224 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH -.-

CRM-M-5934-2026 (O&M)

Date of Decision : 13.02.2026 Kuldeep Singh @ Soni ....Petitioner VERSUS State of Punjab ....Respondent CORAM : HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE MANDEEP PANNU Present: Mr. Kamaldeep Kumar, Advocate for the petitioner.

Mr. Hardeep Hans, AAG Punjab.

Mr. Sandeep Chopra, Advocate for the complainant.

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MANDEEP PANNU J. (Oral)

1. This is the first petition/application under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail to the petitioner in criminal case arising out of FIR No. 175 dated 08.07.2025, registered under Sections 420, 465, 467, 468 and 471 of the Indian Penal Code at Police Station Tripuri, District Patiala.

2. The brief facts of the case, as emanating from FIR No. 175 dated 08.07.2025 registered under Sections 420, 465, 467, 468 and 471 IPC at Police Station Tripuri, District Patiala, are that the complainant Kamal Thakur moved an application alleging that the present petitioner Kuldeep Singh alias Soni, along with his associates, had been running a fraudulent racket on the pretext of arranging government jobs and transfers. It is alleged that the petitioner induced the complainant and other persons by falsely representing his links with higher officials and assured them of securing permanent government employment.

3. As per the FIR, the petitioner obtained substantial amounts of money from the complainant and other victims, including cash payments on different dates, on the promise of providing appointment letters. Forged and fabricated joining letters, purportedly bearing official stamps and signatures, were shown to the complainant to create an impression of authenticity. Upon verification, the said documents were found to be fake. Despite repeated demands, the petitioner neither secured any employment nor returned the money and allegedly extended threats to the complainant.

4. It is further alleged that the petitioner attempted to misuse the legal process and conduct fraud upon the Court by relying upon forged and fabricated documents as genuine and by initiating or influencing false proceedings to pressurize the complainant and obstruct lawful action. The FIR also reflects that voice recordings and other material were collected during investigation, and the matter was subjected to further inquiry on directions of senior police officials.

5. Thus, the prosecution case, in nutshell, is that the petitioner cheated multiple persons by inducing them to part with large sums of money on false assurances of employment, prepared and used forged documents as genuine, and sought to shield himself by misusing legal proceedings, thereby attracting the aforementioned penal provisions.

6. Learned counsel for the petitioner contends that the petitioner has been falsely implicated in the present case and has no connection whatsoever with the alleged occurrence. It is submitted that the present FIR is nothing but a counterblast to FIR No. 103 dated 03.10.2019 registered under Sections 323, 341 506 and 354 IPC at Police Station Baba Sanaur, Patiala, which was lodged at the instance of the wife of the petitioner against the complainant. The present proceedings, thus, are stated to be mala fide and instituted with an ulterior motive to pressurize the petitioner.

7. It is further contended that the petitioner is innocent and has not committed any offence under Sections 420, 465, 467, 468 and 471 IPC as alleged in FIR No. 175 dated 08.07.2025 registered at Police Station Tripuri, District Patiala. Learned counsel submits that the allegations levelled in the FIR are false, fabricated and based on concocted facts, and no cogent material has been brought on record to connect the petitioner with the alleged cheating or preparation of forged documents.

8. It is also argued that the petitioner has already approached the learned Court below by filing a bail application and has not filed any other similar petition either before this Court or before