216 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of decision: October 08, 2025 Maninderjit Singh @ Shinda ….Petitioner Versus State of Punjab ….Respondent CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SUMEET GOEL Present:- Ms. Jasmine, Advocate for the petitioner.

Mr. Jaypreet Singh, DAG Punjab.

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SUMEET GOEL, J. (ORAL)

Present petition has been filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’) for grant of regular bail to the petitioner in case bearing FIR No.05 dated 26.01.2025, under Sections 25, 25(1), 25(1)(d), 25(8) of the Arms Act, 1959 (for short ‘Arms Act’) and Sections 111 and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNS’), registered at Police Station State Operations Cell, Amritsar, Intelligence Wing (SSOC).

2. The gravamen of the FIR in question is that on 26.01.2025, IO/SI Jagdeep Singh received secret information that Amarjit Singh @ Amar and Jagjit Singh @ Gandhi, members of the Kaushal Chaudhary Gang; Balwinder Singh @ Donny, head of the Donny Gang; and Prabhdeep Singh @ Prabh Dasuwal, head of the Dasuwal Gang, were orchestrating target killings in Punjab through their local operatives while residing abroad. It was further revealed that Puneet Lakhanpal and Narinder Kumar @ Lalli of the Kaushal Chaudhary Gang, along with Harpreet Singh @ Happal and Manjinder Singh (petitioner herein) of the Prabh Dasuwal Gang, had reached Ludhiana with their accomplices Sandeep Singh and Gurpinder Singh to commit target killings. They were acting under the directions of their gang leaders Amarjit Singh @ Amar, Jagjit Singh @ Gandhi, Balwinder Singh @ Donny, and Prabhdeep Singh @ Prabh. All of them were armed with deadly weapons and moving in two Maruti Swift cars bearing registration numbers PB-06-AA-1816 and HR- 95-B-9261, near Haveli Restaurant on the Amritsar–Jalandhar Road. Acting on this information, SI Jagdeep Singh along with his police party conducted a raid at the disclosed location. During the operation, Puneet Lakhanpal, Narinder Kumar @ Lalli, Manjinder Singh (petitioner herein), Harpreet Singh, and Sandeep Singh were apprehended while travelling in the Maruti Swift car bearing No.PB-06-AA-1816, whereas Gurpinder Singh was arrested from the second vehicle bearing No.HR-95-B-9261. Upon the personal search of the petitioner, one 30-bore pistol along with a magazine containing five live cartridges was recovered. Pistols and live cartridges were also seized from the possession of the other co-accused.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner has iterated that the petitioner is in custody since 26.01.2025. Learned counsel has iterated that the petitioner has been falsely implicated into the FIR in question. Learned counsel has further argued that assuming arguendo, the prosecution version is taken to be correct, alleged recovery effected from the petitioner is one 30 bore pistol with a magazinig containing 05 live cartridges. Learned counsel has further argued that mandatory provisions of BNSS have not scrupulously been complied with and hence, the prosecution case suffered from defects. Thus, regular bail is prayed for.

4. Learned State counsel has opposed the present petition by arguing that allegations raised against the petitioner are serious in nature and thus, the petitioner does not deserve the concession of the regular bail. Learned State counsel seeks to place on record the custody certificate dated 08.10.2025, in the Court today, which is taken on record.

5. I have heard counsel for the rival parties and have gone through the available records of the case.

6. The petitioner was arrested on 26.01.2025 whereinafter investigation was carried out and challan has been presented on 25.04.2025. Total 16 prosecution witnesses have been cited, but none has been examined till date. It is thus, indubitable that conclusion of the trial will take its own time. The rival contentions raised at Bar give rise to debatable issues, which shall be ratiocinated upon during the course of t