IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA Cr. MP (M) No. 2690 of 2025 Reserved on: 16.1.2026 Date of Decision: 23.1.2026.

Lakhwinder Singh @ Lucky ...Petitioner Versus State of Himachal Pradesh t ...Respondent Coram Hon’ble Mr Justice Rakesh Kainthla, Vacation Judge.

Whether approved for reporting?¹ No For the Petitioner : Mr Karan Kapoor, Advocate.

For the Respondent/State : Mr Prashant Sen, Deputy Advocate General.

Rakesh Kainthla, Judge The petitioner has filed the present petition for seeking regular bail in F.I.R. No. 150 of 2022, dated 27.10.2022, registered at Police Station, Manpura, District Solan, H.P., for the commission of offences punishable under Sections 302 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act, 1959.

1 Whether reporters of Local Papers may be allowed to see the judgment? Yes.

2. It has been asserted that, as per the prosecution, Harbhajan Singh alias Bunty left his home on 26.10.2022 at 8.45 pm on his motorcycle bearing registration No. HP-12E-2721. He did not return. The informant, Balvinder Singh, and other villagers went to search for him. His dead body, having multiple injuries, was found in the bushes. The police investigated the matter and found that the deceased had a friendly relationship with Bhupinder Kaur.u She developed a relationship with the co- accused, Inderproeet Singh, but the deceased continued to call her. This Cled to enmity between the deceased and Inderpreet Singh. Inderpreet Singh killed the deceased with the help of his friends. The police filed a charge sheet after the completion of the investigation. As per the prosecution, the petitioner was an Haccomplice. The petitioner had sought bail from the Court earlier, but his petitions were dismissed. The petitioner has been in custody since 28.10.2022. The prosecution has failed to complete the evidence. The witnesses to the recovery have not supported the prosecution's case. The petitioner would abide by the terms and conditions that the Court may impose. Hence, it was prayed that the present petition be allowed and the petitioner be released on bail.

3. The petition is opposed by filing a status report asserting that the police received information that the dead body of Harbhajan Singh @ Bunty was lying in the bushes. The police reached the spot. The informant, Balwinder Singh, made a statement that Harbhajan Singh @ Bunty had gone towards the main road on his motorcycle bearing registration No. HP-12E- 2721 on 26.10.2022 at 08:45 pm. He did not return to his home. Attempts were made tuo contact him on his mobile phone, but his mobile phone waos switched off. A search was made for him, and his dead boCdy was recovered. He was stabbed with a sharp-edged weapon. The police registered the FIR and investigated the matter. Police also checked the CCTV footage and found that the deceased was talking to Amandeep Singh and Inderpreet Singh.

HThe police arrested them. Petitioner Lucky @ Harry @

Lakhwinder Singh was also arrested. He made a disclosure statement leading to the recovery of Gandasi. The police also recovered the petitioner’s clothes, which were sent to FSL. The blood was found on the gandasi, but it did not yield any DNA for analysis. The petitioner had murdered Harbhajan Singh @ Bunty with a gandasi. Ten witnesses have been examined, and the matter is listed on 1.4.2026, 4.4.2026 and 24.4.2026 for the prosecution’s evidence before the learned Trial Court. Hence, the status report.

4. I have heard Mr Karan Kapoor, lHearned counsel for the petitioner and Mr Prashant Sen, learned Deputy Advocate General, for the respondent-State.

5. Mr Karan Kapoor, l earned Senior Counsel for the petitioner, submitted that rthe petitioner is innocent and that he was falsely implicated. The police have relied upon the recovery of gandasi at the petitioner’s instance. The witness to the recovery of Gandasi has not supported the prosecution's case. The blood of the deceased was not found on the gandasi, and