IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH.

Sr. No.233 Decided On : October 08, 2025 Charankamal Singh @ Bunty .... Petitioner vs.

State of Punjab .... Respondent CORAM : HON’BLE MRS. JUSTICE SUKHVINDER KAUR.

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Present : Mr. Vikram Jeet Singh, Advocate for the petitioner.

Mr. Navdeep Singh, DAG, Punjab.

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SUKHVINDER KAUR , J . :

Prayer in the present petition, filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 is for grant of regular bail to the petitioner, in case FIR No.174 dated 11.12.2024, under Sections 178, 179 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, registered at Police Station City Khanna, District Ludhiana.

Briefly, the case of the prosecution is that the petitioner, along with co-acused namely Sandeep Singh @ Kali was found in possession of 19 counterfeit currency notes of Rs.500/- denomination, while travelling in their Honda City car. On the basis of this recovery, the FIR in question was registered.

Learned counsel for petitioner has contended that the petitioner has been falsely involved in the present case and there is no material on record to show that the petitioner had committed any offence. Rather, the prosecution story is concocted one. Except alleged recovery of counterfeit notes, there is no other allegation against the petitioner. No other criminal case is pending against him. He has further urged that trial of the case is likely to take considerable time. Therefore, the petitioner be granted concession of regular bail.

Learned State counsel, on the contrary, opposed the bail petition while contending that the petitioner may abscond if released on bail or may influence the witnesses. So, he does not deserve the concession of bail.

I have heard the learned counsel for the parties and have also gone through the case file.

The alleged recovery of counterfeit notes has already been effected in the present case. As per the Custody Certificate, which has been placed on record, the petitioner has already undergone custody of 09 months and 20 days, as on 05.10.2025. Trial of the case is going on and conclusion of the trial is likely to take considerable time. So, no useful purpose would be served by further detaining the petitioner behind the bars.

Accordingly, the present petition is allowed and the petitioner is ordered to be admitted on regular bail, on furnishing adequate bail bonds and surety bonds, to the satisfaction of concerned learned Trial Judge/Chief Judicial Magistrate/Duty Magistrate.

However, nothing observed herein above shall be construed to be an expression of opinion on the merits of the case. The observations recorded above are only for the purpose of deciding the present bail petition.

Pending application(s), if any, shall stand disposed of along with the present petition.

October 08, 2025 (SUKHVINDER KAUR)

monika JUDGE