IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

221 CRM-M-15141-2026 (O&M) Date of decision: 24.03.2026 ASI Kewal Singh ...Petitioner Versus State of Punjab ...Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AMAN CHAUDHARY *****

Present : Mr. SPS Sidhu, Sr. Advocate with Ms. Payal, Advocate for the petitioner.

Mr. Manipal Singh Atwal, 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.12 dated 15.01.2026, registered under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (amended by PC Amendment Act, 2018), at Police Station City Malout, District Sri Muktsar Sahib.

2. Learned Senior counsel contends that the petitioner has been in custody for 2 months and 5 days. Neither any amount was demanded nor received by him. The amount of Rs.1,00,000/- that has been deposited in the account of third party namely Gurbinder Singh who has not been named as an accused. Challan was presented on 12.03.2026, charges have not been framed and in all there are 25 PWs. He is not involved in any other case.

3. Learned State counsel opposes the bail on the ground that there are specific allegations against the petitioner who was working as ASI in Police for having accepted bribe from the driver of the vehicle which was involved in the accident. However, she is unable to controvert with regard to custody, stage and petitioner being not involved in any other case.

4. Heard.

5. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, in particular that the petitioner is in custody for 2 months and 5 days; not involved in any other case; challan stands presented on 12.03.2026, charges are yet to be framed and there are total 25 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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

24.03.2026 ashok