Allowed¶7

Meera Devi Alias Usha v. State of Punjab

Punjab & Haryana HC24 Jul 2025CRM-M/1175/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Meera Devi @ Usha v. State of Punjab, CRM-M-1175-2025, Punjab & Haryana HC, decided 24.07.2025, N.S. Shekhawat J. Regular bail granted under S.483 BNSS to accused in FIR No.146/24.04.2023, PS City Faridkot, under Ss.302/120-B/201 IPC (murder of Gurpreet Singh; occurrence 04.10.2022, Rapat No.28 u/s 174 CrPC). Grounds: 6-month unexplained delay in FIR; PW-1 Jagroop Singh and PW-2 Dharampreet Singh hostile; parity with co-accused Mangal Singh bailed on 23.05.2024. Petitioner in custody since 26.04.2023; no other case against her (State admission). No precedents cited.

What did the court decide?

Release on regular bail pending trial upon furnishing bail bonds and surety to the satisfaction of the concerned trial Court/Duty Magistrate/Chief Judicial Magistrate. ¶7

Meera Devi Alias Usha Vs State of Punjab — Murder and Culpable Homicide | Punjab & Haryana HC (2025)

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231

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

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CRM-M-1175-2025

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Date of Decision:24.07.2025

Meera Devi @ Usha

…Petitioner

Vs.

State of Punjab …Respondent

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Coram : Hon’ble Mr. Justice N.S.Shekhawat

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Present : Mr. Jaspreet Singh Brar, Advocate for the petitioner.

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Mr. Ravneet Singh Joshi, DAG, Punjab.

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N.S.Shekhawat J. (Oral)

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The petitioner has filed the present petition under Section 483 of B.N.S.S with a prayer to grant regular bail to her in a case FIR No.146, dated 24.04.2023, under Sections 302,120-B and 201 of IPC, registered at Police Station City Faridkot, District Faridkot (Annexure P-1).

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The FIR in the present case was registered on the basis of the statement made by Jagroop Singh and the same has been reproduced below:-.

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" This time one Rapat No.28 dated 04.10.2022 under section 174 Cr.P.C. Police Station City Faridkot in connection with Jagroop Singh son of Bikkar Singh son of Mukand Singh resident of Raghvir Colony, Street No.11, Faridkot aged about 60 Years Mobile No.7837161067 has recorded his statement. The contents of the same are as under: "It is stated that I am resident of abovesaid address and does a work of Private Driver. I have four children two daughters and two sons and all four are married. My elder son Gurpreet Singh was doing private job with Liquor Contractor at Bathinda and on 04.10.2022 at about 10:00 in

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HITESH 2025.07.24 18:45 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document/judgment High Court, Chandigarh

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CRM-M-1175-2025

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morning I received phone that my son Gurpreet Singh had died and his dead body is lying near the Railway Crossing Talwandi Bye-Pass. That when we reached at the spot, then the persons present over there told that dead body is sent to Hospital. I alongwith my younger son Dharampreet Singh went to Medical Hospital; Faridkot and the dead body of my son Gurpreet Singh was lying in mortuary house. I get perplexed on seeing the dead body of my son. I tried to find the reason behind the death of my son Gurpreet Singh on my own but could not able to find so at that time. Due to this reason, I stated not to take any action against anybody. After the postmortem of my son Gurpreet Singh the dead body of my son was handed over to us for funeral and we cremated our son Gurpreet Singh. Later on, 1 and my family kept on enquiring about the reason regarding the death of my son Gurpreet Singh and we came to know that my son Gurpreet Singh was having illicit relation with Meera Devi wife of Raj Kumar resident of Street No.5, Mohalla Mai Khana from the last 7-8 Years. Abovesaid Meera Devi due to greed or any grudge Meera Devi herself or in connivance with another unknown persons had committed the murder of my son Gurpreet Singh by giving beatings and thereafter causing injuries. They also tried to destroy the dead body of my son. Legal Action be taken against Meera Devi and unknown. Statement given, heard and same is correct. SD/Jagroop Singh abovesaid”.

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Learned counsel for the petitioner contends that the alleged occurrence had taken place on 04.10.2022, whereas, the FIR has been got registered by the complainant on 24.04.2023, after a delay of more than six months, which remained unexplained even till the conclusion of the investigation, in the present case. Learned counsel further submits that even as per the investigation conducted by the police, Sumit son of the petitioner had committed the murder of Gurpreet Singh and the petitioner and Mangal Singh,

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HITESH 2025.07.24 18:45 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document/judgment High Court, Chandigarh

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CRM-M-1175-2025

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her son-in-law had allegedly disposed of the dead body of Gurpreet Singh. He further contends that Mangal Singh has already been granted the concession of bail by this Court vide order dated 23.05.2024 (Annexure P-4). The petitioner is stated to be in custody since 26.04.2023 and the material witnesses have already been examined by the prosecution.

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On the other hand, learned State counsel has vehemently opposed the submissions made by learned counsel for the petitioner on the ground that the petitioner is one of the main accused and does not deserve the concession of bail by this Court, however, he admits that the petitioner is not involved in any other case.

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I have heard the rival submissions made by learned counsel for the parties and perused the record carefully.

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It is not in dispute that the FIR has been got registered by the complainant after a delay of more than six months. Still further, the prosecution has already examined PW-1 Jagroop Singh, complainant and PW-2 Dharampreet Singh and both the witnesses have turned hostile. Even, similarly placed co-accused Mangal Singh has been granted the concession of bail by this Court.

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Without commenting on the merits of the case, the present petition is allowed. The petitioner is ordered to be released on bail pending trial on her furnishing bail bonds and surety to the satisfaction of the concerned trial Court/ Duty Magistrate/Chief Judicial Magistrate.

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		(N.S.SHEKHAWAT)
24.07.2025		JUDGE
hitesh
	Whether speaking/reasoned	: Yes/No
	Whether reportable	: Yes/No

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HITESH 2025.07.24 18:45 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document/judgment High Court, Chandigarh

Meera Devi Alias Usha v. State of Punjab

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Meera Devi Alias Usha v. State of Punjab

Case brief

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