IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of Decision: 06.02.2026 MANPREET SINGH & ANOTHER ......Petitioners Versus STATE OF PUNJAB .....Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE KIRTI SINGH Present: Mr. J.S. Grewal, Advocate for the petitioners. (Through V.C.)

Ms. Aakanksha Gupta, AAG, Punjab.

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KIRTI SINGH , J. (ORAL)

1. Prayer in the present petition filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’), is for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioners, in case FIR No.126 dated 03.06.2025, under Sections 74, 118(1), 115(2) and 3(5) of BNS, 2023, registered at Police Station City 1, Abohar, District Fazilka.

2. Vide order dated 06.11.2025, the petitioners were directed to join investigation. The said order is reproduced hereinafter:-

“The petitioners have filed the instant petition under 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of anticipatory bail in FIR No.126 dated 03.06.2025 registered under Sections 74, 118(1), 115(2) & 3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 at Police Station City 1, Abohar, District Fazilka.

Status report by way of an affidavit of Sh. Sukhwinder Singh Brar, PPS, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Sub Division Abohar, District Fazilka, on behalf of the respondent-State, filed in the Registry is taken on record. In para 8 thereof, it has been stated that the complainant has been informed about the pendency of the present petition and the next date of hearing. However, none has put in appearance on her behalf.

Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the petitioners are innocent and have been falsely implicated in the present case. He submits that the main allegations in the FIR are against co- accused Kamaljeet Singh @ Kamli, who has alleged to have hit the husband of the complainant on his left bicep. He further submits that no statement under Section 183 of BNSS of the victim has been recorded. He further submits that the petitioners are not involved in any other case and are ready to join the investigation.

Adjourned to 06.02.2026.

In the meanwhile, arrest of the petitioners shall remain stayed.

They shall join the investigation and co-operate with the investigating agency and shall not leave country without prior permission of this Court.”

3. Learned State counsel on instructions from ASI Kulwinder Singh, submits that in compliance of order dated 06.11.2025, the petitioners have joined the investigation on 07.11.2025 and are not required for any further investigation.

4. Having considered the aforesaid facts and circumstances, the petition is allowed. Order dated 06.11.2025 passed by this Court, is hereby made absolute.

5. This order should not be treated as "blanket" order. It will not be read granting the petitioner(s) 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.

6. 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(s).

7. The accused-petitioner(s) 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.

permission of the Court.

when called by the police.

10. 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, 2023 (erstwhile Section 439(2) of Cr.P.C.) to arrest the accused-petitioner(s), 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.

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

(KIRTI SINGH)

JUDGE February 06, 2026 Ritika