220 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CRM-M-52368-2024 Date of Decision:29.07.2025 MANPREET SINGH ALIAS MANNA …PETITIONER VS.

STATE OF PUNJAB …RESPONDENT Coram : Hon’ble Mr. Justice N.S.Shekhawat Present : Mr. L.S. Sekhon, Advocate &

Mr. Parshant, Advocate for the petitioner.

Mr. Ravneet Singh Joshi, Deputy, A.G., Punjab.

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N.S.Shekhawat J. (Oral)

1. The petitioner has filed the present petition under Section 439 Cr.P.C. with a prayer to grant regular bail to him in case FIR No.11 dated 15.01.2022, registered under Sections 307, 341, 506, 148 & 149 IPC & Section 27 of the Arms Act, 1959 (Section 25 of Arms Act reduced during investigation), Police Station Goindwal Sahib, District Tarn Taran.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the FIR in the present case was registered on the basis of the statement made by Mukhtar Singh Singh son of Ajit Singh. In fact the dispute between the parties had arisen over a trivial issue and there was no reason to cause such injuries. Learned counsel for the petitioner contends that even as per the case set up by the prosecution, the petitioner had fired a shot from his pistol which had hit on the shoulder of the Sakatar Singh and Sakatar Singh has already been discharged from the hospital. Further, it is a case of version and cross version and the cross version was registered against the complainant party, vide DDR No.28 dated 20.01.2022 under Sections 307, 148, 149 IPC and 25 of Arms Act, 1959, P.S. Goindwal Sahib. Learned counsel further contends that the petitioner was arrested in the present case on 11.07.2024 and is in custody since then. Even charge has been framed against the petitioner and no witness has been examined so far.

3. On the other hand, learned State counsel has vehemently opposed the submissions made by learned counsel for the petitioner on the ground that the petitioner is a hardened criminal and is facing two more criminal cases i.e. FIR No.546 dated 23.12.2023, under Sections 302, 307, 506, 148, 149 IPC and Sections 25, 27, 54, 59 Arms Act, P.S. Goindwal Sahib and FIR No.02 dated 07.01.2024, under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 120-B IPC and 07 PC Act 1988 Amendment 2018 PS Sadar Tarn Taran.

4. I have heard the learned counsel for the parties and perused the record carefully.

5. In the present case, the allegations levelled against the petitioner is that he had fired shot at the complainant, however, the complainant had saved himself. However, the said fire shot had hit Sakatar Singh on is right shoulder and Sakatar Singh has already been discharged from the hospital in the present case. The prosecution has yet to lead evidence with regard to the involvement of the petitioner in the crime Thus, the further custody of the petitioner will not serve any useful purpose.

6. Without commenting on the merits of the case, the present petition is allowed. The petitioner is ordered to be released on bail pending trial on his furnishing bail bonds and surety to the satisfaction of the concerned trial Court/

Duty Magistrate/Chief Judicial Magistrate subject to the following conditions:-

(i) The petitioner shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case, so as to dissuade him to disclose such facts to the Court or to any other authority.

(ii) The petitioner shall remain present before the Court on the dates fixed for hearing of the case.

(iii) The petitioner shall not absent himself from the Court proceedings except on the prior permission of the Court concerned.

(iv) The petitioner shall surrender his passport, if any, (if already not surrendered), and in case he is not holder of the same, he shall swear an affidavit to that effect.

(v) The petitioner shall also file his affidavit before the concerned Court, mentioning his ordinary place of residence and number of mobile phone, which shall be used by him during the pendency of the trial. In case of change of place of residence/mobile number, h