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2021 Supreme(P&H) 1138
IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH
Arun Kumar Tyagi, J.
Paramjit Singh - Appellant
Versus
State Of Punjab - Respondent
CRM-M No. 7620-2021
Decided On : 09-07-2021
Mr. Navjot Singh, Advocate for the Appellant; Mr. Rana Harjasdeep Singh, DAG, Punjab for the respondent-State. Mr. Arnav Sood, Advocate for the complainant, for the Respondent
Headnote:
Regular Bail - Criminal Procedure - The court granted regular bail to the petitioner under Section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 in a case involving charges under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, along with Sections 323 and 341 added later. The court considered the nature of accusation, evidence against the petitioner, his role in the occurrence, and the fact that he was not alleged to have caused any injury to the deceased or the complainant. The court also took into account the likelihood of a long trial due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner filed a petition for grant of regular bail in a case involving charges under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, along with Sections 323 and 341 added later. The prosecution version stated that the petitioner and others were involved in an altercation resulting in the death of an individual.
Finding of the Court:
The court, after considering the submissions of the petitioner, the State Counsel, and the complainant, and reviewing the relevant record, granted regular bail to the petitioner. The court noted that the petitioner's role was limited to stopping the motorcycle and removing the key, and that the fatal injury resulting in death was attributed to a co-accused. The court also considered the likelihood of a long trial due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Issues: The issues involved the grant of regular bail to the petitioner in a case involving serious charges under the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and the opposition from the State and the complainant.
Ratio Decidendi: The court's decision was influenced by the nature of the accusation, evidence against the petitioner, his limited role in the occurrence, and the fact that he was not alleged to have caused any injury to the deceased or the complainant. The court also took into account the likelihood of a long trial due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Final Decision: The petition for regular bail was allowed, and the petitioner was ordered to be released on regular bail upon furnishing personal and surety bonds to the satisfaction of the trial Court/Chief Judicial Magistrate/Duty Magistrate concerned.
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.92 dated 03.10.2020 registered under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for short, "the IPC") at Police Station Gardhiwal, District Hoshiarpur to which Sections 323 and 341 of the IPC were added lateron. Briefly stated the prosecution version as contained in the above referred FIR is that on 02.10.2020, complainant Harwinder Singh was returning to his village on his motorcycle along with Daljit Singh.
When they reached at the turning point of the street leading to the house of the Sarpanch, Paramjit Singh @ Pamma (the petitioner) and Narinder Kumar armed with dangs and Rahul Singh Rana armed with datar were standing there. The petitioner and Narinder Kumar came in front of his motorcycle and encircled them. The petitioner pulled out keys of his motorcycle. Narinder Kumar exhorted to teach them a lesson and kill them. Daljit Singh stood in the side after alighting from the motorcycle. Rampal father of Daljit Singh also came there. Rahul Singh Rana inflicted blow with datar aiming the head of Daljit Singh but he raised his hand and the blow fell on his hand due to which wrist of Dajit Singh was partly severed resulting in its hanging from the arm.
Rampal, father of Daljit Singh, took him away from there. Thereafter, Rahul Singh Rana inflicted blow with datar from its reverse side on his wrist due to which he fell down from the motorcycle. Thereafter, Rahul Singh Rana inflicted blow with datar from its reverse side on his back on right side of his shoulder and on right thumb. Then, Narinder Kumar inflicted blows with dang on his right ear and right and left shoulders.
When he raised alarm, the assailants fled from the spot with their respective weapons. Gurpreet Singh got him admitted in PHC Bhunga.
Daljit Singh was got admitted in IVY Hospital, Hoshiarpur where he succumbed to the injury later. The motive for the occurrence was the minor altercation which had taken place between the complainant and the accused some time ago.
The petitioner being in custody has filed the present petition for grant of regular bail.
The petition has been opposed by the respondent-State in terms of short reply filed by way of affidavit of Daljit Singh, PPS, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Sub Division Tanda, District Hoshiarpur.
The petition has also been opposed by the complainant.
However, no reply has been filed by the complainant.
Custody certificate has been filed by the learned State Counsel through e-mail print out of which is taken on record.
I have heard learned Counsel for the petitioner, learned State Counsel and learned Counsel for the complainant and have gone through the relevant record.
Learned Counsel for the petitioner has submitted that the petitioner, who is 53 years of age, has been falsely implicated in the case. In his statement dated 03.10.2020 the complainant had alleged that Rahul Singh Rana had caused injuries to him and had not named the petitioner to be one of the assailants. Even otherwise, as per the prosecution version, the petitioner is alleged to have stopped the motorcycle of the complainant and to have removed the key of the motorcycle. No other over-act is attributed to the petitioner. Fatal injury which resulted in death of Daljit Singh is attributed to co-accused Rahul Singh Rana. The petitioner is not alleged to have caused any injury to the deceased or the complainant. The trial is likely to take long time due to restrictions imposed to prevent spread of Covid-19. No useful purpose will be served by further detention of the petitioner in custody. Similarly placed co-accused Narinder Kumar has already been granted regular bail by this Court vide order dated 30.06.2021.
Therefore, the petitioner may be granted regular bail.
On the other ha
