IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

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CRM-M No.6483 of 2026 Date of decision : 10.2.2026 Date of uploading : 10.2.2026 Rishi Mattu alias Rishi ………….Petitioner Versus State of Punjab …….Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SUMEET GOEL Present: Mr. Anupam Mathur, Advocate, for the petitioner Mr. Baljinder Singh Sra, Addl. AG, Punjab ---

SUMEET GOEL, J. (ORAL)

1. Present petition has been filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’) for grant of regular bail to the petitioner in case FIR No.20 dated 26.2.2025, under Sections 109, 331(6), 331(8), 115(2), 118(2), 126(2), 351(2), 351(3), 191(3), 190 AND 238 OF Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, registered at Police Station Lahori Gate (Division-4), Patiala.

2. The gravamen of allegations against the petitioner is that complainant, namely, Vikas Adhikari, stated that he is presently studying in Class 11^th at Senior Secondary School, Woodstock, Jujhar Nagar, Street No. 4. On 22.02.2025, he went to attend a party with his friend Sandeep and his friends behind Surinder Gas Agency, SST Nagar, Patiala. The party was being hosted by his friend, namely, Yogesh on account of purchasing a new scooter. At around 12:00 midnight, his friends, namely, Malkit Singh and Sajid were also present at the spot. At that time, Sunny along with 4–5 unknown associates, arrived at the spot. They were armed with knives, iron rods, and other sharp-edged weapons. Immediately upon arrival, Sandeep Kumar alias Sunny attacked Sajid (friend of the complainant) and inflicted a sharp-edged weapon injury on the left side of his stomach. One of the petitioner’s associates attacked Malkit Singh on his back with a knife. It is further alleged that out of fear, the complainant attempted to flee from the spot. However, the petitioner and his associates surrounded him and struck him on the head with an iron rod. They again hit the complainant on the right side of his chest, and one of the associates inflicted a sharp weapon injury on his right shoulder. When, the complainant turned around to escape, one of them struck him with a sharp-edged weapon on the backside of the right portion of his stomach. Due to the injuries, the complainant fell to the ground and started bleeding profusely. The friends of the complainant raised an alarm by shouting “Maarta Maarta”. On hearing the noise and due to fear of people gathering at the spot, the petitioner and his associates fled away with their weapons after abusing them and issuing death threats. Thereafter, remaining friends of the complainant arranged a vehicle and admitted him, along with injured Malkit Singh and Sajid, to Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, where they were undergoing medical treatment.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner has argued that the petitioner is in custody since 30.8.2025. Learned counsel has further argued that the petitioner has been falsely implicated into the FIR in question. Learned counsel has iterated that assuming arguendo, the prosecution version is taken to be correct, the offence under Section 109 of the BNS (erstwhile Section 307 of the IPC) is not made out against the petitioner. Learned counsel ahs further submitted that injured-witness already stand discharged long ago from the Hospital. Thus, regular bail is prayed for.

4. Learned State counsel has opposed the present petition by arguing that the allegations raised against the petitioner are serious in nature and, thus, the petitioner does not deserve the concession of the regular bail. Learned State counsel seeks to place on record custody certificate dated 9.2.2026 in the Court today, which is taken on record.

5. I have heard counsel for the parties and have gone through the available records of the case.

6. The petitioner was arrested on 30.8.2025 whereinafter investigation was carried out and challan has been presented on 14.10.2025. Total 23 prosecution witnesses have been cited and it is not in dispute before this Court that, no