Vikramjit Singh @ Bikramjit Singh v. State Of Punjab

CRM-M-3006-2021 & CRM-M-4633-2021 -1IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of decision : August 31, 2021 1.

CRM No. M-3006 of 2021 (O&M) Vikramjit Singh @ Bikramjit Singh vs State of Punjab 2.

CRM No. M-4633 of 2021 (O&M) Sohan Lal vs State of Punjab Coram:

Hon'ble Mr. Justice Fateh Deep Singh Present :

Mr. Rajinder Singh Rana, Advocate for petitioner-Vikramjit Singh @ Bikramjit Singh Mr. Jaspreet Singh Brar, Advocate for petitioner-Sohan Lal Mr. Hittan Nehra, Addl. AG, Punjab Fateh Deep Singh, J. (Oral) The matter has been taken up through Videoconferencing on account of outbreak of pandemic COVID-19. This order shall dispose of aforesaid second regular bail applications of both the accused in case FIR No. 123 dated 19.12.2019, under Sections 489-B, 489-C IPC (Section 120-B of IPC added later on), Police Station Sadar Rupnagar and having been

CRM-M-3006-2021 & CRM-M-4633-2021 -2moved in the same FIR being co-accused are thus disposed of together by this common order.

The brief allegations are that on the basis of secret information, the police apprehended the petitioners on 19.12.2019 while going in a Maruti car bearing HR-03-L-6448. On personal search of accused-driver Vikramjit Singh @ Bikramjit Singh, 10 currency notes of Rs 2000/- each were recovered and from other person sitting in the car namely Sohan Lal, 15 currency notes of the same very denomination were got recovered which were subsequently found to be counterfeit.

Learned counsel for both the petitioners have argued that both the petitioners are behind the bars for more than one year and eight months and only minimal amount of Rs 20,000/- and Rs 30,000/- respectively have been recovered claiming that on account of present COVID-19 pandemic, the trial is yet to be initiated. Learned State counsel though does not displaces the facts but has strongly opposed the bail on the grounds that the counterfeit currency notes have been recovered from the conscious possession of the petitioners though concedes that there is no similar case of counterfeit currency against them till date. Appreciating the submissions, keeping in view the

CRM-M-3006-2021 & CRM-M-4633-2021 -3period of incarceration of one year and eight months, the fact that the trial is likely to be prolonged due to COVID-19 pandemic and without feeling the necessity to advert on to the merits, with a view to decongest the jail, this Court deems it appropriate to allow the bail to both the petitioners. Accordingly, both the petitioners are ordered to be released on regular bail on furnishing of two sureties of Rs 2 lacs each to the satisfaction of learned Chief Judicial Magistrate/Duty Magistrate, concerned.

Both the petitions stand disposed off accordingly. The observations made herein above shall have no bearing on the merits of the case as these are purely for the disposal of the present bail applications.

( Fateh Deep Singh ) August 31, 2021 Judge 'tiwana'

Whether speaking/reasoned ?

Yes/No Whether Reportable ?

Yes/No