IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATES OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CRM-M-71380-2025 (O&M)

Date of decision: 16.01.2026 Harjit Singh ...Petitioner Versus State of Punjab ...Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE MANISHA BATRA Present:- Ms. Khushboo Mishra, Advocate for the petitioner.

Ms. Ruchika Sabherwal, Senior DAG, Punjab.

MANISHA BATRA, J. (Oral)

1. Prayer in this petition, filed under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’), is for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner in FIR No. 27 dated 01.04.2024, registered under Sections

420 and 120-B of IPC at Police Station Dhariwal, District Gurdaspur.

2. The aforementioned FIR was registered on the basis of a written complaint submitted by complainant Sourav Sharma alleging that Hardeep Kaur, sister of the present petitioner, was living in his neighbourhood and had allured him by saying that the petitioner was recruited in Punjab Police and could also get him (complainant) recruited as he was having connections with senior officer of the Police Department. The petitioner and his sister thereafter induced the complainant to part with an amount of Rs.12 Lakhs on the premise of getting him appointed in Punjab Police. They also gave an appointment letter to him and he was even made to undergo some training at Amritsar and Phillaur. Salary of one month was also got paid to him. Subsequently, the complainant came to know that the appointment letter was fake and the training imparted to him was also managed by the petitioner and co-accused and it was bogus. By alleging that wrongful loss of money has been caused to him by the petitioner and co-accused with dishonest intention, he prayed for taking action in the matter. After registration of the FIR, investigation proceedings have been initiated and are underway. The petitioner had filed a petition previously also but the same was withdrawn with liberty to file afresh. 3. It is argued by learned counsel for the petitioner that he has been falsely implicated in this case. There is inordinate delay in lodging of the FIR. He is not the beneficiary of any transaction since no money had been given to him. Even otherwise, a compromise has been effected between his sister and the complainant. The petitioner is ready to join the investigation. His custodial interrogation is not required. No recovery is to be effected from him. Therefore, it is urged that the petition deserves to be allowed and the petitioner deserves to be granted concession of anticipatory bail.

4. Notice of motion.

5. Learned State counsel has advance notice of the petition and is ready to argue the matter. She has submitted that there are specific and serious allegations against the petitioner, who in connivance with his sister, duped the complainant of an amount of Rs.12 Lakhs on the pretext of providing him a govt. job. He even got issued a fake appointment letter to the complainant and made him to undergo bogus training at different places. For conducting thorough investigation in the matter for the purpose knowing the manner in which he could get bogus training provided to the complainant as well as for recovery of the amount in question, the custodial interrogation of the petitioner is must. No exceptional or extraordinary case has been made out in favour of the petitioner for grant of anticipatory bail. It is, thus, argued that the petition is liable to be dismissed.

6. This Court has heard the rival submissions.

7. The petitioner in connivance with his sister is alleged to have duped the complainant of a huge amount of money on the pretext of getting him employed in Punjab Police. In that process, the petitioner and co-accused had even managed to provide him some bogus training. The allegations prima facie make out a case for commission of aforementioned offences. His custodial interrogation is required for conducting thorough and proper investigation in the matter as well as for recovery of the amount in question. The custodial inte