IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of Decision: 14.01.2026 DHARAM SINGH ...Petitioner Versus STATE OF PUNJAB ...Respondent CORAM: HON’BLE MS. JUSTICE KIRTI SINGH Present:- Mr. Mandeep Singh, Advocate for the petitioner.

Ms. Aakanksha Gupta, AAG, Punjab.

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KIRTI SINGH , J. (Oral)

1. Apprehending arrest the petitioner has filed this petition under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of anticipatory bail in case bearing FIR No. 52 dated 26.4.2024, under Section 498-A IPC, registered at Police Station Women Cell, District S.A.S. Nagar, Mohali.

2. Mr. Taran K. Sharma, Advocate has put in appearance on behalf of the complainant and files his power of attorney, which is taken on record.

3. This Court while issuing notice of motion on 04.12.2025 passed the following order:-

“Prayer in the present petition filed under Section 482 of BNSS, is for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner, in case FIR No. 52 dated 26.4.2024, under Section 498-A IPC, registered at Police Station Women Cell, District S.A.S. Nagar, Mohali..

Learned counsel for the petitioner inter alia submits that the petitioner has been falsely implicated in the instant case by the complainant on the sweeping allegations of demand of dowry and harassment. It is submitted that the marriage between the petitioner and the complainant was solemnized on 06.11.2011 i.e. more than 13 years prior to the lodging of the present FIR. However, during the said intervening period, no complaint with regard to demand of dowry or harassment has been filed. It is also submitted that co- accused i.e. father (since deceased) and mother of the petitioner have already been granted anticipatory bail by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, SAS Nagar, Mohali on 26.7.2024 (Annexure P-2)

Notice of motion.

Served with an advance copy of the petition, Ms. Guramrit Kaur, DAG, Punjab accepts notice on behalf of the respondent-State and seeks time to file reply.

Adjourned to 22.12.2024.

Meanwhile, no coercive steps shall be taken against the petitioner.”

4. Thereafter, vide order dated 22.12.2025, petitioner was directed to join investigation.

5. Learned State counsel on instructions from ASI Karam Singh, submits that in compliance of order dated 22.12.2025, the petitioner has joined the investigation on 05.01.2026 and is not required for any further investigation.

6. Having considered the aforesaid facts and circumstances, the petition is allowed. Orders dated 04.12.2025 and 22.12.2025 passed by this Court, are hereby made absolute.

7. This order should not be treated as "blanket" order. It will not be read granting the petitioner indefinite protection from arrest. It shall be confined to the FIR mentioned ibid and will not operate in respect of any other incident that involves commission of an offence.

8. This order does not in any manner limit or restrict the rights or duties of the police or investigating agency to investigate into the charges against the petitioner.

9. The accused/petitioner shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him or her from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police officer.

10. The accused/petitioner shall not leave India without prior permission of the Court.

11. The accused/petitioner shall join the investigation as and when called by the police.

12. It will be open to the police or the investigating agency to move to this Court for a direction under Section 483(3) of BNSS (erstwhile Section 439(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973) to arrest the accused, in the event of violation of any term, such as absconding, non- cooperating during investigation, evasion, intimidation or inducement to witnesses with a view to influence outcome of the investigation or trial.

Pending application(s), if any, also stands disposed of accordingly.

(KIRTI SINGH)

January 14, 2026 JUDGE Ithlesh