IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

210 CRM-M-29895-2025 (O & M)

Date of decision: 22.09.2025 SUMEET SINGH ....Petitioner Versus STATE OF PUNJAB ...Respondent CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE AMAN CHAUDHARY Present : Mr. Sandeep Wadhawan, Advocate and Mr. Sandeep Singh Majithia, Advocate, for the petitioner.

Mr. M.S.Bajwa, DAG, Punjab.

AMAN CHAUDHARY, J. (ORAL) CRM Nos.33291 and 33292 of 2025 Allowed as prayed for. Annexures P-3 to P-10 are taken on record, subject to just exceptions.

Main Case

1. Prayer in this petition is for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner in case FIR No.07 dated 04.04.2025 under Sections 7-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended by PC Amendment Act, 2018) registered at Police Station Vigilance Bureau, Phase-1, Mohali.

2. On 27.05.2025, this Court had passed the following order:-

“Prayer in this petition is for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner in case FIR No.07 dated

04.04.2025 under Sections 7-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended by PC Amendment Act, 2018) registered at Police Station Vigilance Bureau, Phase-1, Mohali.

Learned counsel for the petitioner inter alia contends that there are no direct much less specific allegations against the petitioner; it was the co-accused who hare allegedly demanded bribe on behalf of the petitioner for not supporting the case of the prosecution in FIR No.157 of 2020. It has been submitted that the person, who had demanded money on behalf of the petitioner, had been exonerated by the investigating agency.

Notice of motion.

On asking of the Court, Mr. H.S. Deol, Sr.

DAG, Punjab, accepts notice on behalf of the respondent-State and seeks time to get necessary instructions.

Adjourned to 01.08.2025.

Meanwhile, no coercive steps shall be taken against the petitioner only till the next date of hearing.”

3. On 25.08.2025, this Court passed an order which reads thus:

“Status report has been filed by learned State counsel. The same is taken on record. Copy thereof has been furnished to the learned counsel opposite, who submits that the petitioner is ready and willing to join the investigation as and when required by the investigating agency and will cooperate.

The petitioner is directed to join the investigation on or before 08.09.2025. In the event of his arrest, he shall be released on interim bail to the satisfaction of the Arresting Officer, subject to compliance of conditions as enshrined under Section

438(2) Cr.P.C.

However, it is clarified that if the petitioner does not join and cooperate with the Investigating Agency as required by the Arresting/Investigating Officer, this interim order shall be deemed to have been vacated.

Adjourned to 22.09.2025.

4. Learned counsel submits that in pursuance of the afore- mentioned order, the petitioner has not only joined investigation but also fully cooperated with the investigating agency. He further submits that in case the investigating agency requires the petitioner to appear, he shall make himself available without demur.

5. Learned State counsel on instructions from the Investigating Officer, affirms the factum of joining the investigation by the petitioner and cooperating with the investigating agency. He also submits that at this stage, the petitioner is not required for further custodial interrogation.

6. In view of the above and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, anticipatory bail petition filed by the petitioner is allowed and the order dated 25.08.2025 granting interim bail to him, is hereby made absolute, subject to compliance of conditions as specified under Section 438(2) Cr.P.C.

7. However, it is made clear that if the petitioner fails to join and cooperate with the investigating agency as and when required, the State would be at liberty to move an application for cancellation of the present anticipatory bail granted to him.

22.09.2025 (AMAN CHAUDHARY)

JUDGE parveen kumar