IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CRM-M-12176-2026 Date of decision: 16.04.2026 MAHENDER PAL ….Petitioner Versus STATE OF HARYANA & ANR. ....Respondents CORAM:- HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE RUPINDERJIT CHAHAL Present:- Mr. Dharam Bir Bhargav, Advocate for the petitioner.

Ms. Shaveta Sanghi, DAG Haryana.

Mr. Rajesh Duhan, Advocate for the complainant.

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RUPINDERJIT CHAHAL, J. (ORAL)

1. Prayer in the present petition filed under Section 482 of the BNSS, 2023 is for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner in case FIR No.0269 dated 21.08.2025 registered under Sections 316, 318(4), 61(2)

BNS, 2023 at Police Station Naraingarh, District Ambala.

2. Brief facts as per the prosecution case are that the petitioner in connivance with other co-accused, cheated the complainant to the tune of Rs.10 lacs on the pretext of sale of land. Hence, the present FIR.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner has contended that the petitioner has been falsely implicated in the present case and he has no concern with the alleged fraud. He further submits that the entire money has been returned back to the complainant by the co-accused namely Swaran Kaur and the complainant has himself given a statement before the Investigating Officer to the effect that he has received his entire payment.

He further contends that this fact was totally ignored by the learned Trial Court while dismissing the bail application. He submits that the entire case is based upon documentary evidence which is already in custody of investigating agency. He submits that that the present dispute is civil in nature and has been given criminal colour. Learned counsel for the petitioner further submits that the petitioner is ready and willing to join the investigation as and when called upon to do so by the investigating agency.

Hence, he prays that present petition be allowed.

4. After registration of the FIR, investigation has been initiated and is under way. Apprehending his arrest, the petitioner had moved an application for grant of anticipatory bail which has been dismissed by the Court of learned Additional Sessions Judge, Ambala, vide order dated

18.02.2026.

5. On the other hand, learned State counsel has filed the status report in the matter, which is taken on record and while referring to the same, he has vehemently opposed the prayer of the petitioner for grant of anticipatory bail on the ground that the allegations levelled against the petitioner are serious in nature. He submits that the petitioner actively facilitated the transactions as an amount of Rs.3,80,000/- was transferred into the account of the petitioner through RTGS. He further submits that as per the report of Halqa Patwari it is revealed that the co-accused persons do not own any land and despite this fact, the petitioner in connivance with other co-accused persons entered into a deal with the complainant. He further submitted that the custodial interrogation of the petitioner is required for a fair and proper investigation in the matter as well as to unearth the modus operandi of accused; as well as to recover the amount involved in the alleged fraud and also to identify victims of similar fraud committed by the petitioner. Hence, he prays for dismissal of the petition.

6. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the complainant adopts the submissions made by learned State counsel and has opposed to the relief sought by the petitioner.

7. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the record with their able assistance. The allegations levelled against the petitioner are serious in nature and pertain to a well-planned conspiracy involving fraud. As per the status report, the petitioner is not only peripheral participant but main architect of entire conspiracy. The material collected during investigation prima facie indicates the involvement of multiple persons acting in concert’ the investigation qua the petitioner is still underway and several aspects, including the flow of the cheated amount and