##PAGE1##

1 CRM-M-1577-2026

- -

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

211 CRM-M-1577-2026

Date of decision: 06.04.2026 Date of uploading:06.04.2026

Harpreet Singh Alias Preet ….Petitioner

versus

State Of Punjab ….Respondent

CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SUMEET GOEL

Present:- Mr. Vipin Mahajan, Senior Advocate with Mr. Utkrant Mahajan, Advocate for the petitioner.

(cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:6)(cid:7)(cid:8)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:11)(cid:12)(cid:2)(cid:4)(cid:13)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:14)(cid:15)(cid:4)(cid:13)(cid:2)(cid:6)(cid:16)(cid:4)(cid:17)(cid:11)(cid:11)(cid:7)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:17)(cid:18)(cid:16)(cid:4)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:10)(cid:8)(cid:6)(cid:21)(cid:3)

*****

SUMEET GOEL , J. (ORAL)

1. Present 4^th petition has been filed under Section 483 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’) for grant of regular bail to the petitioner in case bearing FIR No.31 dated 07.04.2022, registered for the offences punishable under Sections 302, 201, 34 of IPC and Sections 25, 27, 29 of Arms Act, at Police Station Kotli Surat Mallian

Police District Batala, District Gurdaspur, Punjab.

2. The case set up in the FIR in question (as set out in the present

petition by the petitioner) is as follows:-

“Statement of Damanpreet Singh S/o Satnam Singh R/o Kala Afgana, Age 30 years, Phone No.9041423520. It is stated that I am resident of aforementioned address and doing the work of wiring. Today at around 2:30 in Noon I was working in my village Kala Afgana then my younger brother Harpreet Singh @ happy had called me on phone No.9855600874 by stating that somebody has murdered Lovepreet Singh alias Love. I

JATIN

2026.04.06 17:49 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

2 CRM-M-1577-2026

came to know that his dead body is lying on bank of canal in the area of village Raimal. I alongwith my father Satnam Singh reached at the spot and saw that somebody after murdering my brother Lovepreet Singh alias Love tried to burn his body. His face was burnt and his clothes also were burnt. Today, on 07.04.2022 time was around 12:30 to 1:00 PM I alongwith my brother Love were present at home. At that point of time Love had told me that he was going with Preet S/o Suhkbir Singh R/o Kala Afgana and if I want to go to work then I should go. I am having full suspicion that Preet alongwith his friends after murdering my brother Lovepreet Singh alias Love had tried to destroy his dead body. A legal action be taken against them. Statement has been got recorded which is correct. Sd/- Damanpreet Singh, Sd/- Baljit Singh, INSP, SHO, P.S. Kotli

Surat Malhi Dated 07.04.2022.”

3. Learned senior counsel for the petitioner has argued that the petitioner is in custody since 12.04.2022. Learned senior counsel has further argued that the petitioner has been falsely implicated into the FIR in question. Learned senior counsel has further argued that the case in hand is primarily based on circumstantial evidence. Learned senior counsel has further argued that, though the entire prosecution evidence is over, yet the fact remains that the petitioner has suffered incarceration for more than three

years. Thus, regular bail is prayed for.

4. Learned State counsel has opposed the present petition by arguing that the allegations raised are serious in nature. Learned State counsel has further submitted that the entire prosecution evidence stands recorded and, thus, the petitioner does not deserve the concession of regular bail. Learned State counsel seeks to place on record custody certificate

dated 04.04.2026 in Court, which is taken on record.

5. I have heard counsel for the rival parties and have gone through

the available records of the case.

JATIN

2026.04.06 17:49 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

3 CRM-M-1577-2026

6. The petitioner was arrested on 12.04.2022 whereinafter investigation was carried out and challan was presented on 04.07.2022. It is not in dispute before this Court that, out of total of 27 cited pros