Manish Choudhary And Others v. State Of Haryana

220 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of decision: 23.04.2026 MANISH CHOUDHARY AND OTHERS ...PETITIONERS V/S STATE OF HARYANA ...RESPONDENT CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SUBHAS MEHLA

Present:

Mr. Sanyam Khetarpal, Advocate for the petitioners. Mr. Satbir Singh Goripuria, DAG, Haryana.

**** SUBHAS MEHLA, J. (ORAL) CRM-8668-2026 Allowed as prayed for.

Copy of the affidavit dated 02.02.2026 is taken on record as Annexure P-4, subject to all just exceptions. MAIN CASE 1.

By way of the present petition filed under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the petitioner is seeking regular bail in case bearing FIR No.94 dated 13.08.2025 registered under Sections 316(2) and 318(4) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short 'BNS') (Section 61(2) of BNS added later on) at Police Station Cyber Crime, District Panchkula, Haryana.

2.

Learned counsel for the petitioners contended that petitioners are in custody since 18.08.2025; investigation of the present case has already been completed; challan has been presented; the offences under which the FIR has been registered are compoundable; and a compromise has already been

effected between the petitioners and complainant. As such, learned counsel prayed for grant of regular bail to the petitioner. 3.

Status report dated 24.02.2026 filed by way of an affidavit of Surinder Singh, HPS, The Assistant Commissioner of Police, Panchkula on behalf of respondent-State is taken on record. Learned State counsel submitted that the petitioners cheated the complainant on the pretext of giving job of work from home and induced complainant's wife to invest money with higher returns.

4.

Mr. Shivam Chaudhary, Advocate has put in appearance on behalf of the complainant and filed his power of attorney. The same is taken on record. Learned counsel admitted the factum of compromise and stated that he has no objection if the present petitioner is released on regular bail. 5.

Heard.

6.

Keeping in view the facts and circumstances of the present case and the fact that investigation of the present case has already been completed; challan has been presented; petitioners are in custody since 18.08.2025 i.e. for the last more than 08 months; it is the contention of learned counsel for the petitioners and the complainant that the matter has been compromised between the parties; trial will take sufficient time to conclude and no fruitful purpose would be served by keeping the petitioners in custody for any further period, as concession of bail cannot be denied just as a measure of punishment as culpability of accused is to be decided after appreciating evidence adduced by both the parties and it is a trite principle of criminal jurisprudence that bail is rule, jail is an exception, this Court deems it a fit case to grant the concession of regular bail to the petitioners.

7.

Therefore, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, the instant petition is allowed. The petitioners are ordered to be released on regular bail on their furnishing requisite bonds to the satisfaction of the trial Court/Duty Magistrate/Chief Judicial Magistrate concerned. (SUBHAS MEHLA) April 23, 2026 JUDGE manisha (i) Whether speaking/reasoned Yes/No (ii) Whether reportable Yes/No