Shubham Sharma @ Shubham Bhardwaj v. State Of Haryana
IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA
AT CHANDIGARH CRM-M- 52548-2025 SHUBHAM SHARMA @ SHUBHAM BHARDWAJ ......Petitioner
Versus
STATE OF HARYANA ......Respondent CRM-M- 55344-2025 KARAN MEHDIRATTA ......Petitioner
Versus
STATE OF HARYANA ......Respondent CRM-M- 52574-2025 NISHANT BALHARA @ NISHANT MADAN ......Petitioner
Versus
STATE OF HARYANA ......Respondent Decided on: 27.02.2026
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY VASHISTH
Present:
Dr. Kirandeep Kaur, Advocate, for Mr. Ishant Khangwal, Advocate, for the petitioner (in CRM-M-55344-2025), Mr. Vikas Bishnoi, Advocate, and Mr. Sunil Bhardwaj, Advocate, for the petitioners (in CRM-M-52548-2025 and CRM-M-52574-2025).
Mr. Kanwar Sanjiv Kumar, AAG, Haryana.
****
SANJAY VASHISTH, J.
1.
Prayer in these petitions, filed under Section 482 of the BNSS, 2023 (earlier Section 438 Cr.P.C.), is for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioners, who have been booked in a criminal case arising out of First Information Report, as detailed hereunder:- Name & age of Petitioner (s) FIR No.
Date Section(s) Police Station District
(1) Shubham Sharma @ Shubham Bhardwaj, aged 24 years 180 13.03.2025 S. 318(4), 319 of BNS, 2023, S. 66D, 43 of IT Act, 2008, and;
S. 75 of IT Act, 2000 Kundli Sonipat
(2) Nishant Balhara @ Nishant Madan, aged 27 years (3)Karan Mehdiratta, aged about 30 years 2.
On 17.09.2025, following order was passed in CRM-M52548-2025 and CRM-M-52574-2025:- "2.
Learned counsel for the petitioners contends that petitioners have no connectivity with the alleged crime, as names of both the petitioners, have emerged from the alleged disclosure statement of coaccused - Vipul. Further contends that petitioners are not even the signatories of the rent agreement, nor beneficiary, and also not beneficiary of anything, which is monetary in nature.
Furthermore, co-accused Vipul and Mansi @ Urvashi, have already been granted concession of regular bails by this Court, vide common order dated 18.07.2025 (Annexure P-4). Besides above, another co-accused - Aman Jogi, has also been granted concession of regular bail by this Court vide order dated 06.08.2025, passed in CRMM-39956-2025 (O&M), titled as, "Aman Jogi v. State of Haryana". In support of his contention, learned counsel files the copy of order dated 06.08.2025, in Court today. Same is taken on record, subject to all just exceptions. Office to tag the same at appropriate place.
Thus, learned counsel prays for grant of concession of anticipatory bail to the petitioners in the present cases, as they are ready to join investigation and cooperate with the investigating agency.
3.
Notice of motion.
On advance notice, learned State counsel puts in appearance on behalf of the respondent - State, and seeks some time to respond to the submissions addressed by learned counsel opposite, after seeking instructions. And, in case of necessity, to file status report.
Adjourned to 17.12.2025.
In the meanwhile, the petitioners are directed to join the investigation as and when required to do so by the Investigating Agency. In the event of their arrest, petitioners shall be released on ad-interim bail, subject to their furnishing bail bonds to the satisfaction of the Arresting Officer. The petitioners shall also be abide by all the conditions laid down under Section 482(2) of BNSS, 2023 (earlier Section 438(2) Cr.P.C.).
Besides, it is directed that petitioners would hand over their passports to the Investigating Agency or to Court concerned, if they possess. Otherwise, would submit an affidavit, disclosing the fact that they do not possess any passport.
It is also directed that before leaving country any time during trial, petitioners would seek prior permission of the Court.
Photocopy of this order be placed on the file of other connected case."
3.
On 30.09.2025, following order was passed in CRM-M55344-2025:- "2.
