IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of decision:06.02.2026 Vikas Kumar Chaurasya ... Petitioner Vs.

State of Punjab ... Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE MANISHA BATRA Present: Mr. Nikhil Thamman, Advocate for the petitioner.

Ms. Sakshi Bakshi, AAG, Punjab.

Mr. Deepanshu Meena, Advocate for the complainant.

...

Manisha Batra, J. (Oral).

1. The present petition has been filed by the petitioner for grant of anticipatory bail in case arising out of FIR No.37, dated 07.04.2025, registered under Sections 108, 3(5) of the BNS, at Police Station Sudhar, District Ludhiana Rural.

2. The aforementioned FIR was registered on the basis of statement recorded by the complainant – Harbans Singh on 07.04.2025, alleging therein that on 31.03.2025, his son Gurpal Singh had committed suicide by consuming some poisonous substance. On 07.04.2025, while cleaning his room, he had found a written note left by the deceased on 31.03.2025, holding the present petitioner and co-accused Nirmal Singh, who were employees in the State Bank of India, wherein the deceased was working as a driver on contract basis and also against two more persons, namely, Balwinder Singh Malli and Kuldeep Singh, responsible for his death. He had also mentioned that PAN card, passport and Aadhar card along with one cheque forcibly got signed from him had been taken by the petitioner and the above mentioned persons. By alleging that the petitioner and the above mentioned persons had abetted suicide by his son, he prayed for taking action in the matter.

3. After registration of the FIR, investigation proceedings were initiated. Apprehending his arrest, the petitioner moved an application for grant of anticipatory bail, which was dismissed by the Court of learned Additional Sessions Judge, Ludhiana vide order dated 15.04.2025.

4. Vide order dated 25.04.2025, this Court had directed the petitioner to join investigation and had granted interim bail.

5. It is argued by learned counsel for the petitioner that he has been falsely implicated in this case 07 days after the death of the victim. He has been working as a Senior Manager in State Bank of India, Jagraon Branch. One Smt. Surinder Kaur, who was residing in Canada and was native of Jagraon had handed over cheques to the victim, who used to withdraw money from her bank account. Deceased by taking undue benefit of the trust reposed upon him by the above said Surinder Kaur had withdrawn an amount of Rs.18,70,000/- from her bank account during the course of 04 years. Smt. Surinder Kaur made a complaint to the bank on coming to know about this fact, the matter was reported to the higher authorities of the bank. The deceased had handed over the cheque for a sum of Rs.4 lakhs payable on 30.12.2025 to Smt. Surinder Kaur. This cheque was lying with the bank as it was given in March, 2025 and thereafter the victim had committed suicide. The petitioner had no hand whatsoever in abetting the same. Ingredients for commission of offence punishable under Section 108 of the BNS are not attracted qua him at all. His custodial interrogation is not required. He has already joined investigation. No recovery is to be effected from him. It is, therefore, urged that the petition deserves to be allowed.

6. Status report has already been filed. Learned State counsel, on instructions from the Investigating Officer, has submitted that that the petitioner has joined investigation on 07.05.2025 and he is not required for custodial interrogation

7. This Court has heard the rival submissions made by learned counsel for the parties.

8. Admittedly, the petitioner has joined investigation on 07.05.2025. He was working as a Senior Manager in the bank, wherein the victim was working as a driver on contractual basis. Though, a suicide note is alleged to have been left by the victim, thereby holding the petitioner to be responsible for his death, however, there is no material on record to show that the petitioner had abetted suicide by him in any manne