JUDGMENT

Arun Kumar Tyagi, J. (Oral). - (The case has been taken up for hearing through video conferencing.)

The petitioner has filed the present (first) petition under Section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 for grant of regular bail in case FIR No.154 dated 11.06.2020 registered under Section 61 of the Punjab Excise Act, 1914 at Police Station Shahkot, District Jalandhar Rural.

Briefly stated, the facts relevant for disposal of the present case are that on 11.06.2020 secret information was received by police party headed by ASI Balwinder Singh that Satnam Singh @ Satpal Singh @ Sattu Nihang (the petitioner) and his maternal nephews Jinder and Babbi were distilling illicit liquor at the banks of river Sutlej. The above said FIR was registered on the basis of secret information. Raid was accordingly conducted. All the three above named persons, who were identified by HC Sukhwinder Singh and S/CT Harish Kumar, allegedly escaped from the spot on seeing the police party. Two iron drums, working stills, six tarpaulin plastic containing 500 litres of lahan and one rubber tube containing illicit liquor were recovered. Sample of illicit liquor was taken and the same was measured