210 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CRM-M-45039-2025 Date of decision: 22.09.2025 Vinod ...Petitioner Versus State of Punjab ...Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE SHALINI SINGH NAGPAL Present: Mr. Rajesh Bansal, Advocate for petitioner.

Mr. Hardeep Singh Wadhwa, DAG Punjab.

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SHALINI SINGH NAGPAL J.

1. Petitioner seeks anticipatory bail in FIR No.0013 dated 10.06.2025, under Sections 85, 316(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Police Station Women, District Bathinda. This is his first petition for anticipatory bail.

2. While issuing notice of motion on 19.08.2025, the following order was passed:-

“First petition under Section 482 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, has been filed by the petitioner for grant of anticipatory bail in case arising out of FIR No.0013, dated 10.06.2025, registered under Section 85, 316(2) of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, at Police Station P.S.Women, District Bathinda.

It has been argued that the parties were married on

15.03.2020 and petitioner is the husband of complainant. It was further submitted that first complaint against the petitioner was filed by respondent no.2 on 12.07.2023, however, she did not join investigation and police filed closure report in the matter on 25.12.2024 (Annexure P- 4). It was further argued that two more complaints were filed by the wife before various authorities which were clubbed together. During enquiry, in those complaints a compromise was effected on 15.04.2025 and was reduced into writing, vide Annexure P-5. By virtue of the compromise, the petitioner agreed to pay Rs.15,00,000/- as settlement money to respondent no.2, in the petition under Section 13-B of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, to be filed by the parties. Learned counsel further submitted that draft of Rs.7,50,000/- had already been prepared and copy thereof was appended with the petition. The present FIR was nothing but device to extract more money from the petitioner. It was further submitted that all the previous facts regarding the complaints and settlement were withheld and suppressed by the complainant in the FIR and the criminal case was filed only to harass the petitioner.

Notice of motion.

On asking of the Court, Mr. Hardeep Singh Wadhwa, Sr. DAG, Punjab, accepts notice on behalf of the State and prays for time to file status report.

Let status report be filed by the Police on

22.09.2025.

Meanwhile, petitioner is directed to surrender in Police Station, Bathinda, within a week and join investigation. In the event of arrest, he shall be released on interim bail, subject to his furnishing personal/surety bonds to the satisfaction of the Arresting/Investigating Officer. He shall abide by the conditions as envisaged under Section 482(2) of Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.”

3. Vide order of this court dated 19.08.2025, the petitioner was ordered to be released on interim bail, on his furnishing adequate bail/surety bonds to the satisfaction of Arresting Officer/Investigating Officer, subject to the conditions as envisaged under Section 482(2) of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. He was directed to appear before Investigating Officer and join investigation.

4. Status report by way of affidavit of Sh. Ishan Singla, PPS, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Crime against Women and Children, District Bathinda has been filed, which is taken on record. Learned State counsel, on instructions from the Investigating Officer ASI Baljeet Singh, has submitted that petitioner has joined investigation on 26.08.2025. He however submits that some dowry articles are yet to be recovered from the petitioner.

5. Benefit of anticipatory bail cannot be withheld only for the reason that some dowry articles are yet to be recovered. Considering the entire facts and circumstances of the case, as enumerated above, but without commenting on merits, order dated 19.08.2025, granting interim anticipatory bail to the petitioner is made absolute, subject to conditions laid down in Sect