IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

213 CRM-M-11438-2026 (O&M) Date of decision: 09.03.2026 Ram Singh ...Petitioner Versus State of Punjab ...Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AMAN CHAUDHARY *****

Present : Mr. Japjit Singh Johal, Advocate for the petitioner.

Mr. Jasjit Singh, DAG, Punjab.

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AMAN CHAUDHARY, J. (ORAL)

1. Prayer in the present petition filed under Section 483 BNSS is for grant of regular bail to the petitioner in case FIR No.40 dated 18.12.2025, registered under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 as amended by PC (Amendment) Act, 2018, at Police Station Vigilance Bureau Range Jalandhar, District Jalandhar.

2. Learned counsel contends that the petitioner has been in custody for 2 months and 15 days. The mutation for which the alleged amount of Rs.8000/- is stated to have been paid, had already been entered into on 09.12.2025, approved by Tehsildar on 16.12.2025 and the complaint was filed on 18.12.2025. Challan has been presented on 16.02.2026, charges are yet to be framed and in all there are 19 PWs. He is not involved in any other case.

3. The custody certificate dated 06.03.2026 filed by the learned State counsel is taken on record. As per the same, the petitioner is behind bars for 2 months and 15 days.

4. Learned State counsel opposes the bail on the ground that petitioner has been found taking bribe of Rs.8000/-. However, he is unable to controvert with regard to stage and petitioner being not involved in any other case.

5. Heard.

6. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, in particular that the petitioner is in custody for 2 months and 15 days; not involved in any other case; challan was presented on 16.02.2026, charges have not been framed and there are total 19 PWs, the trial is likely to take a considerable time, further incarceration of the petitioner would be violative of his right enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, the present petition is allowed.

7. The petitioner is ordered to be released on regular bail, subject to furnishing bail/surety bonds to the satisfaction of trial Court/Duty Magistrate concerned, if not required in any other case and shall abide by the following conditions:-

(i) The petitioner will not tamper with the evidence during the trial.

(ii) The petitioner will not pressurize/ intimidate the prosecution witnesses.

(iii) The petitioner will appear before the trial Court on each and every date fixed, unless is exempted by a specific order of Court.

(iv) The petitioner shall not commit an offence similar to the offence of which, he is an accused, or for commission of which he is suspected of.

(v) The petitioner shall not directly or indirectly coerce, induce, threaten or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him/ her from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police officer or tamper with the evidence in any manner.

(vi) The petitioner shall not in any manner misuse his liberty.

(vii) The petitioner shall furnish his address and mobile number by way of an affidavit to the trial Court and not change the same till conclusion of trial and if for any reasons, he seeks to change either of the aforesaid, it shall be done only with prior information to the learned trial Court.

(viii) The petitioner shall not leave the country without prior permission of the trial Court.

(ix) The trial Court/Duty Magistrate may impose any other condition, as deemed appropriate while releasing the petitioner.

8. It is made abundantly clear that in case there is any breach of the aforesaid conditions, the State shall be at liberty to seek cancellation of bail as granted to the petitioner by this order.

9. In view of the above, it is clarified that the observations made herein above are limited for the purpose of present proceedings and would not be construed as any opinion on the merits of the case and the trial would proceed independently of the aforesaid observations.

(AMAN CHAUDHARY)

JUDGE

09.03.2026 ashok