Hargurbhej Singh @ Gurbhej Singh v. State Of Punjab

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA

AT CHANDIGARH (Through Video-conferencing) Date of Decision: 02.08.2021 Hargurbhej Singh @ Gurbhej Singh ......Petitioner Vs State of Punjab .....Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJ MOHAN SINGH Present:Mr. Jagjit Singh, Advocate for the petitioner.

Mr. Amar Ashok Pathak, Addl., A.G., Punjab.

**** RAJ MOHAN SINGH, J.(Oral) CRM No.15904 of 2021 This is an application for addition of offences under Sections 419, 420, 467, 473, 120-B IPC in the head note and prayer clause of the petition and also for placing on record the amended memo of parties.

Notice of this application.

Mr. Amar Ashok Pathak, Addl., A.G., Punjab accepts notice on behalf of the State.

 For the reasons mentioned in the application, the same is allowed. Offences under Sections 419, 420, 467, 473, 120-B IPC are allowed to be incorporated in the head note and prayer clause of the petition. Amended memo of parties is also taken on record.

Application stands disposed of.

CRM No.12992 of 2021 Learned counsel for the applicant/petitioner wishes to withdraw the present application.

Dismissed as withdrawn.

Main case.

Petitioner seeks grant of regular bail under Section 439 Cr.P.C in case bearing FIR No.17 dated 03.02.2021 registered under Sections 419, 420, 465, 467, 468, 471, 473, 120-B at Police Station Goindwal Sahib, District Tarn Taran. FIR was registered on the basis of secret information with the allegations that accused namely Hargurbhej Singh @ Gurbhej Singh, Kuldeep Singh @ Raju, Gurjashandeep Singh @ Jashan, Dilbag Singh, Happy Kang and Soni Bhrowal have formed a gang and they used to prepare fake driving licences and other fake documents. Gurbhej Singh and Kuldeep Singh

 are alleged to have involved in preparation of false documents by affixing fake stamps on the shop of one Muglani Photostat. They used to do the same work on other photostat shops as well. Gurjashandeep Singh and some other persons used to bring customers for preparing fake driving licences and other documents. A raid was conducted on the shop of Gurbhej Singh. He was arrested with 11 fake stamps of DTO Tarn Taran, Amritsar and Tehsildar Khadur Sahib besides other fake stamps of other authorities. Similarly raid was conducted on the shop of Kuldeep Singh and he was arrested along with Gurjashandeep Singh. Three fake stamps were recovered form his shop as per disclosure statement of Gurjashandeep Singh. Some other material like coloured printer, CPU and laptop were also recovered from the shop of Kuldeep Singh.

In the disclosure statement of Gurjashandeep Singh, co-accused Inderjit Singh, Kamaljit Singh, Shamsher Singh and Pardeep were nominated. Co-accused Pardeep, Dilbag Singh and Happy Kang were granted interim bail and those petitions are sill pending. Kamaljit Singh has been granted regular bail vide order dated 06.07.2021 passed in CRM-M No.15858 of 2021. Learned State counsel, however, opposed the bail on the ground that the petitioner is one of the gang members and the accused are involved in forgery and cheating.

 The factual position of the case is not in dispute. Offence is triable by the Magistrate, challan has been presented on 04.05.2021, but charges have not been framed so far. The trial of the case may take some time in its culmination. Looking to the aforesaid facts and in view of the situation arising out due to COVID-19 pandemic, I deem it appropriate to enlarge the petitioner on regular bail without adverting to the merits of the case.

In view of above, petition is allowed. Petitioner is ordered to be released on regular bail, subject to his furnishing adequate bail bonds/surety bonds to the satisfaction of the trial Court/concerned Duty Magistrate.

Nothing expressed hereinabove would be construed to be an expression of any opinion on merits of the case. (RAJ MOHAN SINGH) 02.08.2021 JUDGE Prince Whether speaking/reasoned Yes/No Whether reportable Yes/No