The court made the interim anticipatory bail absolute after the petitioner joined the investigation and the State submitted that the petitioner was no longer required for further investigation.

RUPINDERJIT CHAHAL, J. (ORAL)

1. Through the instant petition filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short “BNSS”), the petitioner seeks anticipatory bail in case FIR No.140 dated 14.07.2025 registered under Sections 318(4), 338 and 336(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, at Police Station City Budhlada, District Mansa.

2. On 09.04.2026, the following order was passed by this Court: -

“Prayer in the present petition filed under Section 482 of the BNSS, 2023 is for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner in case FIR No.140 dated 14.07.2025 registered under Sections 318(4), 338 and 336(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, at Police Station City Budhlada, District Mansa.

Learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted that the petitioner has been falsely implicated in the present case and he has no concern with the said offence. She further submitted that the petitioner is merely an employee of the company i.e. KGFS Private Limited. She argued that the alleged activities came to the knowledge of the authorities on 17.03.2025 but the FIR in question was registered on 14.07.2025 i.e. after an unexplained delay of around 04 months, casting serious doubt on the prosecution story. She further argued that the petitioner is not the beneficiary to the alleged fraud and the only allegation against him is that he prepared forged identity cards and used the same for advancing loan to fictitious persons. She argued that the petitioner has been made scapegoat by the prosecution as no departmental enquiry was conducted against him. Further, co-accused persons have already been granted the concession of anticipatory bail by this Court. Moreover, the petitioner has clean antecedents as he is not involved in any other case. No recovery is to be effected from him. Learned counsel has further submitted that the petitioner is ready and willing to join the investigation as and when called upon to do so by the investigating agency.

On the other hand, learned State counsel has filed the status report in the matter, which is taken on record and while referring to the same, he has opposed the prayer for grant of anticipatory bail, by submitting that the allegations levelled against the petitioner are serious in nature as he has been specifically named in the FIR. However, he has not controverted the fact that the petitioner is a first time offender as he is not involved in any other case.

Adjourned to 24.04.2026.

In the meantime, the petitioner is directed to join investigation within a week from today and would appear as and when required by the Investigating Officer and cooperate with the Investigating Agency. In the event of arrest, he shall be admitted to interim bail on furnishing of bail/surety bonds to the satisfaction of Arresting/Investigating Officer. The petitioner shall also abide by the conditions as envisaged under Section 482(2) of BNSS, 2023.”

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that in compliance of the order dated 09.04.2026 passed by this Court, the petitioner has joined the investigation.

4. Learned counsel for the State, on instructions of ASI Manohar Singh, has submitted that the petitioner has joined the investigation and is no longer required for further investigation.

5. In view of the statement made by learned State counsel, the interim order dated 09.04.2026 passed by this Court, is made absolute. The petitioner shall continue to join investigation, as and when called by the Investigating Officer and shall also abide by the conditions as provided under Section 482(2) of the BNSS.