IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of Decision: 19.1.2026 Devender alias Devinder ......Petitioner Versus State of Haryana .....Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE KIRTI SINGH Present: Mr. Garvit Mittal, Advocate for the petitioner.

Ms. Saumya Ahluwalia, Sr. DAG, Haryana.

****

KIRTI SINGH , J. (ORAL)

1. The jurisdiction of this Court under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023 has been invoked for grant of regular bail to the petitioner in case FIR No. 0671 dated 10.11.2024 under Sections 3(5) and 80 of BNS, 2023 (Section 3(5) of BNS 2023 has been deleted later on) registered at Police Station Gharaunda, District Karnal.

2. The translated version of the FIR is reproduced below:-

“Request for Strict Legal Action Against Dowry Seekers. Sir, I, Lilu alias Sompal, son of Shri Mukanda, resident of Village Nagwa, Police Station Budhana, District Muzaffarnagar (U.P.), humbly submit this application. My daughter Sxxxxx was married on 10.12.2020 to Devendra, son of Shri Ombir, resident of Village Araipura, Police Station Gharaunda, District Karnal. I spent far beyond my limits on her marriage. However, after the marriage, her husband Devendra son of Ombir, his brother Tinku son of Ombir, their mother Munesh (wife of Ombir), and sister Rajni (daughter of Ombir) were not satisfied with the dowry provided and began making continuous dowry demands day by day. They used to make pressure upon her for bringing more dowry by torturing and

2026.01.21 17:15 harassing her mentally and used to give beatings to her. Initially, we thought these were just early marital adjustments, by time disputes will get settled but situation remains same, there was no improvement from in-laws side. Despite our repeated efforts to mediate and resolve the issue, wherein villagers Satyaveer (son of Shri Baru), Yoginder (son of Shri Omveer), Hari Om (son of Shri Gyan Singh), and I visited Village Araipura to attend panchayat. They still demanded dowry openly in Panchayat. Due to which, we brought Sxxxxx back to our home in Village Nagwa on 20.10.2024 and lodged a complaint against the in-laws at Budhana Police Station, Muzaffarnagar. Thereafter, on 04.11.2024, some individuals including Munna (son of Shri Hukam Singh), Sheeshpal (son of Bharatu), Joginder (son of Sullar), Devendra son of Ombir, Satpal, and Suresh came to Village Nagwa. In the presence of community members, they admitted their wrongdoing and promised not to repeat such behavior. However, on 08.11.2024, Sxxxxx called and informed us that she was being physically abused again and was being pressured to bring Rs. 2,00,000/- and a motorcycle. Thereafter, 10.11.2024, around 12:30 PM, while we were preparing to visit Village Araipura, we received a confidential call from there, informing us that Sxxxxx had allegedly been hanged. Shocked and devastated, we rushed to the village Araipura. We found Sxxxxx dead, with marks were on her neck. On spot inspection, it was clear that she had been murdered due to dowry harassment. My daughter has been killed by dowry seekers.”

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner inter alia submits that the petitioner is husband of the deceased and has been falsely implicated in the present case by the complainant, who is the father of the deceased by levelling sweeping allegations. It is submitted that during investigation, the other family members of the petitioner were found innocent and were exonerated by the investigating agency, and the case of the petitioner is also on similar footing. Furthermore, neither any complaint with respect to the demand of dowry or harassment was made by the deceased during their marriage, nor is there any cogent evidence to substantiate the allegations Gurpreet Singh levelled. There is also no medical evidence against the petitioner on record.

Learned counsel further submits that the material witness i.e. the complainant already stands examined. The petitioner has undergone an actual custody of 01 year, 02 months and 02 days and there is no other