SUMEET GOEL, J

(Oral)

Present petition has been filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’) for grant of regular bail to the petitioner in case FIR No.40 dated 16.04.2025 under Sections 103, 126(2), 191(3), 190, 61(2) and 238 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, registered at Police Station Maur, District Bathinda.

The case set up in the FIR in question (as set out in the present petition by the petitioner) is as follows:-

‘Copy of Statement, Darshan Singh son of Arjun Singh, resident near Peerkhana, Ward No. 10, Maur Mandi, aged about 75 years, M.No. 62832-15551 stated that I am a resident of the above-mentioned address. I work as a labourer. We are two brothers, the name of my elder brother is Karam Singh. We live together in one family. My brother Karam Singh has 5 daughters and one son, whose name is Deep Singh, who was still unmarried, and all the daughters are married. Some individuals from Mansa used to come to our locality to sell drugs. My nephew, Deep Singh, used to complain to them about this. On 14.04.2025 at about 9/9:30 PM my nephew had gone to the shop to get some items. Then, Subhash Kumar @ Subhasi son of Pillu Ram, resident of Ward No. 10, Maur Mandi, Preet son of Harbans Lal, Sahil son of Shivji Ram, Akashdeep Singh son of Sukhwinder Singh, residents of Mansa, and 06 unknown persons, who were carrying Kirpans, axes, and iron rods, were on three motorcycles. They surrounded my nephew, Deep Singh, and all of them inflicted injuries with their respective weapons. I raised an alarm, "Marta Marta" Seeing a large crowd gather, all the individuals fled on their motorcycles alongwith their weapons. We all arranged a vehicle and took him to Civil Hospital Bathinda, from where we were further referred to Faridkot Hospital and from Faridkot sent us back to Bathinda Hospital. He died on the way while coming from Faridkot to Bathinda. His body is currently lying in the Civil Hospital Bathinda. Necessary legal action should be taken against the aforementioned accused. The statement has been written, I have heard it, and it is correct. L.T.I. Darshan Singh Witness to the Statement: Sd/- Dev son of Pala Ram, resident of Ward No. 10, near Peerkhana, Maur Mandi, 80545-05112.’

Learned counsel for the petitioner has argued that the petitioner is in custody since 16.04.2025. Learned counsel has further argued that the petitioner has been falsely implicated into the FIR in question. Learned counsel has further submitted that the prime prosecution witnesses namely PW-1 Darshan Singh (FIR-complainant), PW-2 Dev Singh and PW-3 Manga Singh have turned hostile and thus the trial is not likely to culminate into conviction. Learned counsel has further submitted that co-accused Himanshu has already been granted the concession of regular bail by this Court vide order dated 02.02.2026 passed in CRM-M No.70245 of 2025. Learned counsel has further iterated that the petitioner is a young man aged about 21 years with clean antecedents. Thus, regular bail is prayed for.

Learned State counsel has opposed the present petition by arguing that the allegations raised are serious in nature and thus the petitioner does not deserve the concession of the regular bail. Learned State counsel seeks to place on record custody certificate dated 15.04.2026 in Court, which is taken on record.

I have heard counsel for the parties and have gone through the available records of the case.

The petitioner was arrested on 16.04.2025 whereinafter investigation was carried out and Challan stands presented on 15.07.2025. Charges in the present case were framed on 29.08.2025. Total 19 prosecution witnesses have been cited and it is conceded case of the parties that none has been examined till date. It is thus indubitable that culmination of trial will take its own time. The rival contentions; including the weightage/veracity required to be attached to the testimonies of hostile