IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of Decision: 23.09.2025.

Paramjeet Singh ...Petitioner.

Versus State of Punjab ...Respondent.

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CORAM: HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE SUKHVINDER KAUR .......

Present: Mr. Aamndeep Singh, Advocate for the petitioner.

Mr. Navdeep Singh, DAG, Punjab.

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SUKHVINDER KAUR , J. (Oral)

Present petition has been filed under Section 482 of BNSS, 2023 for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner in FIR No.93 dated 02.06.2025 under Section 420 IPC, Section 13 of Punjab Travel Professionals (Regulation) Act 2014 and Section 24 of Immigration Act, 2025, registered at Police Station Dugri, District Ludhiana.

As per prosecution case, complainant Avtar Singh made a complaint to the police alleging therein that he met with the petitioner, who is running G.H. Worldwide Tourism Arrival Visa Office at Dugri, Ludhiana for sending his son Varinderpreet Singh to U.K. The petitioner agreed to send the son of the complainant on three years work permit and the deal was finalized for Rs.24 lakhs. On 01.12.2023, Rs.76,000/- and on 10.1.2024 Rs.10 lakhs were transferred in the bank account of the petitioner, whereas Rs.3.5 lakhs were given in cash to the petitioner. However, the petitioner neither got the visa nor returned the money, rather threatened the complainant with dire consequences. The matter was investigated and it was found that the petitioner had cheated the complainant for Rs.9,26,000/-. The petitioner is a Manager of the above said visa office, whereas its owner is Daljit Singh, who had informed that the petitioner was not known to him and he is wrongly using the name of original owner. During investigation, it was found that the petitioner had prepared security documents of Sukhwinder Kaur wife of the complainant by forging her signatures. Hence, the present FIR has been registered.

Learned counsel for the petitioner contended that the petitioner has been falsely implicated in the present case. The petitioner had only provided services to the son of the complainant who himself refused to go to U.K. Even offer letter was sent to him for working in U.K. He has further submitted that the petitioner is not involved in any other criminal case and he is ready and willing to join the investigation and the present petition be allowed.

Notice was issued in this case on 04.08.2025 and status report was called from the State, which was filed on 21.08.2025 in the Court and the same is taken on record.

Per contra, learned State counsel has opposed the petition while contending that on the inducement of the petitioner, complainant paid Rs.14,26,000/- to the petitioner. The petitioner had misused the name of Daljit Singh actual licence holder of the travel agency and falsely represented himself to be the manager. Though some amount had been returned by the petitioner to the complainant but still a balance of Rs.9,26,000/- remains unpaid and as such he is not entitled to the concession of anticipatory bail.

Heard.

As per allegations, the petitioner projected himself as a travel agent/ representative of G.H. Worldwide Tourism Arrival Visa Office at Dugri, Ludhiana and induced the complainant Avtar Singh for arranging a three years work visa for his son Varinderpreet Singh to U.K. for Rs.24 lakhs. As per status report, during investigation the bank record had been obtained, proving receipt of Rs.14,26,00/- by the petitioner. Out of this, only Rs.1,50,000/- was returned through transfer to the account of Sukhwinder Kaur and Rs.3,50,000/- in cash were given, leaving a balance of Rs.9,26,000/- upaid. The custodial interrogation of the petitioner is required for fair and proper investigation in the present case and for recovery of the aforesaid amount and denial of custodial interrogation of the petitioner will adversely effect the investigation in the present case.

Accordingly, the present petition stands dismissed. However, nothing observed herein above shall be construed to be an expression of opinion on the merits of th