Amrik Singh v. State Of Punjab

CRM-M-20354-2026 -1IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CRM-M-20354-2026 Date of decision : 22.04.2026 Date of uploading : 22.04.2026 AMRIK SINGH .............Petitioner

Versus

STATE OF PUNJAB .......Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SUMEET GOEL

Present:

Mr. Davinder Singh Saini,



   


 


 --- SUMEET GOEL, J. (ORAL) 1.

Present petition has been filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short 'BNSS') for grant of regular bail to the petitioner in case FIR No.0134 dated 24.09.2025 under Sections 331(8), 305, 127(1), 324, 3(5) of BNS, registered at Police Station Chamkaur Sahib, District Rupnagar.

2.

The case set up in the FIR in question (as set out in the present petition by the petitioner) is as follows:- "Copy of the Statement," "Statement of Ramandeep Singh, son Amrik Singh, Advocate resident of Village and Post Office Bela, Police Station Sri Chamkaur Sahib, District Rupnagar, age about 37 years, mobile number 88990-00023, Stated that I am a resident of the above address and am a lawyer by profession, a petrol pump of our elder is in the name of Kisan HP Center in town Bela, which has been given to me in the distribution, I am the one who looks after, maintains and operates the said received a date petrol pump in every aspect, on 21.09.2025 at around 05:30 AM in the morning. I call from my petrol pump operator Varinder Kumar, son of Shri Krishan Chand, resident of Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, who has been working on my petrol pump for the past 08-09 years. He told me that the room of the petrol pump in which he and Surjit Singh, son of Shri Bakka Ram, resident of village Alfa, Police Station Dhira, Tehsil Dhira, District Kangra, Himachal Pradesh were sleeping,

CRM-M-20354-2026 -2that room was locked by some unknown person/persons has locked the door from outside and imprisoned him in the room and the theft in the pump office has been committed by those unknown persons. They a I immediately reached the spot. On which immediately opened the camera of my pump in my phone and checked it and found that there were 03 men who had covered their faces with white cloth, one of whom was wearing thick red and black checked shirt and the same person was wearing a green lower and had a tattoo on his right arm, the second person was wearing a dark brown T-shirt and a black lower and the third person was wearing a pale brown T-shirt and green lower. According to my petrol pump CCTV, at around 01.

45 AM, Both the locks of the shutters were broken with object and after that the glass door of the office opened and forcibly entered. The abovesaid was firstly opened the drawer of my counter person where I sit with a screwdriver and broke it. Then the abovesaid person also broken the small table belonging to my operator Virendra kumar, out of which the amount of oil sold on the intervining night of 20/21.09.2025, which was about Rs. 30,000/-, was stolen by breaking the drawer and the flag of our own petrol pump, which is blue and white in color, on which H. P. Logo The stolen money was wrapped in that flag, after which the the black above mentioned persons took iron cupboard lying in our office out of the office and took it to the oil tank of our own pump and broke it with an iron bar.

This entire incident the CCTV cameras installed at was our captured on petrol pump. After that, on seeing all the above in my phone, I reached the petrol pump, where all the circumstances were found to be correct and true. Then I informed the local police and the police reached the spot and took my operator out from the room. We have been searching for the thieves on our own level till now, about whom we have not been able to find any clue so far. Today I have come to the police post Bela and have my statement recorded. Appropriate legal action should be taken against the three unknown persons, from whom I am in danger of my life and property, they can cause any other loss to my life and property at any time, I have recorded my statement, which I have read, heard which is correct, action should be taken.

SD/-Ramandeep Singh Confirmed statement sd/ Lakhwinder Singh, Attested sd/-Sukhwinder Singh ASI, Incharge PP Bela, Police Station Sri Chamkaur Sahib dated 24.09.2025. 3.

Learned counsel for the petitioner has argued that the petitioner is in custody since 02.01.2026. Learned counsel has further argued that the petitioner has been falsely implicated in the FIR in question on account of his antecedents. It is further submitted that the alleged incident took place on 24.09.2025, whereas the petitioner came to be arrested on 02.01.2026. Learned counsel has also submitted that no effective recovery has been made from the petitioner. It is further argued that the requisite TIP (Test Identification Parade) was not conducted by the police in accordance with law. Thus, regular bail is prayed for. 4.

Learned State counsel has opposed the present petition by

CRM-M-20354-2026 -3arguing that the allegations raised are serious in nature and thus the petitioner does not deserve the concession of the regular bail. Learned State counsel seeks to place on record custody certificate dated 22.04.2026 in Court, which is taken on record. 5.

I have heard counsel for the parties and have gone through the available records of the case.

6.

The petitioner was arrested on 02.01.2026, and it is not in dispute before this Court that he has been in continuous custody since then. The conclusion of the investigation, and of the trial emanating therefrom, if occasion so arises, will indubitably take a long time. The rival contentions raised by learned counsel give rise to debatable issues which shall be ratiocinated upon during the course of trial. This Court does not deem it appropriate to delve deep into these rival contentions, at this stage, lest it may prejudice the trial. Nothing tangible has been brought forward to indicate the likelihood of the petitioner absconding from the process of justice or interfering with the prosecution evidence. 6.1 As per custody certificate dated 22.04.2026 filed by learned State counsel, the petitioner has already suffered incarceration for a period of 3 months and 17 days and is not shown to be involved in any other case.

Suffice to say, further detention of the petitioner as an undertrial is not warranted in the facts and circumstances of the case. 7.

In view of above, the present petition is allowed. Petitioner is ordered to be released on regular bail on his furnishing bail/surety bonds to the satisfaction of the Ld. concerned CJM/Duty Magistrate. However, in addition to conditions that may be imposed by the concerned

CRM-M-20354-2026 -4CJM/Duty Magistrate, the petitioner shall remain bound by the following conditions:- (i) The petitioner shall not mis-use the liberty granted. (ii) The petitioner shall not tamper with any evidence, oral or documentary, during the trial.

(iii) The petitioner shall not absent himself on any date before the trial.

(iv) The petitioner shall not commit any offence while on bail. (v) The petitioner shall deposit his passport, if any, with the trial Court.

(vi) The petitioner shall give his cell-phone number to the Investigating Officer/SHO of concerned Police Station and shall not change his cell-phone number without prior permission of the trial Court/Illaqa Magistrate.

(vii) The petitioner shall not in any manner try to delay the trial. 8.

In case of breach of any of the aforesaid conditions and those which may be imposed by concerned CJM/Duty Magistrate as directed hereinabove or upon showing any other sufficient cause, the State/complainant shall be at liberty to move cancellation of bail of the petitioner.

9.

Ordered accordingly.

10.

Nothing said hereinabove shall be construed as an expression of opinion on the merits of the case.

11.

 









 



 
  (SUMEET GOEL) JUDGE 22.04.2026
 Whether speaking/reasoned:

Yes/No Whether reportable:

Yes/No