High Court of Punjab and HaryanaCRM-M/65398/2025disposed of

Neeraj Singh Alias Ninja v. State Of Punjab

2026-04-09Mr. Justice Sanjay Vashisth4 pages

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA

AT CHANDIGARH Decided on : 09.04.2026 Neeraj Singh alias Ninja . . . Petitioner(s)

Versus

State of Punjab . . . Respondent(s)

CORAM:

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

Mr. Neeraj Madaan, Sr. DAG, Punjab.

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

Instant third 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 Neeraj Singh alias Ninja 05.01.2021 302, 307, 324 and 34 of Anaj Mandi Patiala IPC 2.

First bail petition filed by the petitioner, i.e., CRM-M-254812021, titled as, "Neeraj Singh v. State of Punjab", was dismissed as withdrawn vide order dated 28.03.2023 (P-3). Thereafter, second bail petitioner preferred by the petitioner was dismissed on merits by the Coordinate Bench of this Court by passing a detailed order dated 21.12.2023 (P-4), passed in CRM-M-47746-2023, titled as, "Neeraj Singh v. State of Punjab". Now, petitioner is before this Court by way of instant third petition.

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As per FIR, petitioner - Neeraj Singh @ Ninja has given kirch blow in the stomach of Mohit Kumar. Further, as per status report dated 08.04.2026, today filed in Court by learned State counsel, he is found involved in three other cases, including the present one. The details of which are as under:- "16.

That as per record, following cases were registered against the petitioner:- FIR No.

Date Offence Police Station 05/01/2021 302/307/324/148/149 IPC Anaj Mandi Patiala 15/04/2022 52-A Prison Act Tripuri Patiala 09.08.2022 323/341/506/149 IPC Tripuri Patiala Out of the above said cases, trial is pending in FIR No. 73 of 15.04.2022, whereas, FIR No.227 of 09.08.2022 is under investigation. In FIR No.05/2021, petitioner has filed the present petition seeking regular bail." 4.

Already in the bail petition filed by co-accused - Hiteshwar Singh alias Ghora, vide order dated 16.03.2026, passed in CRM-M-611572025, titled as, "Hiteshwar Singh alias Ghora v. State of Punjab", direction to expedite trial within a period of three months from that day, despite request of the trial to grant six months period. 5.

For reference, order dated 16.03.2026, passed in CRM-M61157-2025, is reproduced here-under:- "1.

Present 2nd petition has been filed by the petitioner, seeking grant of regular bail, in case, FIR No.5, dated 05.01.2021, under Sections 302, 307, 324, 34 of IPC, registered at Police Station Anaj Mandi, District Patiala.

First bail petition filed by the petitioner was disposed of as withdrawn, at that stage, vide order dated 23.10.2024, passed in CRM-M41686-2024 (Annexure P-9). 3.

Since the trial has not been completed within the stipulated time period, present second petition seeking grant of regular bail has been filed by the petitioner.

On 04.02.2026, this Court was informed that all the injured

- 3 - witnesses, except complainant-Amit Kumar Sadana, have failed to identify the accused persons, including the present petitioner, in the witness box. It was further submitted that out of 28 prosecution witnesses, 20 witnesses have already been examined.

Upon a query raised by this Court regarding the time likely to be required by the trial Court for the conclusion of the trial, the trial Court, vide letter dated 18.02.2026, informed that approximately six months' additional time would be required to conclude the proceedings. Operative part of the explanation reads as under:- "It is respectfully submitted that the charges in the instant case i.e. case titled as 'State of Punjab V/s Hiteshwar Singh @ Ghora & another' FIR No.05 dated 05.01.2021 under sections 302, 307, 324, 34 IPC were framed on 30.09.2021. A list of 27 witnesses has been annexed with the report under section 173 Cr.P.C. The testimony of 18 witnesses has been recorded, 4 witnesses have been given up by the prosecution as being unnecessary, whereas the examination in chief of two witnesses i.e.

PW19 Inspector Harjinder Singh; i.e. the investigating officer and PW20 ASI Gurbinder Singh has been recorded in part and their examination remains to be concluded. The testimony of 3 other witnesses is also to be recorded. Hence, the testimony of 5 witnesses remains to be recorded which would require a minimum of six months as there are 379 trials pending before the court of the undersigned which include murder trials and cases under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and other heinous crimes and majority of them fall under the Action Plan and some are time bound by the Hon'ble High Court. The undersigned however assures the Hon'ble Court that the evidence would be concluded during the time frame the Hon'ble High Court directs." 6.

Today, learned State counsel has filed the custody certificate dated 14.03.2026 in Court, which is taken on record. Registry is directed to tag the same at the appropriate place in the file. 7.

As per the custody certificate, apart from the present case, petitioner is involved in two other criminal cases. 8.

Considering the totality of the circumstances and being apprised that Investigating Officer is not appearing before the Court concerned, this Court deems it appropriate to dispose of the present petition, with a direction to the trial Court to conclude the trial within a period of three months from today, without granting any further extension. However, in case, trial is not concluded within the aforesaid period, trial Court shall forthwith submit an explanation to this Court, particularly if the official witnesses, including the Investigating Officer, are not cooperating in the proceedings.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of the concerned district shall either ensure the presence of such official witnesses before the trial Court, or appear before the trial Court to explain the circumstances causing delay.

10.

Let a copy of this order be forwarded to the office of the

- 4 - SSP concerned, Director General of Police, Punjab, and the trial Court, for necessary information and compliance.

11.

With the directions issued here above, present petition stands disposed of."

The aforesaid direction need not to be reiterated herein, however, trial Court is directed to adhere with the aforesaid directions dated 16.03.2026, passed in CRM-M-61157-2025, for strict compliance, as already given therein.

With aforesaid observations, instant petition stands disposed of. Pending misc. application(s), if any, also stand(s) disposed of. (SANJAY VASHISTH) JUDGE April 09, 2026 J.Ram Whether speaking/reasoned:

Yes/No Whether Reportable:

Yes/No