Manjit Kaur @ Joti v. State Of Punjab

-1IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH. 1.

CRM-M-24474 of 2017 (O&M) Date of Decision: 13.09.2017 Manjit Kaur @ Joti ....Petitioner

VERSUS

State of Punjab ....Respondent 2.

CRM-M-25499 of 2017 Sandip Kaur ....Petitioner

VERSUS

State of Punjab ....Respondent 3.

CRM-M-30047of 2017 Paramjit Singh ....Petitioner

VERSUS

State of Punjab ....Respondent 4.

CRM-M-25198 of 2017 Kamaljit Singh @ Kamal ....Petitioner

VERSUS

State of Punjab ....Respondent CORAM:- HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURINDER GUPTA

Present:

Mr. P.S. Hundal, Advocate for the petitioner in CRM-M-24474-2017.

Mr. S.S. Sodhi, Advocate for Mr. A.S. Kalra, Advocate for the petitioner in CRM-M-25499-2017.

Mr. Bhoop Singh, Advocate for the petitioner in CRM-M-30047-2017.

Mr. Rahul Bhargava, Advocate for Ms. Ruhani Chadha, Advocate for the petitioner in CRM-M-25198-2017.

Mr. Luvinder Sofat, A.A.G. Punjab *******

-2SURINDER GUPTA, J.(Oral) Present petitions have been filed under Section 439 Code of Criminal Procedure for grant of regular bail to petitioners in case FIR No.117 dated 26.04.2017 registered for offences punishable under Sections 384, 388, 389 read with Sections 149 and 120-B of Indian Penal Code (for short, "IPC"), at Police Station City Jagraon, District Ludhiana. Heard.

Petitioners (except Manjit Kaur @ Joti, petitioner in CRM-M24474-2017) were arrested from Bus Stand Jagraon, where they were planning to implicate and blackmail innocent persons, whom they used to call on the pretext of arranging their meeting with ladies/girls. On conducting the raid, police apprehended Kamaljit Singh, Gudeep Singh, Paramjit Singh, Rupinder Singh, Sandeep Kaur and Sub-Inpsector Majit Singh. Manjit Kaur was later arrested on 29.04.2017. Learned State counsel submits that during investigation, police has recorded statement of one Ranjit Singh, who has identified petitioners and also stated that he was contacted by Manjit Kaur and called for his meeting with a lady, where all other accused named in the FIR came and threatened him either to come to CIA Staff Police Station or pay `2 lacs.

They had taken `3000/- from his purse and called him on 26.04.2017, on which date he paid `5000/- to accused. On their insistence, he went to commission agent to arrange for the remaining amount, which could not be arranged and ultimately he went home. Later through a news item he came to know that all the accused have been arrested by CIA Staff Ludhiana on 26.04.2017 from the Bus Stand Jagraon.

Petitioners in this case were arrested on 26.04.2017 and

-329.04.2047 and are in custody since then.

Learned State counsel submits that after completion of investigation, police has presented the challan against petitioners and trial is in progress.

In view of above but without expressing any opinion on merits of the case and keeping in view the fact that conclusion of trial will take considerably long time, present petitions are allowed. Petitioners, namely, Manjit Kaur @ Joti in CRM-M-24474-2017, Sandip Kaur in CRM-M25499-2017, Paramjit Singh in CRM-M-30047-2017 and Kamaljit Singh @ Kamal in CRM-M-25198-2017 are ordered to be released on regular bail on furnishing bail bond and surety bond to the satisfaction of concerned trial Court/Chief Judicial Magistrate/Duty Magistrate, subject to following terms:- (a) Petitioners shall comply with the conditions mentioned in Section 437(3) Cr.P.C.

(b) In the event of their absence on any date of hearing, the benefit of bail allowed to the petitioner shall stand withdrawn. The trial Court shall be competent to cancel their bail bond and surety bond and proceed to procure their presence in accordance with law. In that eventuality the petitioner shall have to apply for bail afresh. (c) They shall not leave the country without the previous permission of the Court.

September 13, 2017 ( SURINDER GUPTA ) jk JUDGE Whether speaking/reasoned Yes/No Whether reportable Yes/No