Manisha Rani v. State Of Punjab

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA

AT CHANDIGARH 214/2 2024:PHHC:044793 CRM-M-2337-2024 Date of decision: April 3rd, 2024 Manisha Rani .....Petitioner

Versus

State of Punjab .....Respondent

CORAM:

HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE MANJARI NEHRU KAUL

Present:

Mr. Suneet Pal Singh Aulakh, Advocate for the petitioner.

Mr. Navdeep Singh, Deputy Advocate General, Punjab. Mr. Manish Kumar Singla, Advocate with Ms. Shikha Singla and Mr. Dinesh Kumar, Advocates for the complainant.

MANJARI NEHRU KAUL, J. (ORAL) Petitioner is seeking the concession of anticipatory bail under Section 438 of the Cr.P.C. in case FIR No.206 dated 12.12.2023 under Sections 406, 420 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Section 13 of Punjab Travel Professional (Regulation) Act, 2014, registered at Police Station Civil Lines, Patiala. 2.

Vide order dated 16.01.2024, the petitioner had been granted interim anticipatory bail with direction to join investigation and the relevant part of the said order reads as under:- "Learned counsel inter alia contends that a perusal of the allegations leveled in the FIR clearly reveals that the only role attributed to the petitioner is that she along with her husband introduced the complainant to a Travel Agent on an assurance that he would help in sending her abroad, and for which PUNEET SACHDEVA 2024.04.03 17:22 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document Chandigarh

CRM-M-2337-2024 -2an amount of `17.00 lacs was given to the Travel Agent. Learned counsel submits that it is a matter of record that not even a single penny was ever deposited in the account of the petitioner."

3.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that in compliance of order dated 16.01.2024, the petitioner has joined investigation and cooperated with the investigating agency. 4.

Learned State counsel, on instructions from ASI Davinder Dass, does not dispute the factum of the petitioner having joined investigation and cooperated with the investigating agency. He on further instructions submits that the petitioner is not required for further investigation much less for her custodial interrogation. 5.

In view of the above, the petition is allowed and interim order dated 16.01.2024, is made absolute subject to the conditions laid down in Section 438(2) Cr.P.C.

April 3rd, 2024 (MANJARI NEHRU KAUL) Puneet JUDGE Whether speaking/reasoned :

Yes/No Whether reportable :

Yes/No PUNEET SACHDEVA 2024.04.03 17:22 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document Chandigarh