IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of Decision: 30.03.2026 GURJANT SINGH .....Petitioner Versus STATE OF PUNJAB AND ANOTHER .....Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE KIRTI SINGH Present: Mr. Ritender Rathee, Advocate for the petitioner.

Ms. Aakanksha Gupta, AAG, Punjab.

Mr. Ankush Singla, Advocate for respondent No.2.

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KIRTI SINGH , J. (ORAL)

1. The jurisdiction of this Court under Section 438 Cr.P.C. has been invoked for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner in case FIR No.98 dated 04.12.2023 under Sections 498-A & 406 of IPC, registered at Police Station PS Women, District Patiala.

2. Brief factual matrix of the instant case is that the instant FIR was registered on the statement of the complainant, wherein she alleged that at the time of her marriage with the petitioner, which was solemnized on 14.02.2020 as per Sikh rites, her widowed mother spent substantial amounts beyond her means on dowry articles, including cash, gold ornaments, a car, and household items. Yet, soon after marriage, she was allegedly subjected to continuous taunts and harassment by her husband and in-laws on account of insufficient dowry and its alleged poor quality. It was the