IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of Decision: 16.02.2026 RAJNI BALA ...Petitioner Versus STATE OF PUNJAB ...Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE MANISHA BATRA ****

Present: Mr. Vineet Chaudhary, Advocate for the petitioner.

Ms. Ruchika Sabherwal, Sr. DAG, Punjab.

MANISHA BATRA , J. (ORAL)

1. The present petition has been filed under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short-‘BNSS’) by the petitioner for grant of anticipatory bail in case arising out of FIR No.192 dated 27.10.2025, registered under Sections 420, 408, 406 and 120-B of IPC, at Police Station Nangal, District Rupnagar.

2. Learned Deputy Advocate General, Haryana has submitted that though the petitioner has joined investigation on 03.12.2025 but he has not cooperated in investigation and had not got recovered the amount in dispute.

It is, therefore, argued that the petitioner does not deserve to be allowed.

3. Per contra, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that since the petitioner has already joined investigation, therefore, her custodial interrogation is not required and the non-recovery cannot be considered to be a reason for denying the benefit of anticipatory b