IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

107-A Date of decision : 23.01.2026 Date of uploading : 23.01.2026 Ravi Kumar ………….Petitioner Versus State of Punjab …….Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SUMEET GOEL Present: Mr. Sahil Goel, Advocate, for the petitioner (cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:7)(cid:8)(cid:2)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:4)(cid:11)(cid:8)(cid:12)(cid:13)(cid:7)(cid:14)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:5)(cid:15)(cid:14)(cid:4)(cid:16)(cid:17)(cid:12)(cid:10)(cid:9)(cid:18)(cid:3)

Mr. Vishal Sharma, Advocate, for the complainant.

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SUMEET GOEL, J. (ORAL)

1. Application CRM No.2574 of 2026, for placing on record amended head note and amended prayer clause in the main petition has been filed.

Heard. The same is allowed. Amended head note and amended prayer clause is taken on record.

1.1 Present petition has been filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’) for grant of regular bail to the petitioner in case FIR No.10 dated 1.3.2025 under Sections 140(2), 127(2), 115(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Sections 190, 191(3) of BNS added later on), registered at Police Station Rawalpindi, Phagwara, District Kapurthala.

2. The case set up in the FIR in question (as set out in the present petition by the petitioner) is as follows:-

‘Statement of Salim son of Zakir, resident of village Samspur Kala, police station Sarsawa, district Saharanpur, state Uttar Pradesh, age about 27 years, phone number 90270-33155, stated that I am a resident of the above address and we are seven brothers and one sister. My building shop is in Panipat. My brother Kamal, car number UK 08 AS 8389, brand Ceretta, color white, went to Punjab Phagwara on 26.02.2025 for work. On 27-2-2025 at around 11 pm, I received a call from my brother Kamal's phone number 97194-53979 and my phone number 90270-33155 on WhatsApp, but some unknown person called and said that this is the number of your brother Kamal, whom we have kidnapped along with the car, come and meet us. On which I came to Phagwara to rescue my brother Kamal and who asked me to meet my brother Kamal by car and sent me a location for Phagwara. On which I reached the location I did not find my brother at that place nor did I find his car, so I have been searching for my brother till now, but I did not find him. On which I have come to the police station to give information, the kidnapper should be arrested and my brother should be rescued and strict legal action should be taken against the accused and justice should be done, I have written a statement, I heard it is correct, the statement is correct /-Salim Attestation is sd /-Jagdish Raj SI Police Station Rawalpindi District Kapurthala dated

01.03.2025.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner has argued that the petitioner is in custody since 01.03.2025. Learned counsel has further argued that investigation qua the FIR in question is already complete and trial is not progressing and folly thereof cannot be attributed to the petitioner. Learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted that the petitioner has been implicated in the FIR on account of having friendly relations with co-accused Shehzad alias Shahzad Salmani son of Istiaj @ Mohammad Ishtyak. Learned counsel has further submitted that the FIR in question was registered on the basis of a misunderstanding and same has been resolved by way of compromise dated 13.10.2025 (copy whereof has been appended as Annexure P-4 with the instant petition). Thus, regular bail is prayed for.

4. Learned State counsel has opposed the present petition by arguing that the allegations raised are serious in nature and thus the petitioner does not deserve the concession of the regular bail. Learned State counsel seeks to place on record custody certificate dated

22.01.2026 in Court, which is taken on record.

5. I have heard counsel for the parties and have gone through the available records of the case.

6. The petitioner was arrested on 01.03.2025 whereinafter investiga