IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

207 Date of decision: 29.10.2025 Maan Singh ... Petitioner Vs.

State of Punjab ... Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE MANISHA BATRA Present:- Mr. Parambir Singh Ghotra, Advocate and Mr. Arish Bhalla, Advocate, for the petitioner.

Ms. Sakshi Bakshi, AAG, Punjab, for the respondent-State.

Ms. Harmanjit Kaur, Advocate, for Mr. Sarabjit Singh, Advocate, for the complainant.

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MANISHA BATRA, J. (Oral)

1. The present petition has been filed by the petitioner under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’) seeking anticipatory bail in the FIR mentioned below:-

FIR No. Dated Police Station Sections

24 27.03.2025 Khilchian, District420 of IPC and 13 of Amritsar Rural the Punjab Travel Professionals (Regulation) Act, 2014

2. Brief facts relevant for the purpose of disposal of this petition are that the aforementioned FIR was registered on the basis of complaint submitted by the complainant Lovejit Singh alleging that he had contacted the petitioner who was a travel agent for getting a work permit visa for Canada in favour of his brother Prabhjit Singh. The petitioner had told him that he could get work permit visa issued and demanded a sum of Rs.25 lakhs for this purpose. The complainant paid an amount of Rs.5 lakhs in advance and handed over passport of his brother to the petitioner. In December 2020, the petitioner told him that the work permit for Canada could not be issued and assured that he would send Prabhjit Singh to America through proper channel. For that purpose, he demanded a sum of Rs.40 lakhs. On being induced by him, the family of the complainant sold 3 acres of land belonging to them and gave the aforementioned amount of money to the petitioner. However, the petitioner did not get any visa issued in favour of his brother. The matter was reported to the police. The petitioner assured to give back the money of the complainant and told the complainant that the passport of Prabhjit Singh had been lost. The complainant got prepared a new passport. The petitioner again assured the complainant to send his brother to US but could not do so. He also failed to return the money of the complainant. After registration of FIR, investigation proceedings have been initiated and are underway. Apprehending his arrest, the petitioner had moved an application for grant of pre arrest bail which had been dismissed by the Court of learned Additional Sessions Judge, Amritsar vide order dated

23.06.2025.

3. It is argued by learned counsel for the petitioner that he has been falsely implicated in this case. He is an agriculturist. Infact, his friend Harbej Singh Gill was an immigration consultant who had got visa for USA issued for his cousin brother. The complainant came to know about this fact and had coaxed the petitioner to arrange his meeting with Harbej Singh. Only a sum of Rs.2 lakhs that was given as advance money by the complainant to Harbej Singh, was transferred by the complainant in his bank account and the same had been given to Harbej Singh. The amount of Rs.26 lakhs was also delivered to Harbej Singh and not to the petitioner. He was not beneficiary of the transaction and had simply introduced the complainant with Harbej Singh. The brother of the complainant was sent to Tanzania but had to return back as attempt to send him to America could not succeed. A false story has been concocted by the complainant. He has joined investigation and is ready to join further investigation. His custodial interrogation is not required. No recovery is to be effected from him. A compromise has been effected between the complainant and himself. With these broad submissions, it is urged that the petition deserves to be allowed.

4. Status report by the respondent-State and reply by complainant has been filed. Learned Assistant Advocate General, Punjab assisted by learned counsel for the complainant has argued that though the petitioner has joined investigation but did