Judgment

Mr. Deepak Gupta, J. (Oral):- By way of this appeal, appellant has challenged order dated 14.09.2023 passed by learned Special Judge, Ludhiana, whereby application under Section 438 Cr.P.C. seeking anticipatory bail in case FIR No.84 dated 12.08.2023 registered under Sections 302, 323 of the IPC, 1860 {Section 307 of the IPC, 1860 and Sections 3 & 4 of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities Act), 1989 added later on}[hereinafter referred as ‘SC/ST Act] registered at Police Station Sudhar, District Ludhiana, has been declined.

2. (i) As per prosecution allegations, Inderjit Singh @ Jeeti was the owner of a Banquet Hall, which he sold to Sewak Singh (since deceased) and Pardhan Singh about 17 months prior to the occurrence. However, said Inderjit Singh had not disclosed about the said sale to his family members. Some days ealier, Sewak Singh had changed the name of the Banquet Hall from ‘Dhaliwal Banquet Hall’ to ‘Jashan Banquet Hall’.

(ii) On 01.08.2023, Sewak Singh along with Jatinder singh, Sukhdev Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Sawaran Singh and Pardhan Singh were sitting outside the Banquet Hall, whereas Inderjit Singh @ Jeeti was present in the kitche