Lekhraj v. State Of Haryana

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA

AT CHANDIGARH Decided on : 10.03.2026 Lekhraj . . . Petitioner(s)

Versus

State of Haryana . . . Respondent(s)

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY VASHISTH PRESENT: Mr. Himanshu Bansal, Advocate for the petitioner(s).

Mr. Kanwar Sanjiv Kumar, AAG, Haryana.

**** SANJAY VASHISTH , J. (Oral) 1.

Present second petition has been filed under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023 (earlier Section 439 Cr.P.C.), for grant of regular bail to the petitioner, during the pendency of trial, who has been booked in a criminal case arising out of First Information Report, as detailed here-under:- Name of Petitioner(s) FIR No.

Date Section(s) Police Station District Lekhraj 21.10.2021 302, 307, 449, 34 of IPC Dhauj Faridabad and 25 & 25(1A) of Arms Act 2.

The complaint was registered at the instance of Bunty Kalyan, who is related as the brother-in-law of accused Neeraj Chawla. As per the version of the complainant, accused Neeraj Chawla and Lekhraj killed three persons in the family, namely (i) Suman (complainant's mother), (ii) Ayesha (complainant's sister), and (iii) Ranjan Sharma (complainant's friend). The allegations, as narrated by the complainant, read as under:-

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Yesterday night, on 20/10/2021, my friend Rajan Sharma, my nephew Saksham Chawla and I went to sleep in the upstairs room of the house after having dinner. I and my nephew Saksham were on the bed and Rajan Sharma slept on a mattress spread on the floor. My mother Suman and my sister Ayesha Chadla, both after having dinner, went to sleep on a bed in the downstairs room, which was around 2:45 in the morning today, dated On 21/10/21, I heard the sound of a gunshot. I saw that the bullet was fired by iny brother-in-law Niraj Chawla and his friend Lekhraj, who shot my friend Rajan Sharma. My brother-in-law Niraj Chawla shot me, the bullet hit the left side of my waist. At that time my nephew Saksham was not in the room and both of them left the room.

Then I immediately called my sister Ayesha, who told her that brother-in-law Niraj Chawla and his friend Lekhraj have shot me and Rajan Sharma and asked her to come upstairs immediately, in the meantime I heard the sound of gunfire from downstairs as well, then I called 100 and informed about the gunfire, after some time the police arrived there, I also came down after seeing the police and after coming down I saw that my mother Suman was lying dead on the bed and my sister Ayesha was lying dead and covered in blood below the bed. My mother Suman, sister Ayesha and friend Rajan Sharma died due to the bullets and I got injured by bullet in my waist. My brother in iaw Niraj Chawla and his friend Lekhraj fired these bullets with the intention to kill me.

The reason was resentment regarding money dealings and doubting the character of my sister Ayesha. I was brought to BK HOSPITAL in an injured state where the DOCTOR sahab treated me and referred me to a higher centre in Delhi. On receiving the information my in-laws also came to BK HOSPITAL and admitted me to ASIAN HOSPITAL where I am undergoing treatment. Strictest action should be taken against these people. SD GOUMSI Applicant Goumsi alias Gagan Galyan S/O Kishan R/O H.N. 1774A, SEC 55 Faridabad Date 21/10/2021 9599752572."

3.

Learned counsel for the petitioner argues that when 26 prosecution witnesses had been examined, the main accused - Neeraj Chawla was granted bail by the Hon'ble Apex Court vide order dated 13.08.2025. Therefore, the petitioner - Lekhraj is also entitled to the same relief.

However, on being asked by the Court, learned State counsel informs that the trial is near completion, as 35 witnesses have already been examined out of the total 43 cited prosecution witnesses. He further submits that considering the plight of the victim's family and the brutal act allegedly committed by the accused persons, the present regular bail petition deserves to be dismissed.

4.

I have considered the arguments raised by learned counsel for

- 3 - the parties and perused the order of bail passed by the Hon'ble Apex Court. It appears that the bail was granted to the accused - Neeraj Chawla primarily for the reason that some of the eye-witnesses, who had been examined, had not disclosed any material fact involving the said accused. It was also noticed therein that out of the total 43 witnesses, only 26 witnesses had been examined at that stage.

5.

However, in the present case, noticing the plight of the victim family, wherein, three family members have been murdered by accused persons, and noticing the fact that the first bail petition filed by the petitioner was dismissed as withdrawn on 13.05.2025, the present second petition is disposed of with a direction to the learned trial Court to decide the trial expeditiously, preferably within a period of four months from today. It will, however, be open for the petitioner to agitate the issue again before this Court in case the trial is not concluded within the aforesaid period.

6.

Petition is disposed of in above terms.

Pending misc. application(s), if any, also stand(s) disposed of. (SANJAY VASHISTH) JUDGE March 10, 2026 J.Ram Whether speaking/reasoned:

Yes/No Whether Reportable:

Yes/No