IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

157 CRM-M-10780-2026 (O & M)

Date of decision: 30.03.2026 CHIRAG LAKHOTRA ...Petitioner Versus STATE OF PUNJAB ...Respondent CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE AMAN CHAUDHARY Present : Mr. A.D.S.Sukhija, Sr. Advocate with Mr. Karanvir Singh, Advocate, for the petitioner.

Mr. Manipal Singh Atwal, DAG, Punjab.

AMAN CHAUDHARY, J. (ORAL)

1. The present petition has been filed under Section 482 BNSS, 2023, for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner in FIR No.4 dated 22.01.2026, under Sections 7, 7A of P.C. Act 1988 as amended by P.C. (Amendment) Act 2018 and 308 (2) 336 (2), 336 (3), 337, 338, 339, 340, 61(2) of BNS, 2023 (384, 465, 468, 466, 467, 474, 470, 471, 120-B of IPC), registered at P.S. Vigilance Bureau, Jalandhar.

2. Learned Senior Counsel submits that the petitioner was working as a Block Officer and the amount of Rs.1,10,000/- paid, was by way of a penalty deposited by Mohammad Salim, who had submitted the complaint online. Infact, the said person has given an affidavit on 22.07.2025, Annexure P-2, that he does not want to pursue the same. Moreover, no amount was received in the account of the petitioner, and thus, prays that he be