IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH (206-2)

Date of decision: 16.02.2026 Kulwinder Singh @ Madhar …... Petitioner V/s State of Punjab ...Respondent CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE JASJIT SINGH BEDI Present: Mr. J.S. Thakur, Advocate, for the petitioner.

Mr. Harkanwar Jeet Singh, AAG, Punjab.

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JASJIT SINGH BEDI , J. (Oral)

The prayer in this second petition under Section 439 Cr.P.C. is for the grant of the regular bail to the petitioner in FIR No.16 dated 31.01.2022 under Sections 392, 395, 506 IPC, Section 25 of the Arms Act, 1959 and Sections 120-B, 201, 411, 420, 467, 468 and 471 IPC (added later on) registered at Police Station Chattiwind, District Amritsar Rural.

2. The brief facts of the case are that the aforementioned FIR was registered on the basis of the statement of Ritu Kanav (complainant), Manager, Punjab National Bank, Branch Office, Manawala, Amritsar, who alleged that on 31.01.2022, she alongwith her other Bank staff were working at the Bank when at about 12.35 p.m., five youngsters with muffled faces and armed with pistols entered into the Bank. One youngster pulled the DVR from her officer and gathered all the staff at gun point. Thereafter, one turbaned youngster took the cashier Ritesh Kumar on gun point and looted Rs.2,60,000/- from him.

During the course of investigation, the investigating officer received a secret information on 16.02.2022 that Rakesh Kumar (since granted bail vide order dated 07.12.2023 passed in CRM-M-59147-2022) and Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi alongwith their accomplices had committed dacoity at the Punjab National Bank, Branch Manawala on 31.01.2022. Thereafter, Rakesh Kumar was arrested on 16.02.2022 and 04 live bullets were recovered from his possession.

During his custodial interrogation, Rakesh Kumar suffered a disclosure statement dated 19.02.2022 disclosing therein that he alongwith Gupreet Singh alias Gora and other accomplices had committed dacoity in question and had, thereafter, gone to Majitha after committing the same. He also disclosed that Vijay Singh, Sandeep Singh and Manjit Singh (since granted bail vide order dated 14.02.2025) had also accompanied them during the commission of the dacoity. Hence, Vijay Singh, Sandeep Singh and Manjit Singh were also arrested on 22.02.2022 and one .32 bore pistol alongwith 04 live cartridges and a motorcycle Hero Honda bearing No.PB02-BY-5031 recovered from the possession of Vijay Kumar alias Vijay Singh and a .32 bore pistol alongwith 03 live bullets and an unnumbered Hero Splendor motorcycle was recovered from Manjit Singh.

During his custodial interrogation, Vijay Singh disclosed that Krishanpreet Singh (since granted bail vide order dated 17.07.2023 passed in CRM-M-24455-2023) also used to accompany them during dacoities. Krishanpreet Singh alongwith Kajal (since granted bail vide order dated 17.07.2023 passed in CRM-M-8034-2023), Gurpreet Singh alias Gora and Kulwinder Singh alias Maddar @ Madhar (petitioner) were coming from Jandiala side in a car to commit dacoity at some bank. On the basis of the said disclosure statement, the co-accused-Kajal, Gurpreet Singh alias Gora and Kulwinder Singh alias Maddar were arrested by the investigating officer alongwith his police party after chasing their Hyundai i20 car bearing No.PB02-DL-2581 after conducting a nakabandi. During their personal searches, Rs.11,02,700/- alongwith a .32 bore pistol and 04 live cartriges were recovered from co-accused Gurpreet Singh alias Gora, Rs. 11,00,000/- alongwith .30 bore and 06 live cartridges were recovered from co-accused Kulwinder Singh alias Maddar and Rs.3,00,000/- alongwith a gold chain were recovered from Kajal. Two 12 bore double barrel gun alongwith 02 cartridges were also recovered alongwith their Hyundai i20 car. During her custodial interrogation, Kajal disclosed that on

27.02.2022, she had actively participated with her co-accused Rakesh Kumar, Gupreet Singh alias Gora, Kulwinder Singh alias Maddar, Vijay Singh, Sandeep Singh, Krish