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CRM-M No.7449 of 2026 (O & M) -1-

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

243 *****

CRM-M No.7449 of 2026 (O & M)

Date of decision : 24.3.2026 Date of uploading : 25.3.2026

Parduman Sharma ………….Petitioner Versus

State of Punjab …….Respondent

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SUMEET GOEL Present: Mr. Naveen Bawa, Advocate, for the petitioner

Mr. Jaypreet Singh, DAG, Punjab

Mr. Vishnu Dutta, Advocate, for the complainant

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SUMEET GOEL, J. (ORAL)

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.238 dated 25.10.2025 under Sections 308(2), 351(2) and 61(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023,

registered at Police Station Division No.6, District Ludhiana.

2. The gravamen of the FIR in question is that the petitioner is an accused of extorting money from the complainant on phone to the tune of

₹3,45,000/-.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner has argued that the petitioner is in custody since 25.10.2025. Learned counsel has further submitted that the FIR in question essentially has civil overtones. Learned counsel

ASHWANI KUMAR

2026.03.25 10:50 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

CRM-M No.7449 of 2026 (O & M) -2-

has further argued that the petitioner has been falsely implicated into the FIR in question primarily on account of mis-understanding on the complainant-side, which stands resolved. Learned counsel has further submitted that a compromise dated 18.3.2026 (copy whereof has been appended as Annexure P-3 with the present petition) has also been entered into between the parties. Learned counsel has further iterated that the petitioner is a man with no criminal antecedents. 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 23.3.2026

in Court, which is taken on record.

4.1 Learned counsel for the complainant causes appearance and has

ratified the matter settled between the rival parties.

5. I have heard counsel for the parties and have gone through the

available records of the case.

6. The petitioner was arrested on 25.10.2025 wherein after investigation was carried out; challan was prepared on 24.12.2025 and subsequently filed. Total 12 prosecution witnesses have been cited but none has been examined till date. It is thus indubitable that culmination of trial will take its own time. The rival contention of learned counsel for the parties; including the weightage required to be attached to the compromise dated 18.3.2026; shall be gone into during the course of trial.

ASHWANI KUMAR

2026.03.25 10:50 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

CRM-M No.7449 of 2026 (O & M) -3-

This Court does not deem it appropriate to delve deep into these rival contentions, at this stage, lest it may prejudice the trial. Nothing tangible has been brought forward to indicate the likelihood of the petitioner absconding from the process of justice or interfering with the prosecution

evidence.

6.1 As per custody certificate dated 23.3.2026 filed by learned State counsel, the petitioner has already suffered incarceration for a period of 4

months and 22 days & is not shown to be involved in any other case.

Suffice to say, further detention of the petitioner as an undertrial

is not warranted in the facts and circumstances of the case.

7. In view of above, the present petition is allowed. Petitioner is ordered to be released on regular bail on his furnishing bail/surety bonds to the satisfaction of the Ld. concerned CJM/Duty Magistrate. However, in addition to conditions that may be imposed by the concerned CJM/Duty Magistrate, the petitioner shall remain bound by the following

conditions:-

(i) The petitioner shall not mis-use the liberty granted.

(ii)