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High Court of Punjab and HaryanaCRM-M/17212/2018allowed

Ranjit Singh v. State Of Punjab

2018-08-03Mr. Justice Gurmit Ram3 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT

CHANDIGARH Criminal Misc. No. M-17212 of 2018 (O&M) Date of decision: 03.08.2018 Ranjit Singh ..Petitioner

Versus

State of Punjab ..Respondent

CORAM:

HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE DAYA CHAUDHARY

Present:

Mr. G.S. Kaura, Advocate for the petitioner.

Mr. C.L. Pawar, Sr. DAG, Punjab for the respondent -State.

*** Daya Chaudhary, J. (Oral) The present petition has been filed under Section 439 Cr.P.C. on behalf of petitioner-Ranjit Singh for grant of regular bail in case FIR No.039 dated 04.02.2018 registered under Sections 382, 392, 473 read with Section 120-B of Indian Penal Code, Sections 397, 379-B, 411 and 201 IPC added subsequently and Section 25/54/59 of the Arms Act at Police Station Zirakpur, District SAS Nagar, Mohali.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner has falsely been implicated in the case and no recovery was effected from him. The alleged recovery has been planted falsely upon the petitioner. Learned counsel further submits that the petitioner has not been named in the FIR and no role has been attributed to him. It is a case of theft of vehicle, which was allegedly stolen/snatched from the driver by some unknown persons and recovery of the vehicle was not made from the

Criminal Misc. No. M-17212 of 2018 petitioner. Learned counsel also submits that the FIR was registered on the basis of secret information. As per case of the prosecution, three accused were apprehended and recovery of the vehicle was effected from all three accused. The petitioner is in custody since 10.02.2018 and no purpose would be served by keeping the petitioner in custody. No independent witness was joined at the time of recovery of the vehicle and as such, there is no independent corroboration to show that the recovery was effected from the petitioner. Even the signature of the petitioner is not there on the recovery memo, which indicates falsity of the case of the prosecution upon the petitioner.

The petitioner undertakes to abide by all terms and conditions to be imposed by this Court or by the trial Court and also undertakes not to pressurize or influence the witnesses or tamper with the evidence. Learned counsel also submits that the petitioner has been implicated in the case only on the basis of disclosure statement, which has no evidentiary value and cannot be relied upon. Learned counsel also submits that the co-accused of the petitioner, namely, Dilraj, against whom same allegations are there, has approached this Court by way of filing Criminal Misc. No. M-20098 of 2018 and has been released on regular bail vide order dated 04.07.2018. Learned counsel for the petitioner has also relied upon judgments rendered by this Court in Harpreet Singh vs. State of Punjab, 2015(34) RCR (Criminal) 350 and State of Punjab vs.

Harbhajan Singh, 1991(3) RCR (Criminal) 403 in support of his contentions.

Criminal Misc. No. M-17212 of 2018 the basis of disclosure statement made by the co-accused. Heard arguments of learned counsel for the petitioner as well as learned State counsel and have also perused the contents of the FIR and other documents available on the file.

Admittedly, the petitioner was not named in the FIR and subsequently, he has been implicated on the basis of disclosure statement made by co-accused. Two persons were named in the FIR and there is no reference regarding involvement of third person as per version of the prosecution. The recovery of the vehicle has already been effected from co-accused, namely, Harsimran Singh @ Simran and Ajaypal. There is no history of previous involvement of the petitioner in any other criminal case. The trial may take some time to conclude. Moreover, the disclosure statement has no evidentiary value and the same is not admissible in evidence under law. The vehicle in dispute was snatched from the driver by some unknown persons and no recovery was effected from the petitioner. The petitioner is in custody since 10.02.2018. In view of the facts as mentioned above, the present petition is allowed and the petitioner (Ranjit Singh) is directed to be released on regular bail subject to his furnishing bail/surety bonds to the satisfaction of the trial Court.

03.08.2018 (DAYA CHAUDHARY) neetu JUDGE Whether speaking/reasoned Yes Whether Reportable No