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High Court of Punjab and HaryanaCRM-M/30439/2020dismissed

Baljeet Singh v. State Of Punjab

2020-09-30Mr. Justice Harsimran Singh Sethi2 pages

CRM-M-30439-2020

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA

AT CHANDIGARH.

(106) CRM-M-30439-2020 Date of Decision: September 30, 2020 Baljeet Singh .. Petitioner

Versus

State of Punjab .. Respondent (Through video conferencing) CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HARSIMRAN SINGH SETHI

Present:

Mr. P.K.S. Phoolka, Advocate, for the petitioners. Mr. Sandeep Singh Deol, Deputy Advocate General, Punjab. HARSIMRAN SINGH SETHI, J.(ORAL) Present petition has been filed under Section 438 Cr.P.C for the grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner in respect of FIR No.164 dated 15.09.2020 under Section 61/1/14 of the Punjab Excise Act, 1914 registered at Police Station Nehianwala, District Bhatinda. Learned counsel for the petitioner argues that as the petitioner was opposing the setting up of the liquor vend in the residential area at Village Jandawala, he has falsely been roped in the present FIR on the asking of the liquor contractor. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner has not committed any offence as alleged in the FIR and as he is ready to join the investigation and co-operate with the same, he may be granted the benefit of anticipatory bail.

Notice of motion.

Mr. Sandeep Singh Deol, learned Deputy Advocate General, Punjab, who has joined the proceedings through video conference, keeping NARESH KUMAR 2020.10.01 14:17 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document Chandigarh

CRM-M-30439-2020 in view the service of advance copy of petition, accepts notice on behalf of the respondent.

Learned counsel for the respondent submits that the petitioner was a habitual of distilling illicit liquor at his house and sell the same. Learned counsel for the respondent further submits that 100 litres of Lahan, which was used for manufacturing the illicit liquor has been recovered and therefore, the petitioner's custodial interrogation is very necessary to unearth the truth about manufacturing and selling of illicit liquor and the prayer of the petitioner for the grant of anticipatory bail may kindly be declined. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and have gone through the record with their able assistance. As per the allegation, which is very serious in nature, 100 litres of Lahan, which is used for manufacturing the illicit liquor has been recovered.

The custodial interrogation is necessary to find out the truth so as to unearth the modus operandi not only in manufacturing of the illicit liquor but of the selling of the same as well. Due to the consumption of spurious illicit liquor, a large number of civilians have lost their life. Keeping in view the above, as the allegations against the petitioner, are grievous and the investigation to unearth the truth of manufacutring and selling of illicit liquor is required to be done to the maximum extent possible and the same can only be done during the custodial interrogation, no ground is made out for the grant of the benefit of anticipatory bail to the petitioner.

Dismissed.

September 30, 2020 (HARSIMRAN SINGH SETHI) harsha/naresh.k JUDGE Whether speaking/reasoned:

Yes/No Whether reportable:

Yes/No NARESH KUMAR 2020.10.01 14:17 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document Chandigarh