206 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CRM-M-17636-2025 Date of Decision:- 09.07.2025 Keshav Jain ....Petitioner Vs.

State of Punjab and another ...Respondents CORAM:- HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE AMARJOT BHATTI Present:- Mr. Jaideep Verma, Advocate for the petitioner.

Ms. Manjot Kaur, AAG, Punjab.

Mr. Himanshu Chhabra, Advocate for respondent No. 2.

****

AMARJOT BHATTI, J.(Oral)

1. Petitioner Keshav Jain has filed 3^rd petition under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of anticipatory bail in case FIR No. 180 dated 25.05.2024 (Annexure P-1) registered under Section 306, 120-B of IPC (Section 304-B of IPC added later-on) at Police Station City Kharar, District SAS Nagar, Mohali, Punjab, as compromise dated 28.11.2024 (Annexure P-2) arrived between the parties.

2. Facts of the case are, complainant Kiran Devi gave her statement that her daughter Misti, age about 19 years got married with Keshav Jain on 22.04.2024. Marriage party was organized at Katani Hotel, City Heart, Kharar and Keshav Jain’s family had borne the entire expenditure. After few days of marriage, Kiran Jain mother-in-law, Deepak Jain father-in-law, Keshav Jain husband and Kamal Jain brother-in-law started harassing her daughter for not bringing dowry and further stated that entire money was spent by them. Her daughter disclosed about maltreatment and she requested Keshav Jain and his family not to harass her daughter. She further gave assurance that they will try to fulfill their demand. They restrained her daughter to use her phone. On 24.05.2024, she received a call from her daughter that she should come to her matrimonial home as she was facing harassment from the hands of her in-laws family. On the same day, she alongwith her son Ravi Pandey and neighbourer Parmila Devi went to matrimonial home of her daughter at about 01:00/01:30 pm. They did not open the door of the house. On their request, finally they opened the door and her daughter disclosed that she was being harassed on account of their demand for Rs. 5 lakhs and gold chain for Keshav Jain. She also claimed that there was a threat to kill her and her brother-in-law Kamal Jain was forcing her to sleep with him. They did not say anything to them as they wanted to save matrimonial life of her daughter. They returned home. At about 07:00 pm, Kiran Jain called their neighbourer Harinder Singh that Misti had hanged herself and she was taken to Max Hospital, Phase-6, Mohali. She alongwith her family members reached hospital where her daughter was lying dead. Complainant alleged that her daughter was maltreated on account of demand of dowry, as a result, she has ended her life. With these allegations, present FIR was registered.

3. Learned counsel for petitioner argued that allegations levelled against petitioner are false. FIR has been registered due to some misunderstanding. Earlier anticipatory bail petition was withdrawn and second anticipatory bail petition was declined. Due to changed circumstances, this is 3^rd anticipatory bail petition filed by petitioner. Learned counsel for petitioner pointed out that matter has been compromised with complainant. Copy of Compromise Deed is Annexure P-2. Supplementary statement of complainant has been recorded as Annexure R-1, which is in favour of petitioner and other members of in- laws family. Complainant confirmed that FIR was lodged due to misunderstanding and it is categorically mentioned that alleged victim was living happily in matrimonial home and she had no complaint against her husband or any other member of in-laws family.

4. Mr. Himanshu Chhabra, Advocate appearing on behalf of respondent No. 2-complainant also supported the case of petitioner.

5. Learned counsel representing State filed status report giving detail of the facts mentioned in FIR. It is pointed out that there are specific allegations of maltreatment on account of demand for cash of Rs. 5 lakhs and a gold chain for petitioner. There are allegations against