IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

201 Date of decision: 16.01.2026 SATPAL SINGH @ BITTU ….Petitioner Versus STATE OF PUNJAB ....Respondent CORAM:- HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE RUPINDERJIT CHAHAL Present:- Mr. Parvesh, Advocate for Mr. APS Rehan, Advocate for the petitioner.

Mr. Amit Shukla, DAG, Punjab.

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RUPINDERJIT CHAHAL, J. (ORAL)

1. Through the instant petition filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (For short “BNSS”), the petitioner seeks anticipatory bail in case FIR No.132, dated 30.06.2024, registered under Sections 420, 406 IPC and Section 13 of the Punjab Travel Professionals (Regulation) Act, 2014, at Police Station Dasuya, District Hoshiarpur.

2. On 03.12.2025, following order was passed by this Court: -

“Prayer in the present petition filed under Section 482 of the BNSS, 2023 is for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner in case FIR No.132, dated 30.06.2024, registered under Sections 420, 406 IPC and Section 13 of the Punjab Travel Professionals (Regulation) Act, 2014, at Police Station Dasuya, District Hoshiarpur.

Brief facts as per the prosecution case are that the petitioner along with co-accused cheated the complainant- Parveen Kumar and the complainant paid Rs.1,00,000/- to petitioner out of total deal of Rs.9,00,000/- on the pretext of sending him abroad. Hence, the present FIR.

Learned counsel for the petitioner contends that the petitioner has been falsely implicated in the present case. He further contends that the petitioner is not a travel agent and suffering from a chronic kidney disease and is on dialysis. Learned counsel further contends that the petitioner took a friendly loan for an amount of Rs.1,00,000/- from the complainant and out of which Rs.50,000/- has been paid to him. No recovery is to be effected from the petitioner. Learned counsel has submitted that the petitioner is ready and willing to join the investigation as and when called upon to do so by the investigating agency.

Learned Learned State counsel has vehemently opposed the prayer for grant of bail by submitting that the offence committed by the petitioner is serious in nature. He has submitted that the allegation against the petitioner is that he has taken Rs.1,00,000/- from the complainant on the pretext of getting him Visa of Italy but neither got him visa nor returned the said amount to complainant. The petitioner is also found to be doing the work of travel agent without any valid licence. Hence, the custodial interrogation of the petitioner is very much required.

Adjourned to 19.12.2025.

In the meantime, the petitioner is directed to join investigation within a week from today and would appear as and when required by the Investigating Officer and cooperate with the Investigating Agency. In the event of arrest, he shall be admitted to interim bail on furnishing of bail/surety bonds to the satisfaction of Arresting/Investigating Officer. The petitioner shall also abide by the conditions as envisaged under Section 482(2) of BNSS, 2023.”

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that in compliance of the order dated 03.12.2025 passed by this Court, the petitioner has joined the investigation.

4. Learned counsel for the State, on instructions from ASI Anil Kumar, has submitted that the petitioner has joined the investigation and is no longer required for further investigation.

5. In view of the statement made by learned State counsel, the interim order dated 03.12.2025 passed by this Court, is made absolute. The petitioner shall continue to join investigation, as and when called by the Investigating Officer and shall also abide by the conditions as provided under Section 482(2) of the BNSS.

(RUPINDERJIT CHAHAL)

16.01.2026 JUDGE Gurpreet