Harshdeep Chauhan v. State Of Punjab

CRM-M-47069-2024 1

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

CRMM No. 470692024 (O&M) Date of Decision: 20.09.2024 Harshdeep Chauhan .....Petitioner versus State of Punjab and another .....Respondents











 

Present :

Mr. Harpreet S.Rakhra, Advocate, for the petitioner. Mr. Gagneshwar Walia, Addl. Advocate General, Punjab. Mr. Tanvir Singh Grewal, Advocate, for the complainant. **** 



 

 The petitioner apprehends her arrest in respect of offences punishable under Sections 406 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code and under Section 24 of the Immigration Act, 1983 in FIR No. 89 dated 22.08.2024 registered at Police Station NRI, District SAS Nagar, Mohali. 2.

The element of sympathy being an Advocate of 36 years of age and a nursing child of 8 months has been raised by the petitioner. The allegation against the petitioner is that she being a practicing Advocate in Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association received an amount of Rs. 8.92 lacs by posing herself as an agent for obtaining immigration visa for the complainantHarpal Singh but failed to provide the same. RAVINDER KUMAR 2024.09.23 19:00 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

CRM-M-47069-2024 2 3.

Had this been the first instance, this Court may have considered the matter but the case diary indicates that on similar allegations, following three FIRs have been registered against the petitioner: i) FIR No. 56 dated 21.05.2022 under Sections 406, 420 of the Indian Penal Code and under Section 13 of the Punjab Travel Professional Act, Police Station Navi Baradari, Police Commissionerate, Jalandhar;

ii) FIR No. 113 dated 07.09.2022 under Sections 406 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code at Police Station Kotwali Nabha, District Patiala; and iii) FIR No. 45 dated 30.03.2022 under Sections 406/420 IPC and Section 13 of the Punjab Travel Professionals (Regulation) Act, 2014 at Police Station Maqsudan, District Jalandhar Rural, Though in all these FIRs, the petitioner has been granted the concession of anticipatory bail but in none of them she has been acquitted so far.

4.

Considering the criminal antecedents of the petitioner and the seriousness of the allegations, the gravity of the offence outweighs the element of sympathy raised by the petitioner. Accordingly, the petition stands dismissed.

(SHEEL NAGU) CHIEF JUSTICE 20.09.2024 ravinder Whether speaking/reasoned √Yes/No Whether reportable Yes/No√ RAVINDER KUMAR 2024.09.23 19:00 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document