IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

215 Date of decision: 22.01.2026 PARAS ......Petitioner VERSUS STATE OF HARYANA .......Respondent CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VINOD S. BHARDWAJ *****

Present: - Mr. P.S. Sekhon, Senior Advocate with Mr. Guraziz Singh Dhillon, Advocate for the petitioner.

Ms. Aditi Girdhar, AAG, Haryana.

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VINOD S. BHARDWAJ, J. (Oral)

1. The instant first petition has been filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, for the grant of regular bail in case bearing FIR No. 49 dated 07.02.2025, registered under Section(s) 238 (a), 318(4), 336(3), 338, 340, 61 of the BNS, 2023 at Police Station Taraori, District Karnal.

2. Briefly summarized, the case of the prosecution as mentioned in the order of the trial Court reads thus:-

“Briefly stated, complainant Manoj Kumar is running a firm under the name and style 'Manoj Wooden Industries'. He alleged that someone has opened a fake bank account No.120030139283 in Canara Bank, Taraori in the name of his firm. He learnt about it when he received a cheque book of Canara Bank from the bank. He apprehends that such bank account was opened in the name of his firm in collusion with the bank officials and therefore, he filed a complaint before Police Post, Sadar Bazar, Karnal on 29.08.2024, but the police did not take any action. He requested once again to investigate the matter and to take strict action against the preparator of the crime. Hence, the FIR.

3. Learned Senior Counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner contends that as per the investigation conducted in the present case, two persons have been nominated i.e. Ankit Mittal (Chartered Accountant) and the petitioner herein. Bank Account in the name of Manoj Wooden Industries is alleged to have been opened by submitting the KYC and other documents pertaining to the petitioner and against his registered mobile number. The address of the firm however was that of the complainant-Manoj Kumar. He submits that no transaction of any nature whatsoever has taken place in the said account and that the petitioner is in custody since 04.09.2025. The investigation in the case is already complete. The case is based upon documentary evidence. The case is triable by Magistrate and it shall take long time in its conclusion. He further contends that the petitioner is not involved in any other case and has clean criminal antecedents. It is argued that so far as Ankit Mittal-co-accused is concerned, concession of Anticipatory bail already stands granted to him.

4. Learned State Counsel on instructions from ASI Balkar Singh submits that the account opening details are specifically in the name of the petitioner which thus shows the participation of the petitioner in opening an account in the name of the firm of the complainant on the strength of forged documents. She however, does not dispute that the petitioner does not suffer from any other criminal antecedents and no transaction took place in the said account. The claim with respect to the clean antecedents is also not disputed. 5. I have heard learned counsel appearing on behalf of the respective parties.

6. In view of the facts noticed above and taking into consideration the young age of the petitioner who is 24 years old and this is his first brush with crime and that no loss has occasioned to the complainant as well as the nature of allegations coupled with the period of custody and noticing that it is Magisterial trial and it shall take long time in its conclusion, I deem it appropriate to enlarge the petitioner on regular bail to the satisfaction of the trial Court.

7. The instant petition is allowed and the petitioner is ordered to be released on regular bail on his furnishing requisite bail bond/surety bond to the satisfaction of the trial Court/Duty Magistrate, concerned.

8. It is made clear that the petitioner shall not extend any threat and shall not influence any prosecution witnesses in any manner directly or indirectly.

9. The observ