IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of decision: 23.09.2025 Maninder Singh ....Petitioner V/s State of Punjab ....Respondent CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SUMEET GOEL Present: Mr. Dixit Garg, Advocate for the petitioner (through Video Conference)

Mr. Amit Goyal, Additional Advocate General, Punjab.

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SUMEET GOEL, J. (Oral)

1. Present petition has been filed under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (hereinafter to be referred as ‘the BNSS’) for grant of pre-arrest/anticipatory bail to the petitioner in case bearing FIR No.0077 dated 23.05.2025, registered for the offences punishable under Section 420 of IPC at Police Station Saadar Amritsar, District Police Commissionerate, Amritsar.

2. The genesis of the FIR arises from the statement of complainant Jarnail Singh, who alleged that during the COVID period, he performed volunteer duty at Police Station Sadar, Amritsar, where he came in contact with PC Maninder Singh (petitioner herein), who is currently serving at Harmandir Sahib. As per complainant, he served for around 08 months and during which he submitted a form for the appointment of his son namely Manpreet Singh in the Punjab Railways. In