Anticipatory bail may be denied in cases of significant financial fraud involving foreign travel scams where prima facie evidence exists and custodial interrogation is necessary for the recovery of funds and uncovering the modus operandi.

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148

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT

CHANDIGARH

CRM-M No.28831 of 2026

Date of decision: 25.05.2026

Sandeep Singh @ Sandeep Hans

…Petitioner

Versus

State of Punjab and another

…Respondents

CORAM: HON’BLE MS. JUSTICE MANDEEP PANNU

Present :- Mr. Akbarjit Singh, Advocate (joined through VC)

for the petitioner.

*****

MANDEEP PANNU, J. (Oral)

1. This is the first petition under Section 482 of the BNSS, 2023

(under Section 438 Cr.P.C.) for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner in

FIR No.0091 dated 18.07.2024, registered under Sections 406, 420 and

120-B IPC, 1860 [corresponding Sections 316, 318(4) and 61 of the BNS,

2023] and Section 13 of the Punjab Travel Professionals (Regulation) Act,

2014 at Police Station Goraya, District Jalandhar Rural, in the peculiar

facts and circumstances of the present case as well as in the interest of

justice. The petitioner further prays that the arrest of the petitioner be

stayed during the pendency of the present petition, in the interest of justice.

2. It is the case of the prosecution that the present FIR was got

registered on the statement of complainant Jagdeep Kumar alleging therein

that the petitioner along with co-accused received an amount of

Rs.31,56,000/- from the complainant for sending his brother namely

Mandeep Kumar as well as his friends namely Hardeep Kumar, Anil Kumar,

NEETU RANI

2026.05.25 17:59

I attest to the accuracy and

authenticity of this order/judgment

PHHC, CHD

CRM-M No.28831 of 2026 -2-

Kamaljeet Lal and Rakesh Kumar to Italy. However, neither the aforesaid

persons were sent to Italy nor the amount so received by the petitioner and

co-accused was returned to the complainant, thereby cheating him.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner has contended that the

petitioner has been falsely implicated in the present case. It has been argued

that the petitioner is not working as a travel agent and is, in fact, running a

catering business under the name and style of M/s Hans Catering and has

taken A-One Palace on lease for organizing parties and functions. It has

further been contended that the complainant had approached the petitioner

for arranging a function and an amount of Rs.5,00,000/- was paid in

advance, however, later on, the complainant cancelled the said function and

thereafter, due to annoyance, concocted a false story and got the present

FIR registered. Learned counsel has further submitted that the petitioner is

ready and willing to join the investigation and no custodial interrogation is

required in the present case.

4. Notice of motion.

5. On the asking of the Court, Mr. Sahil Chowdhary, AAG,

Punjab, accepts notice on behalf of the respondent-State and he has

opposed the present petition and argued that serious allegations have been

levelled against the petitioner. It has been submitted that the petitioner is

the main accused in the present case and there are chats/conversations

between the petitioner and the complainant regarding sending the aforesaid

persons abroad. Learned State counsel has further argued that despite

receiving an amount of Rs.31,56,000/-, neither the petitioner sent the

aforesaid persons to Italy nor returned the remaining amount to the

NEETU RANI

2026.05.25 17:59

I attest to the accuracy and

authenticity of this order/judgment

PHHC, CHD

CRM-M No.28831 of 2026 -3-

complainant. It has thus been contended that custodial interrogation of the

petitioner is necessary for proper investigation of the case.

6. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and gone through

the record carefully.

7. The allegations levelled in the present FIR are serious in

nature. A substantial amount of Rs.31,56,000/- is alleged to have been

taken from the complainant and his associates on the pretext of sending

them abroad. Cases involving cheating of innocent persons under the guise

of providing foreign travel/employment opportunities are on the rise and

have serious societal ramifications. Prima-facie, the material on record,

including the allegations as well as the chats between the parties, in