Manjit Singh Alias Pamma v. State Of Punjab

CRM-M No.1017 of 2026 -1IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH ***** CRM-M No.1017 of 2026 Date of decision : 19.1.2026 Date of uploading : 19.1.2026 Manjit Singh alias Pamma .............Petitioner

Versus

State of Punjab .......Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SUMEET GOEL Present: Mr. C.S. Rana, Advocate and Mr. Amandeep Singh Mann, Advocate, for the petitioner Mr. Hemant Aggarwal, AAG, Punjab --- SUMEET GOEL, J. (ORAL) 1.

Present petition has been filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short 'BNSS') for grant of regular bail to the petitioner in case FIR No.150 dated 8.7.2025 under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 120-B and 419 of the IPC, registered at Police Station City Jagraon, District Ludhiana Rural. 2.

The case set up in the FIR in question (as set out in the present petition by the petitioner) is as follows:- 'Statement of Pippal Singh, son of Inder Singh, son of Thakur Singh, resident of Gatti Jattan, Dharamkot Police Station, Moga District, age 36 years, mobile number 98777-06071. I stated that I am a resident of the above address and do agricultural work. I have studied up to +2 class and my Aadhar card number is 7510-2537-6234. I had received a warrant/summons from the Court of Preeti Sukhija Additional Sessions

CRM-M No.1017 of 2026 -2Judge Ludhiana last month, which I was not present at home, so my family had noted the name and date of the Honorable Court. On which I reached Hon'ble Court of Preeti Sukhija Additional Sessions Judge Ludhiana on 02-07-2025, where the Hon'ble Judge asked me that you stood surety for accused Jaswinder Singh in FIR No. 51/2020 under section 379-B, 411 IPC in Police Station City Raikot in the year 2021, who is on bail as such accused Jaswinder Singh is absent from the court proceedings. On which I requested the Hon'ble Judge that I have not never stood surety to any Jaswinder Singh.

On which the Hon'ble Judge, through his ahlmad, showed me the bail documents of accused Jaswinder Singh, in which a photocopy of Aadhaar card in my name was attached, on which my name and address were written but the photo was of someone else and the photocopy did not match my Aadhaar card number. Meanwhile, a photocopy of the identity card of Numberdar of my village named Surjit Singh was also shown, but there is no Numberdar of any person of my village in the name of Surjit Singh. When I told the Hon'ble Judge all this verbally, the Hon'ble Judge took an application from me through his ahlmad to obtain a photocopy of these documents, on which the Ahlmad gave me the index of case titles state / vs accused Manjit Singh etc.

, a photocopy of letter issued from Tehsildar Dharamkot on my name with regard to the property of Jamabandi for the year 2018-19 collector and market rate, a photocopy of the bail bonds filed in the Hon'ble Court of Shri Karanvir Singh Majju SDJM Jagraon along with the accused Jaswinder Singh, a photocopy of the Aadhaar card made in my name in the fake name of Pippal Singh, a photocopy of the identity card of the fake Surjit Singh numberdar son of Ravel Singh resident of Gutti Jattan were provided to me, which I present to you.

I have explained in detail about these fake documents that the photo on the Aadhaar card number 47552098-9166 issued in my name is Manjit Singh son of Mukhtiar Singh resident of Gatti Jattan and fake Numberdar in the name of Surjit Singh is Surjit Singh son of Rawail Singh of my village having identity card No 16 WBN dated 5.9.2018 but there is no Numberdar in name of Surjit Singh in my village. The only Numberdar of my village is Joginder Singh son of Jarnail Singh resident of Gatti Jattan.

CRM-M No.1017 of 2026 -3Raikot. Appropriate legal action should be taken against them so that they cannot harm me in future. Today I was coming to inform alongwith Numberdar Joginder Singh, son of Jarnail Singh, resident of my village regarding this. You met me at Tehsil Chowk Jagraon. I have got recorded my statement, I heard and same is correct. I am claimant. Action should be taken. Verified Chowki Bus Stand Jagraon PS city Jagraon Dated 08-072025 Statement verified Sd/- Joginder Singh Sd/- Pippal Singh, SD/ Numbardar Joginder Singh.'

3.

Learned counsel for the petitioner has argued that the petitioner is in custody since 9.7.2025. Learned counsel has further submitted that, actually, the co-accused namely Tarlok Singh has mislead the petitioner and had actually forged the documents. Learned counsel has further submitted that, in any case, the investigation qua the FIR in question is complete and challan already stands presented. Learned counsel has further submitted that the petitioner has suffered incarceration for more than 6 months and is a man with clean antecedents. Thus, regular bail is prayed for.

4.

Learned State counsel has opposed the present petition by arguing that the allegations raised are serious in nature and thus the petitioner does not deserve the concession of the regular bail. Learned State counsel seeks to place on record custody certificate dated 18.1.2026 in Court, which is taken on record.

5.

I have heard counsel for the parties and have gone through the available records of the case.

6.

The petitioner was arrested on 9.7.2025 wherein after investigation was carried out and challan stands presented on 8.10.2025. Total 14 prosecution witnesses have been cited and it is not disputed

CRM-M No.1017 of 2026 -4before this Court that none has been examined till date. Culmination of trial but of course will take time. The rival contentions raised by learned counsel give rise to debatable issues which shall be ratiocinated upon during the course of trial. This Court does not deem it appropriate to delve deep into these rival contentions, at this stage, lest it may prejudice the trial. Nothing tangible has been brought forward to indicate the likelihood of the petitioner absconding from the process of justice or interfering with the prosecution evidence.

As per custody certificate dated 18.1.2026 filed by learned State counsel, the petitioner has already suffered incarceration for a period of 6 months and 4 days & is not shown to be involved in any other case. Suffice to say, further detention of the petitioner as an undertrial is not warranted in the facts and circumstances of the case. 7.

In view of above, the present petition is allowed. Petitioner is ordered to be released on regular bail on his furnishing bail/surety bonds to the satisfaction of the Ld. concerned CJM/Duty Magistrate. However, in addition to conditions that may be imposed by the concerned CJM/Duty Magistrate, the petitioner shall remain bound by the following conditions:- (i) The petitioner shall not mis-use the liberty granted. (ii) The petitioner shall not tamper with any evidence, oral or documentary, during the trial.

(iii) The petitioner shall not absent himself on any date before the trial.

(iv) The petitioner shall not commit any offence while on bail. (v) The petitioner shall deposit his passport, if any, with the trial Court.

(vi) The petitioner shall give his cell-phone number to the Investigating Officer/SHO of concerned Police Station and shall

CRM-M No.1017 of 2026 -5not change his cell-phone number without prior permission of the trial Court/Illaqa Magistrate.

(vii) The petitioner shall not in any manner try to delay the trial. 8.

In case of breach of any of the aforesaid conditions and those which may be imposed by concerned CJM/Duty Magistrate as directed hereinabove or upon showing any other sufficient cause, the State/complainant shall be at liberty to move cancellation of bail of the petitioner.

9.

Ordered accordingly.

10.

Nothing said hereinabove shall be construed as an expression of opinion on the merits of the case.

(SUMEET GOEL) JUDGE 19.1.2026 Ashwanii Whether speaking/reasoned:

Yes/No Whether reportable:

Yes/No