IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CRM-M-64049-2025 (O&M) Date of decision: 11.02.2026 Manish Kumar ...Petitioner Versus State of Punjab and another ...Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE AARADHNA SAWHNEY Present : Mr. Surendra Pant, Advocate for the applicant-petitioner.

Mr. Kamalpreet Bawa, DAG, Punjab.

Mr. Yash Goyal, Advocate for respondent No.2.

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AARADHNA SAWHNEY, J.(ORAL)

CRM-5697-2026 By virtue of the present application, applicant prays for grant of interim anticipatory bail to him during the pendency of the main petition by preponing the date of hearing.

Contents of the application perused.

In view thereof, the same is partly allowed and the main case is preponed and is taken up on Board today itself.

Main Case

1. Petitioner, an accused in case bearing FIR No.58 dated 23.05.2025 registered against him at Police Station Nurpur Bedi, District Rupnagar, for the commission of offences punishable u/s 406 and 420 IPC, has prayed for grant of pre-arrest bail.

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

Rajvir, son of Bal Krishan, r/o Chatia Aatia, District Sonipat, who was working as a driver in the office of Commissioner of Municipal Corporation, Panchkula, from 2019 to 2023, set the criminal law in motion by filing a complaint pointing therein that in June 2023, he met one Jasvir who was working as a driver in the aforementioned office. He (C) shared his intention to go abroad with Jasvir, who later introduced him (C) to Manish Kumar (present petitioner),and assured him that Manish (P) would be able to help him in going/settling abroad on Work Visa. He shared this information with one of his other colleagues namely Davinder Singh, who also wanted to settle abroad. Complainant has further alleged that in presence of Jasvir Singh, Manish Kumar (P) assured of his good connections as also that he would be able to send both of them (Complainant and Devinder) to Canada on Work Visa for 2 years. The deal was struck at Rs.12 lakhs each from complainant and Devinder Singh. It was further agreed that Rs.3 lakhs each would have to be paid in advance and the remaining amount be handed over after they reach Canada. Somehow he (C) got taken in, in these sweet talks and false promises/ assurances. Both he (C) and Devinder handed over their personal documents including passports etc. and also paid Rs.3 lakhs each to present petitioner. When Manish (P) kept on delaying the matter on one pretext or the other, both he (C) and his colleague made enquiries at their own level when they came to know that in fact Manish is working as Class-IV employee in Punjab and Sind Bank and is presently posted in a Branch of the Bank in a district in Punjab. Many a times they requested Manish (P) to return their amount as also their personal documents but no heed was paid. Primarily with this backdrop, he (C) requested the police officials to catch hold of Manish (P)

as also to initiate appropriate proceedings against him.

On receipt of complaint, the matter was enquired into by the police officials, who also collected statement of accounts of both complainant and Devinder Singh. It was found that Rs.6 lakhs had been paid by complainant and Devinder Singh to present petitioner, who during the course of enquiry appeared before the IO and agreed to return the amount as also their passports. Though, the passports of both complainant and Devinder Singh were returned but the amount illegally pocketed by present petitioner still remains unpaid. On finding substance in the allegations leveled by complainant, a formal case vide FIR No.58 dated 23.05.2025 u/s 406 and 420 IPC, was registered against present petitioner. Proceedings were set into motion.

3. Apprehending his arrest, petitioner moved an application for grant of anticipatory bail before the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Rupnagar. The same was dismissed vide order dated 05.08.2025. Aggrieved of which, the present petition has been filed.

4. Learned co