IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of Decision: 17.02.2026 Ravinder @ Khaddu …Petitioner.

v.

State of Haryana …Respondent.

CORAM: HON’BLE MS. JUSTICE AARADHNA SAWHNEY.

Present: Mr. Manju Goyal, Advocate for the petitioner.

Mr. Vishal Singh, AAG, Haryana.

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AARADHNA SAWHNEY, J. (Oral)

1. Petitioner, who is an accused in case FIR No. 0046 dated 02.08.2024, registered against him under Sections 120-B, 420, 467, 468, 471 of Indian Penal Code, at Police Station Cyber Crime Rohtak, has filed the present petition under Section 483 of BNSS for grant of bail.

2. Relevant facts as emerging from the documents on record be noticed hereinbelow:-

One Bharat Chhabra, son of Late Krishan Lal, resident of House No. 298/13, Tej Colony, Rohtak, set criminal law in motion by filing a complaint pointing therein that on 23.6.2024, he received a link on his mobile phone No. 9729290006 through a ‘Telegram’ Group relating to earning money by rating hotels. When he clicked the link, his mobile number was added to the Telegram group named “Travel Partner 626”. In the group, members were sharing screen shots projecting that they had received money in their accounts. Somehow, he got lured in. On 23.6.2024, he did a rating and received Rs.500/- for completing the task. One Nitin Dev introduced him to Priya, the girl, who later contacted him on his whatsapp. Following their instructions, complainant alleges to have transferred his hard earned money online and made cash payments in different accounts. The details of accounts, where money was deposited, were also highlighted. It is further alleged that when he tried to withdraw the amount, he could not do so. He repeatedly requested the persons concerned to return his money. Instead of acceding to his request, he was threatened to deposit another Rs.5 lakhs. In all, complainant alleges to have been defrauded of approximately Rs.9.51 lakhs through a scam involving fake apps, fake websites and bank accounts opened using forged documents. Complaint was filed with the police authorities to initiate appropriate proceedings against the accused. On the basis thereof, a formal case vide FIR No. 0046 dated 02.08.2024, was registered u/s 120-B, 420, 467, 468, 471 of Indian Penal Code, at Police Station Cyber Crime Rohtak.

During the course of investigation, details of various accounts in which the money had been deposited by the complainant, as mentioned in para 2 of the status report, were collected.

On 18.5.2025, petitioner was arrested, who during the course of interrogation, revealed that his old account was opened by one Pawan Deep and Darshan alias Kaku only for the purpose of receiving defrauded amount. The mobile number registered for net banking was given by Darshan. He also received Rs.2500/- from Darshan for getting the account reopened. The role of the petitioner is that he received commission of Rs.88,000/- for providing his account which was used for parking the defrauded money. During the further course of investigation, statements of witnesses were recorded and statements of accounts from various banks were collected. On culmination of investigation, challan has been filed in the Court. Petitioner moved an application for grant of bail. The said application was dismissed by learned Sessions Judge, Rohtak, vide order dated 9.10.2025. Aggrieved of the same, present petition has been filed for grant of bail.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that petitioner has been falsely implicated in the present case. His name cropped up in the disclosure statement of co-accused, namely, Darshan, Naveen, Arshdeep and Kamaldeep, who have been granted regular bail by the learned trial Court vide orders dated 18.8.2025, 25.8.2025 and 01.09.2025, respectively. It is also the submission of learned counsel that investigations in the present case, are complete, for challan has been filed, charges have been framed on 14.8.2025, but the likelihood of the trial (offences being Magisterial triable) bei