Learned counsel for the petitioner contends that petitioner has been falsely implicated in the present case. As per the allegations, petitioner, along with other co-accused persons, was allegedly involved in acts of impersonation and cheating. It is alleged that the accused persons used to cheat residents of the United States by posing as bank officials and by contacting customers of Apple company through toll-free numbers. They purportedly extorted money by creating panic and pressuring the victims with threats of phone hacking. Further, they are also alleged to have extorted money from U.S.
immigrants by impersonating bank employees and threatening them with deportation. The specific role attributed to the petitioner is that he holds a 25% partnership share in the call centre allegedly used to carry out these fraudulent activities.
Further submits that co-accused namely Vipul and Mansi @ Urvashi, have already been granted concession of regular bails by this Court, vide common order dated 18.07.2025 (Annexure P-4). Additionally, co-accused namely Shubham Sharma @ Shubham Bhardwaj and Nishant Balhara @ Nishant Madan, have also been granted the concession of interim anticipatory bail by this Court, vide common order dated 17.09.2025 passed in CRM-M-525482025 and CRM-M-52574-2025, which are listed for hearing for 17.12.2025. Besides above, another coaccused - Aman Jogi, has also been granted concession of regular bail by this Court, vide order dated 06.08.2025, passed in CRM-M-39956-2025 (O&M), titled as, "Aman Jogi v. State of Haryana" (Annuexure P-5).
Thus, learned counsel prays for grant of concession of anticipatory bail to the petitioner in the present case, as he is ready to join investigation and cooperate with the investigating agency.
3.
Notice of motion.
On advance notice, Mr. Pawan Kumar Jhanda, DAG, Haryana, puts in appearance on behalf of the respondent - State, and seeks some time to respond to the submissions addressed by learned counsel opposite, after seeking instructions. And, in case of necessity, to file status report.
Adjourned to 17.12.2025.
To be heard along with CRM-M-525482025 and CRM-M-52574-2025. Meanwhile, the petitioner is directed to join the investigation as and when required to do so by the Investigating Agency. In the event of his arrest, petitioners shall be released on ad-interim bail, subject to his furnishing bail bonds to the satisfaction of the Arresting Officer. The petitioner shall also be abide by all the conditions laid down under Section 482(2) of BNSS, 2023 (earlier Section 438(2) Cr.P.C.).
Besides, it is directed that petitioner would hand over his passports to the Investigating Agency or to Court concerned, if he possess. Otherwise, would submit an affidavit, disclosing the fact that he does not possess any passport.
It is also directed that before leaving country any time during trial, petitioner would seek prior permission of the Court."
Continuing their submissions, learned counsel for the petitioners contend that in compliance of the order dated 17.09.2025 (passed in CRM-M-52548-2025 and CRM-M-52574-2025) and order dated 30.09.2025 (passed in CRM-M-55344-2025) by this Court, petitioners have joined the investigation, and have fully co-operated. Therefore, they jointly pray for confirmation of the said interim anticipatory bail orders.
Learned State counsel has filed status reports dated 24.02.2026 (in all the three cases) in the Court today and the same are taken on record. Registry is directed to tag the same at the appropriate place on the file.
Learned State counsel on instructions from PSI Naveen, confirms the said averment made by counsel for the petitioners of joining the investigation by the petitioners, and submits that as of now, custodial interrogation of the petitioners is not required for the purpose of investigation.
Heard learned counsel for the parties.
8.
Since, petitioners have already joined the investigation and custodial interrogation is no more required; ad-interim bail order dated 17.09.2025 (passed in CRM-M-52548-2025 and CRM-M-52574-2025) and order dated 30.09.2025 (passed in CRM-M-55344-2025), by this
Court are hereby made absolute. Accordingly, present petitions are allowed.
However, petitioners shall continue to join the investigation as and when required to do so and abide by all the terms and conditions laid down under Section 482(2) of BNSS, 2023. Accordingly, petitions stand disposed of.
8.
However, present order would be subject to the submission of passport of the petitioners to the Investigating Agency or to Court concerned, if they possess, within a period of one week from today. Otherwise, they would submit an affidavit, disclosing the fact that they do not possess any passport.
It is clarified that in case, aforesaid condition is not complied with, this order would be considered as non est automatically. 9.
A photocopy of this order be placed on the files of other connected cases.
(SANJAY VASHISTH) JUDGE 27.02.2026 Lavisha Whether Speaking/Reasoned:
YES/NO Whether Reportable:
YES/NO