Nripreet Singh @ Anny v. State Of Punjab

-1IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of decision : July 30, 2020 Nrippreet Singh @ Anny ....Petitioner versus State of Punjab ....Respondent Coram:

Hon'ble Mr. Justice Fateh Deep Singh Present :

Mr. SS Kainth, Advocate, for the petitioner Mr. Amit Mehta, Sr. DAG Punjab for the State Fateh Deep Singh, J. (Oral) The matter has been taken up through Videoconferencing on account of outbreak of pandemic COVID-19. Notice of motion.

After getting instructions, Mr. Amit Mehta, Sr. DAG Punjab puts in appearance on behalf of the State. Petitioner Nrippreet Singh alias Anny has come up in this second regular bail application in case FIR No. 2 dated 2.1.2020, under Section 379-B IPC, Sections 411/201 IPC added later on

-2Police Station City Faridkot, the first one having been declined by this Court on 3.6.2020.

The allegations in brief are that complainant Sukhdev Singh who is working with M/s Bharat Finance Limited Company as Manager had made statement that on 2.1.2020 while he was coming along with Baldev Singh his colleague on motorcycle after making recoveries they were stopped by a white coloured car out of which four young persons came out and snatched the bag they were carrying containing Rs 1,30,000/-. During the investigations it transpired that the petitioner-accused along with the complainant had hatched a conspiracy and confessed of the crime before the Officer of the company including Tarsem Singh. Learned counsel for the petitioner inter-alia contends that co-accused of the petitioner Hardev Singh alias Manta and Harpreet Singh alias Happy have been allowed regular bail by this Court vide orders dated 21.7.2020 Annexure P/5 and that the petitioner is behind the bars for more than 6 months and 15 days and challan has already been presented and there is no likelihood of stifling the investigations.

Learned State counsel does not displaces the facts but has opposed the grant of bail on the grounds that the petitioner is

-3instrumental in committing fraud with their own employer which disentitles him to any relief.

Going through the submissions, keeping in view the period of incarceration which is more than 61⁄2 months and in the light of the prevalent situation of pandemic, the trial is not likely to be expedited and the principle of parity as similarly placed co-accused have been allowed bail, this Court without feeling the necessity to further advert to the merits of the case, deems it appropriate to grant the bail. Accordingly, the petitioner is ordered to be released on regular bail to the satisfaction of learned Chief Judicial Magistrate/Duty Magistrate, concerned.

The present petition stands 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 application.

( Fateh Deep Singh ) July 30, 2020 Judge 'tiwana'

Whether speaking/reasoned ?

Yes/No Whether Reportable ?

Yes/No