CRM-17729-2026

Present application has been filed for condonation of delay of 93 days in filing the accompanying appeal.

Hon’ble Supreme Court vide order dated 11.12.2025, passed in Writ Petition(s)(Criminal) No(s). 114/2024 titled as ‘Sushila Devi and Anr. Vs. Union of India through NIA & Ors.’ has technically directed this High Court to decide the appeals on merits without considering the delay and the same reads as follows:-

‘Crl.A. No. 20/2022 :

The High Court is at liberty to decide the appeal)(s) if any already pending, on merits and in accordance with law notwithstanding the delay that has occassioned in filing the appeal(s).

List the appeal on 24.03.2026.

W.P.(Crl.) No.114/2024,, SLP(Crl) No. 5229/2024, SLP(Crl) No. 5245/2024:

List the matters on 24.03.2026.

SLP(Crl) No. 1742/2024 and and Diary No(s). 51829/2025:

We request the High Court(s) to dispose of the appeal(s) on merits, notwithstanding the delay in filing these appeal(s) and the earlier orders(s) of dismissal, on appropriate applications being filed by the parties List the matters on 24.03.2026.

SLP(Crl) No. 3968-3974/2025 :

We have heard Sh. R. Basant, the learned Senior counsel appearing for the petitioner and Sh. Raj Thakre, learned Additional Solicitor General appearing for the respondent.

We take note of the submissions made by the learned Senior counsel appearing for the petitioner that notwithstanding the earlier directions issued by this Court on 20.05.2025, the trial has not progressed sufficiently.

Accordingly, we issue a specific direction to the Trial Court to expedite the hearing and if possible, to conduct day-to-day hearings, particularly when the petitioner is languishing under incarceration for more than 8½ years. The report will have to be filed before this Court on or before 15.03.2026 with respect to the progress made in the trial.

We further direct the trial Court to complete the examination of the protected witnesses.

List the matters on 24.03.2026.”

Given above, present application is allowed. Delay of 93 days in filing the accompanying appeal, is condoned.

Main appeal

1. Aggrieved by the dismissal of regular bail by the Additional Sessions Judge, Gurdaspur vide order dated 19.12.2025, the appellant had come before this Court by filing the present appeal, seeking bail in the FIR mentioned above.

2. The facts of the case are being taken from the reply dated 04.05.2026, filed by the DySP, Sub Division City Batala, Police District Batala, same reads as follows:-

“That on 17.05.2025, SI Gurmeet Singh (hereinafter referred to as "the complainant"), along with other police officials, was present on routine patrolling duty when he received reliable information from a secret informer that near shutter of the wine shop, in the vicinity of Universe Factory, Focal Point a grenade type thing had been thrown by unknown persons. Acting upon the said information, a ruqa was prepared and sent to the Police Station, on the basis of which FIR No. 148 dated 17.05.2025 was registered initially under Sections 4 and 5 of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908 at Police Station Civil Lines, Batala against unknown persons.

ii. That thereafter the complainant along with the police party reached the spot and considering the nature of the information, the Bomb Disposal Squad was immediately called to the place of occurrence. In the presence of then Deputy Superintendent of Police, City Batala and other police officials, one grenade was recovered from the aforesaid spot and the same was safely disposed of by the Bomb Disposal Squad.

iii. That subsequently, on 18.05.2025, Report No.0025-06/B.D.D.T/B.R/A.S.R dated 18.05.2025 was received from the Bomb Disposal and Detection Team, wherein it was opined that the recovered object was a live ARGES Grenade 86. The said report further mentioned that the safety pin of the grenade had already been removed and the same had been safely disposed of by the Bomb Disposal Squad. It was also noted that the said grenade contained a hig