Allowed

Harpreet Singh v. State of Punjab

Punjab & Haryana HC8 Apr 2021CRM-M/6837/2021

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The High Court granted regular bail to the petitioner under Section 439 Cr.P.C. in a cheating and forgery case. The petitioner, an illiterate servant, was allegedly misused as an identifier by main accused for financial fraud. After a long period of custody and reliance on documentary evidence, the court released him on bail without expressing an opinion on merits.

What did the court decide?

The petition is allowed and the petitioner is admitted to bail to the satisfaction of the Trial Court or Duty Magistrate.

Harpreet Singh Vs State of Punjab — Money Laundering | Punjab & Haryana HC (2021)

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

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204

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CRM-M-6837-2021 Decided on : 08.04.2021

Harpreet Singh

. . . Petitioner(s)

Versus

State of Punjab

. . . Respondent(s)

CORAM: HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE MANJARI NEHRU KAUL

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(Through Video Conferencing)

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PRESENT: Mr. Aayush Gupta, Advocate for the petitioner(s).

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Mr. Sidakmeet Singh Sandhu, AAG, Punjab assisted by ASI Bhupinder Kumar.

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****

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MANJARI NEHRU KAUL, J. (Oral)

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The instant petition has been filed under Section 439 Cr.P.C. for grant of regular bail in case FIR No. 385, dated 01.12.2018, registered under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 120-B IPC, lodged at Police Station Sahnewal, District Police Commissionerate Ludhiana.

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Learned counsel for the petitioner inter alia contends that the petitioner is a totally illiterate man, who cannot even write and is working as a servant of the main accused i.e. Ram Parsad Jain and Vikas Jain. He further submits that the petitioner had in fact nothing to do with the loans allegedly procured by the main accused. It has been submitted that being employers of the petitioner, the main accused misused his Aadhar card and as a result of which, a Bank account was opened in the name of the petitioner by the main accused and an amount of Rs.1.00 Crore transferred in the said account. Learned counsel further submits that the main accused i.e. Ram Parsad Jain and Vikas Jain, as also the various Bank employees, who are accused in the case in hand, have since been extended the concession of anticipatory bail by the trial Court.

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JAWALA RAM 2021.04.08 15:45 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Chandigarh

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CRM-M-6837-2021

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- 2 -

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Learned counsel for the petitioner further submits that it is a case resting on documentary evidence, hence, there can be no apprehension that the petitioner would tamper with the evidence collected by the investigating agency. It has been thus prayed that the petitioner be also extended the concession of regular bail, as he has been in custody since 26^th November, 2020 and only challan has been presented till date. Hence, there is no likelihood of the trial concluding in the near future.

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Learned State counsel on the other hand while opposing the prayer and submissions made by learned counsel for the petitioner, on instructions from ASI Bhupinder Kumar, has submitted that no doubt the petitioner was an employee of the main accused, however, an amount of Rs.1.00 Crore was deposited in his account. He has further submitted that another FIR stands registered against the petitioner under Section 420 IPC on the same facts and circumstances.

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Heard.

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Having considered the submissions made by either side and without commenting upon the merits of the case coupled with the fact that the petitioner has been in custody since 26^th November, 2020 and the case in hand rests on documentary evidence, further detention of the petitioner will not serve any useful purpose. The petition as such is allowed and the petitioner is admitted to bail to the satisfaction of trial Court/Duty Magistrate. However, it is made clear that anything observed herein shall not be construed to be an expression of opinion on the merits of the case.

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(MANJARI NEHRU KAUL) JUDGE

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April 08, 2021

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J.Ram

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Whether speaking/reasoned: Yes/No Whether Reportable: Yes/No

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JAWALA RAM 2021.04.08 15:45 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Chandigarh

Harpreet Singh v. State of Punjab

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Harpreet Singh v. State of Punjab

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

A compact analysis

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Parties & counsel

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