IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH (218)

Date of Decision:23.09.2025 Sarajudeen …... Petitioner V/s State of Haryana ...Respondents CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE JASJIT SINGH BEDI Present: Mr. Amit Choudhary, Advocate, for the petitioner.

Mr. Viney Phogat, DAG, Haryana.

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JASJIT SINGH BEDI , J. (Oral)

The prayer in the present petition under Section 482 of BNSS, 2023 is for the grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner in case FIR No.31 dated 21.08.2025 under Section 7 of the PC Act registered at Police Station ACB, Hisar, District Hisar.

2. The brief facts of the case are that a complaint was received for analysis with a silver-colored HP 16GB pen drive, as per diary number 2368 dated 18.06.2025 and letter number 3466/comp./187/DACB/HSR/2025 dated 21.06.2025 from the office of the Superintendent of Police, State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, Hisar. During verification, an audio recording of 22 minutes and 8 seconds stored in the HP 16GB pen drive was examined. The complainant-Kanchan Rani, wife of Ravi Kumar, resident of House No. 298, Surajmal Enclave, Hisar, was joined in the verification process. She submitted a handwritten statement along with a six-page transcript of the audio recording. According to the complaint and the statement a case FIR No. 24 dated 15.01.2025 under Sections 318(4) and 316(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 was registered in PS Urban Estate, Hisar against her husband Ravi Kumar, son of Mohar Singh, resident of the same address. On 08.06.2025, ASI Sarajudin Khan from Police Station Urban Estate, Hisar, allegedly took Ravi Kumar from his residence. On 10.06.2025, when Kanchan Rani met ASI Sarajudin Khan at the police station, he allegedly demanded Rs.2,50,000 in exchange for not documenting any recovery on paper and for ensuring her husband's early acquittal. Upon reviewing the audio recording and transcript, it was found that ASI Sarajudin Khan discussed accepting money and manipulating case records to benefit the accused. Based on the complaint, the statement, and the audio evidence, a case was recommended for registration against ASI Sarajudin Khan. The verification report was forwarded to the Additional Director General of Police, Anti-Corruption Bureau (HB), Panchkula via letter No. 4327/A.N. Bureau/Hisar dated 23.07.2025. Approval to register a case under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 was received through letter No. 15587/Complaint/ 389/Hisar/2025 dated 07.08.2025 upon which case FIR No. 31 dated 21.08.2025 the present case against ASI Sarajudin Khan under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 was registered in PS SV & ACB, Hisar.

3. During the course of investigation on 23.08.2025, the statement of complainant Kanchan Rani was recorded under Section 180 of the B.N.S.S. On the same day, her statement under Section 183 B.N.S.S. was recorded by the Court of JMIC, Hisar. On 25.08.2025, Kanchan Rani was produced before the CJM for consent to provide her voice sample, which she agreed to.

4. On 05.09.2025, complainant Kanchan Rani produced an OPPO Reno 12 SG mobile phone (silver) used to record the audio on 10.06.2025, and the HP 16GB pen drive containing the recording. She also submitted a certificate and hash value under Section 63(4) of the BSA Act, 2023.

5. During the course of investigation, it was found that FIR No. 24/2025 was originally registered based on a complaint by Satish Kumar, son of Shishpal, resident of Bhojraj, Hisar, and employee of Galaxy Financial Services. The case involved non-payment of a Rs.14,06,580/- loan taken against vehicle HR33H6689 by Ravi Kumar, husband of the complainant. ASI Sarajudin was the investigating officer and had arrested Ravi Kumar on 08.06.2025. During remand on 10.06.2025, the alleged bribe conversation occurred, the transcript of which confirms that ASI Sarajudin demanded Rs.2,50,000/- in exchange for favourable treatment in the case.

6. The learned counsel for the petitioner contends