IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Sr. No.136 CRM-M-13471-2026 Reserved on:-13.03.2026 Pronounced on:-18.03.2026 Uploaded on:-

Whether only operative part of the judgment is Pronounced or the full judgment is pronounced: operative part/full judgment KALVI ASHOKA ...Petitioner Versus STATE OF HARYANA ....Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE MANDEEP PANNU Present:- Mr. Sidhant Vermani, Advocate for the petitioner.

Mr. Sushil Bhardwaj, Addl. A.G. Haryana.

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MANDEEP PANNU, J.

1. The present is the first petition filed under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (corresponding to Section 482 Cr.P.C.) seeking quashing of FIR No. 630 dated 26.11.2024 registered under Sections 111(2), 111(3), 111(4), 111(5), 318(4), 319(2), 338, 336(3), 340(2), 61(2) of the BNS read with Section 12(1) of the Passports Act, 1967, Police Station City Jagadhri, District Yamuna Nagar, Haryana and all consequential proceedings arising therefrom.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioner contends that the petitioner is a police official posted in Karnataka and has been falsely implicated in the present case. It is submitted that the petitioner was not named in the FIR and his name has surfaced only on the basis of disclosure statement of co-

accused, which is inadmissible in evidence. It is further argued that no monetary transaction or call detail records connect the petitioner with any of the co-accused and his bank accounts are admittedly clean. Learned counsel submits that even as per the enquiry report relied upon by the prosecution, at best there may be some lapse in discharge of official duties but the same does not constitute any criminal offence. It is further argued that the petitioner had acted in accordance with the SOP issued by the competent authority, wherein the scope of verification was limited to checking citizenship and criminal antecedents and not address verification. It is also contended that the petitioner has an unblemished service record and has no connection whatsoever with the alleged gang involved in preparation of fake documents. On these premises, prayer has been made for quashing of the FIR.

3. Notice of motion.

4. On the asking of the Court, Mr. Sushil Bhardwaj, Addl. A.G. Haryana accepts notice and opposes the present petition. It is submitted that the petitioner, while posted as a police official at Police Station Hannur, District Bengaluru (Karnataka), in connivance with co-accused Amin Usman Sait and others, conducted false police verification in respect of passport applications of accused persons including Manjot Singh and Khushal Singh Karot, without visiting their addresses and without following the prescribed procedure. It is further submitted that the investigation has revealed that fake documents were prepared and used for issuance of passports and the petitioner played an active role in facilitating the same by submitting favourable verification reports.

5. Learned State counsel further submits that the name of the petitioner has surfaced during investigation on the basis of disclosure statement of co-accused and the same is duly corroborated by other material collected during investigation including call detail records, documentary evidence and the overall chain of circumstances. It is also pointed out that during departmental enquiry conducted by the competent authority in Karnataka, the petitioner along with co-accused has been found guilty of conducting false police verification in respect of fake passport applications. It is further submitted that custodial interrogation of the petitioner is required to unearth the larger conspiracy and to identify other persons involved in the racket. It is also brought to the notice of this Court that the challan has already been presented and the case is pending for arguments on charge and charges are yet to be framed. On these grounds, prayer has been made for dismissal of the present petition.

6. Having heard learned counsel for the parties