IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of Decision: 10.02.2026 Karan @ Sannu …Petitioner.

v.

State of Haryana …Respondent.

CORAM: HON’BLE MS. JUSTICE AARADHNA SAWHNEY.

Present: Mr. Kamal Chaudhary, Advocate for the petitioner.

Mr. Vishal Singh, AAG, Haryana.

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AARADHNA SAWHNEY, J. (Oral)

1. Petitioner, who is an accused in case FIR No. 72 dated 14.03.2025, registered against him for commission of offences under Sections 25, 25(1A), 25(6), 25(7), 54, 59 of Arms Act, at Police Station Dabua, Faridabad, has filed the present petition under Section 483 of BNSS for grant of bail.

2. Relevant facts as emerging from the documents on record be noticed hereinbelow:-

On 14.3.2025, while ASI Jai Singh along with other police officials was present in Government vehicle in connection with investigation of case bearing FIR No. 593 dated 04.12.2023, registered under Sections 148, 149, 323, 506, 307, 379B of Indian Penal Code, at Police Station Dabua, Faridabad, petitioner-accused who was in custody in the said case, suffered a disclosure statement that he had in his possession a country made pistol and live cartridge, which he had concealed at a spot known to him near the bushes of Pali Hills. Pursuant to the said disclosure statement, the pistol and live cartridge were recovered and were taken into possession. Rough sketch of weapon was prepared. The said pistol and live cartridge were converted into a separate sealed parcel. Resultantly, FIR No. 72 dated 14.3.2025, under Section 25-54-59 of Arms Act was also registered against the petitioner. After securing production warrants, he was joined in the investigation of the present case and was arrested on 19.3.2025. It is further the case of prosecution that during the course of interrogation, petitioner pointed out that he had purchased the country made pistol and live cartridge from one Ravinder, son of Joginder for Rs.25,000/-. Accordingly, aforesaid Ravinder was arrested, who during interrogation, pointed out that is a member of Manoj Mangaria gang and works for the said gang and also that he had sold the weapon to Karan @ Sannu (present petitioner). Sections 25(1A), 25(6), 25(7) of Arms Act were added on 20.3.2025. Mechanical examination of country made pistol, revealed that it was in working condition. Statements of witnesses were recorded. On culmination of investigation, challan was prepared and put up in the Court.

Admittedly, co-accused Ravinder has since been granted the concession of bail by the learned Sessions Judge, Faridabad, vide order dated 3.4.2025.

Petitioner moved an application for grant of bail. The said application was dismissed by learned Additional Sessions Judge, Faridabad, vide order dated 12.11.2025. Aggrieved of which, present petition has been filed for grant of bail.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that petitioner, who was already in custody in case FIR No. 593 dated 4.12.2023, has been falsely implicated in the present case. Falsity of the case set up by the prosecution is apparent from the fact that no person with a criminal bent of mind would keep a weapon in an open place accessible to all. Further, it also seems quite improbable that the pistol and live cartridge would remain at the disclosed site for about one month. Learned counsel contends that there is nothing on record to infer that petitioner being a member of an organized crime syndicate has kept in his possession the aforesaid arm. Thus, offences u/s 25(6) and 25(7) of Arms Act are not made out against him.

It is further the submission of learned counsel that co-accused Ravinder who, as per prosecution, had supplied the pistol and cartridge to present petitioner, has since been granted the concession of bail, therefore, similar treatment be meted out to the petitioner.

It is also the submission of learned counsel that investigations qua petitioner, who was arrested on 19.3.2025, are complete as challan has been filed, but the likelihood of the trial being completed in the near