104 (3 cases)

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

1. CRM-M-527-2026 Sahil ....Petitioner versus State of Punjab ....Respondent

2. CRM-M-540-2026 Tejinder Mohan ....Petitioner versus State of Punjab ....Respondent

3. CRM-M-1076-2026 Manmohan Singh ....Petitioner versus State of Punjab ....Respondent Date of Decision: February 09, 2026 Date of Uploading: February 09, 2026 CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SUMEET GOEL Present: Mr. Rakesh Gupta, Advocate for the petitioner (in CRM-M-527-2026 and CRM-M-540-2026).

Mr. H.S. Rajput, Advocate for the petitioner (in CRM-M-1076-2026).

Mr. Adhiraj Singh Thind, AAG Punjab.

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SUMEET GOEL, J. (Oral)

By way of the present common judgment, this Court proceeds to decide aforesaid three petitions in hand, since there is commonality and congruity of legal issues therein, as conceded by the learned rival counsel.

For the cause of convenience, the facts are drawn out from CRM-

M-527-2026 titled as Sahil versus State of Punjab.

2. Present petition has been filed under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (hereinafter to be referred as ‘the BNSS’) for grant of pre-arrest/anticipatory bail to the petitioner(s), in case bearing FIR No.145 dated 09.12.2025, registered for the offences punishable under Sections 408 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for short ‘IPC’), at Police Station Ajitwal, District Moga.

3. The gravamen of the FIR in question is that complainant, namely, Jasbir Singh, son of Babu Singh, made a complaint to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Moga, stating that he had retired from the post of BSP in Punjab Police and thereafter joined Globus Warehouse and Trading Company Private Limited, Mohali, as Deputy Regional Manager (Vigilance). The said company was engaged in maintaining and providing security for government wheat and paddy stocks.

It was alleged that on 19.05.2014, Manmohan Singh (petitioner herein), who was working as Godown Incharge, resigned from his post. At that time, Ajay Kumar Sharma, who was also working with him, was removed from service by the company. Vijay Kumar Solanki was working as Cluster Manager, whereas Vaneet Kumar Dharman, Regional Manager, appointed Sohan Lal as Godown Incharge and directed him to take charge from Manmohan Singh (petitioner herein). However, Sohan Lal refused to take charge after finding shortage of rice bags in the godown. Thereafter, stock verification was conducted by Rohit Rathi, Deputy Senior Regional Manager, Vaneet Kumar Dharman, Regional Manager, Manmohan Singh (petitioner herein), Incharge, Ajay Kumar Sharma, Station Manager and Sohan Lal, Incharge. During the checking of stack Nos.1, 2, 3, 9 and 14 in Godown No.6-

A, shortage of 8 to 12 rice bags in each stack was detected. It was further alleged that on 28.05.2024, Sohan Lal, Godown Incharge, submitted a report regarding shortage of 1,213 rice bags, each weighing 50 kilograms. The said godown was in the joint custody of Pungrain and Globus Warehouse and Trading Company Private Limited. The complainant further stated that in March 2024, Jatinder Mohan, Godown Incharge, and Sahil Kumar, Kanda Operator, were found stealing 10 rice bags from Jatin Agro, Ferozepur. An inquiry was conducted against them and both were dismissed from service. However, after three months, they were reinstated and posted at Harsh Agro, Chuhar Chak, despite objections raised by the complainant. It was further alleged that in January 2025, a Committee was constituted under Jiwan Kumar Sharma, Senior Regional Manager (Quality), in which the complainant was also a member. After physical verification of stock, the Committee initially reported a shortage of about 20,000 rice bags. Subsequently, after further verification, shortage of 9,283 rice bags, each weighing 50 kilograms, was confirmed, and recovery proceedings were initiated against Globus Warehouse and Trading Company Private Limited, Mohali. It was further estimated that approximately 1,000 additional rice bags were also fou