Pritpal Singh @ Mann v. State Of Punjab

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA

AT CHANDIGARH 210+233

  

1. CRM-M-48713-2025 (O&M) PRITPAL SINGH @ MANN .... PETITIONER V/S STATE OF PUNJAB .... RESPONDENT

2. CRM-M-51740-2025 (O&M) PRINCE KUMAR @ PRINCE AND ANOTHER .... PETITIONERS V/S STATE OF PUNJAB .... RESPONDENT CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SUBHAS MEHLA Present :

Mr. Rahul Garg, Advocate for the petitioner (in CRM-M-48713-2025).

Mr. Sandeep Chopra, Advocate for the petitioner (in CRM-M-51740-2025).

Mr. Subhash Godara, Addl. A.G., Punjab.

**** SUBHAS MEHLA, J. (Oral) 1.

By this common order, petitions bearing CRM-M-48713-2025 and CRM-M-51740-2025 are being decided together as both the petitions are related to common FIR. For brevity, facts are taken from CRM-M51740-2025.

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Prayer in the present petition under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023 is for grant of regular bail to the petitioner(s) in case bearing FIR No.73 dated 18.05.2025, under Sections 308(2), 235, 205, 127(2), 351, 61(2) of BNS, 2023 (Sections 111, 338, 336(3), 340(2) of BNS added later on) registered at Police Station Sadar Patiala, District Patiala. 3.

The brief facts of the case are that, on 10.04.2025 complainant received telephone call from a lady. Allegedly the said lady had requested the complainant to come to her house for hair cut of her husband. Thereafter, when the complainant went to her house, she was present along with 02 other ladies; one of the ladies forced the complainant to remove his clothes, while another lady started removing her own clothes. At that very moment, three unknown persons barged in including the present petitioners. The said persons made a video of complainant and extorted money from him under the threat that this video will be uploaded on the internet. The complainant transferred Rs. 20,000/- to the accused and later filed an FIR. During investigation, the petitioner(s) were arrested. 4.

Counsel for the petitioner(s), inter alia, contends that the petitioner(s) are falsely implicated in the present case and there is inordinate delay in lodging the FIR. It is further contended that the petitioner namely Pritpal Singh is in custody since 18.05.2025 whereas Prince Kumar has been behind the bars since 19.05.2025. t is further contended that the FIR in the present case, has been lodged after an inordinate delay of 01 month and 08 days. He also contended that challan is yet to be presented and conclusion of

-3trial will take long time. So, prayer is made that the petitioner(s) be released on bail.

5.

Present petition(s) are resisted by the State counsel, who submits that the present petitioner(s) are involved in an organized crime and members of the gang, who are indulging in extortion of money under the threat by preparing video clips by luring innocent victims and upon disclosure statements of the accused, recoveries of fake uniforms, ID Cards and other incriminating evidences have been made and hence, prayed for dismissal of the bail application.

6.

This Court has considered the submissions made by the counsel for the parties.

7.

Admittedly, there is no material on the file to show that except the present case, the petitioner(s) are involved in any other criminal activities. Present FIR is lodged after delay of more than one month. Investigation has already been completed; present petitioner(s) are in custody since 18.05.2025 and trial will take sufficient time to conclude. Thus, no useful purpose is going to be served by detaining the petitioner(s) in custody for any further period.

8.

In view of the above, without commenting on the merits of the case, the present petition(s) are allowed and the petitioner(s) are ordered to be released on regular bail subject to their furnishing bail bonds/surety bonds

-4to the satisfaction of the trial Court/Chief Judicial Magistrate/Duty Magistrate concerned.

(SUBHAS MEHLA) JUDGE 07.11.2025 Whether speaking/reasoned : Yes/No Whether Reportable : Yes/No