IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of Decision:09.03.2026 Amninder Singh ....Petitioner Versus State of Punjab .....Respondent CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE AMAN CHAUDHARY ****

Present: Mr. Rakesh Nehra, Sr. Advocate, with Mr. Kanwar Abhay Singh, Advocate, for the petitioner.

Ms. Gagandeep Kaur, DAG Punjab ****

AMAN CHAUDHARY , J. (Oral)

1. The present petition has been filed under Section 482 of the BNSS, 2023 for grant of concession of anticipatory bail to the petitioner in case FIR No.16 dated 03.09.2025, under Section 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 as amended vide Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018 and Section 61(2) of the BNS, 2023, registered at Police Station Vigilance Bureau, Range District Ludhiana.

2. On 09.10.2025, this Court had passed the following order:-

“Learned Senior counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner inter alia contends that the petitioner is not an employee in the Tehsil office or any other Government Department and in fact, he is a stamp vendor. He has quoted his fee to facilitate receipt of a copy of the old record which was required by the complainant. He submits that a prima facie case under the Prevention of Corruption Act would not be made out against the petitioner. He contends that the petitioner is not involved in any other criminal case and does not suffer from any criminal antecedents. He further contends that the petitioner is ready and willing to join the investigation as and when so required.

Notice of motion.

Mr. Saurav Verma, Addl. A.G. Punjab, accepts notice and prays for some time to complete instructions and to assist this Court.

List on 18.12.2025 for further consideration.

In the meantime, the petitioner is directed to join investigation as and when required by the Investigating Agency. In the event of petitioner joining investigation, he shall be admitted to interim bail by the arresting officer/investigating officer on furnishing of bail bonds to the satisfaction of the arresting officer/investigating officer. The petitioner shall also abide by the conditions as specified under Section 482 of the BNSS, 2023.”

3. Learned counsel submits that in pursuance of the afore- mentioned order, the petitioner has joined investigation. He further submits that in case the investigating agency requires the petitioner to appear, he shall make himself available without demur.

4. Learned State counsel, on instructions, affirms the factum of voice samples have been taken and the petitioner has joined the investigation. He also submits that at this stage, the petitioner is not required for further custodial interrogation.

5. In view of the above and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, anticipatory bail petition filed by the petitioner is allowed and the order dated 09.10.2025 granting interim bail to him, is hereby made absolute, subject to compliance of conditions as specified under Section

438(2) Cr.P.C. (now 482(2) of BNSS, 2023)

6. However, it is made clear that if the petitioner fails to join and cooperate with the investigating agency as and when required, the State would be at liberty to move an application for cancellation of the present anticipatory bail granted to him.

(AMAN CHAUDHARY JUDGE March 09, 2026 dinesh