IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH.

Decided On : February 21, 2025 Amit Gill .... Petitioner vs.

State of Punjab .... Respondent CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MANISHA BATRA.

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Present : Mr. Sumeet Puri, Advocate for the petitioner (through video conferencing mode)

Ms. Sakshi Bakshi, AAG, Punjab.

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MANISHA BATRA , J. :

The instant petition has been filed by the petitioner under Section

483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS) seeking grant of regular bail in case FIR No.46 dated 02.05.2024, under Sections 489-A, 489-B, 489-C, 489-D, 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), registered at Police Station City-I Malerkotla, District Malerkotla.

2. The aforementioned FIR had been registered on the basis of complaint lodged on the basis of report sent by ASI Maghar Singh alleging that on 01.05.2024, he along with other police officials was present near new Courts Complex, Malerkotla, when a secret information was received to the effect that the accused Rishu Kumar and Lakhwinder Kumar alias Lucky along with their other accomplices were indulging in the business of preparing and supplying counterfeit currency notes in the vicinity and at that particular point of time also, he could be apprehended with huge quantity of Indian counterfeit currency notes. Believing the secret information to be true, a case was registered. The police party immediately rushed to the informed place, where accused Rishu Kumar and Lakhwinder Kumar alias Lucky were apprehended. 570 counterfeit currency notes of denomination of Rs.500/- each, amounting to Rs.2,85,000/- were recovered from them.

The same were taken into custody by the police officials.

3. As per the further allegations, the accused Rishu Kumar and Lakhwinder Kumar alias Lucky were interrogated and they suffered disclosure statements about the involvement of the present petitioner in printing and supplying of counterfeit currency notes. The petitioner was nominated as an accused. He was arrested on 03.05.2024. On conducting his search, 400 counterfeit currency notes of denomination of Rs.500/- each, amounting to Rs.2,00,000/-, had been recovered from him, which were taken into custody. He suffered disclosure statement on interrogation and again got recovered 15870 counterfeit currency notes of Rs.500/- denomination each, amounting to Rs.79,35,000/-. One printer, monitor, mouse, CPU, one smart scanner, one lamination machine, one paper cutter, one screen board etc., which were used by him for the purpose of printing such notes, had also been recovered at his instance and the same were taken into custody. The investigation stands concluded and challan has been presented in the Court.

4. It is argued by learned counsel for the petitioner that he has been falsely implicated in this case on the basis of disclosure statement of the co- accused, which cannot be considered to be admissible in evidence. A false recovery has been planted upon him. Trial will take some time. He has clean antecedents. His further detention would not serve any useful purpose.

Therefore, it is argued that he deserves to be released on bail.

5. Status Report has been filed by respondent – State. It is argued by learned State counsel that there are serious allegations against the petitioner, who, by hatching a conspiracy with the co-accused, was involved in the business of preparing counterfeit currency notes and supplying thereof, thereby causing loss to the Government ex-chequer as well. His activities are anti-national in nature. Trial has commenced and there is nothing on record to show that there would be any undue delay in conclusion of the same. Accordingly, it is urged that the petition does not deserve to be allowed.

6. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the case record.

7. The petitioner, in connivance with the co-accused, is alleged to have printed/prepared counterfeit currency notes in order to supply the same in the market by showing the same as genuine ones. The instru