Manjit Singh @ Paster Manjit Singh v. State Of Punjab And ANR

-1IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH (206) Date of Decision: 21.4.2026 Manjit Singh @ Paster Manjit Singh ......Petitioner

Versus

State of Punjab and another .....Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE KIRTI SINGH

Present:

Mr. Saurav Rao, Advocate for the petitioner.

Mr. Yadwinder Singh, AAG, Punjab.

Mr. Hitesh Chopra, Advocate for respondent No. 2.

**** KIRTI SINGH , J. (ORAL) 1.

Prayer in the present petition filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short 'BNSS'), is for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner, in case FIR No. 40 dated 20.4.2025, under Sections 127(4), 61(2), 137(2), 87 and 70(1) of BNS, registered at Police Station Dera Baba Nanak, Police District Batala, District Gurdaspur. 2.

Mr. Hitesh Chopra, Advocate puts in appearance on behalf of respondent No. 2 and files his power of attorney, which is taken on record. 3.

Status report by way of affidavit of Deputy Superintendent of Police, Sub Division Dera Baba Nanak, Police District Batala has been filed by the State, which is taken on record.

4.

Vide order dated 08.4.2026, the petitioner was directed to join investigation. The said order is reproduced hereinafter:- "x x x x

-2Learned counsel for the petitioner inter alia submits that the petitioner, a pastor by profession, has been falsely implicated in the present case on the statement of the prosecutrix. It is submitted that, as per the allegations leveled in the FIR, the prosecutrix was allegedly abducted from her workplace by co-accused Sawar Masih along with other co-accused and was forcibly taken to an undisclosed location. The only role attributed to the petitioner is that he offered prayers and administered holy water to the prosecutrix, on the asking of the mother of the main accused. Learned counsel submits that the petitioner had bonafide intentions throughout, and had no knowledge regarding the commission of the alleged offences.

Moreover, no overt act with respect to the alleged offences of kidnapping, wrongful confinement, sexual assault, or criminal conspiracy has been attributed to the petitioner. It is further submitted that, the similarly placed co-accused namely Rimmy Masih and Rajinder Masih have already been granted the interim protection by this Court in the anticipatory bail petitions filed by them. Learned counsel further submits that there is no material on record that points towards the complicity of the petitioner, who is ready and willing to join investigation and cooperate.

Notice of motion.

At the asking of the Court, Ms. Guramrit Kaur, DAG, Punjab accepts notice on behalf of respondent-State. Adjourned to 21.04.2026.

In the meantime, the petitioner is directed to join investigation before the Investigating Agency/Officer. He shall abide by the following conditions as envisaged under Section 482(2) BNSS, 2023;-

(1) That the petitioner shall make himself available for interrogation by a police officer as and when required to do so. (2) That the petitioner shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts to the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such facts to Court or to any police officer.

(3) That the petitioner shall not leave India without prior permission of the Court.

Needless to mention that the investigating agency/officer shall continue with the investigation of the case in usual manner."

-35.

Learned State counsel on instructions from ASI Sukhdev Singh, submits that in compliance of order dated 08.4.2026, the petitioner has joined the investigation on 20.4.2026 and is not required for any further investigation.

6.

Having considered the aforesaid facts and circumstances, the petition is allowed. Order dated 08.4.2026 passed by this Court, is hereby made absolute, subject to the condition enumerated under Section 482(2) BNSS.

7.

This order should not be treated as "blanket" order. It will not be read as granting the petitioner(s) indefinite protection from arrest. It shall be confined to the FIR mentioned ibid and will not operate in respect of any other incident that involves commission of an offence. 8.

Liberty is reserved with the investigating agency/complainant to move to this Court for a direction under Section 483(3) of BNSS, 2023 (erstwhile Section 439(2) of Cr.P.C.), in the event of violation of any term, stipulated under Section 482(2) BNSS, or upon showing any other sufficient cause.

9.

Pending miscellaneous application(s), if any, also stands disposed of.

(KIRTI SINGH) JUDGE April 21st, 2026 Gurpreet Singh Whether speaking/reasoned :

Yes/No Whether reportable :

Yes/No