport Corporation bus and had also

damaged other public vehicles passing on that road.

While the FIR was lodged in the year 2011, the present petitioner was arrested on 12.6.2018 pursuant to a disclosure statement made by one co-

accused while in custody in case FIR No.79 dated 4.11.2015 registered under Section 295-A of Indian Penal Code, 1860 at Police Station Samalsar.

I have heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and also the learned State counsel.

It has been informed that the challan has since been presented in the present case. It has further been informed that 30 persons have been cited as

prosecution witnesses.

In view of the aforestated position, wherein I find that the petitioner has been behind bars since the last about 4½ months and that the trial in its

normal course, which is yet to commence, is not likely to be concluded in immediate future, since as many as 30 prosecution witnesses have been

cited, in my opinion, no useful purpose would be served by indefinitely detaining the petitioner behind bars. The petition, as such, is accepted. The

petitioner Ranjeet Singh @ Bhola is ordered to be released on bail on his furnishing bail bonds/surety bonds to the satisfaction of learned trial

Court/Chief Judicial Magistrate/Duty Magistrate, concerned.

However, in case the petitioner Ranjeet Singh @ Bhola indulges in any activity akin to the present case, while on bail, the prosecution agency will be

at liberty to seek the cancellation of the order granting bail to the petitioner Ranjeet Singh @ Bhola.

This present petition stands accepted accordingly