Allowed

Gulab and Another v. State of Punjab

Punjab & Haryana HC12 Nov 2025CRM-M/43446/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Anticipatory bail petition under Section 482 BNSS in a cow-slaughter FIR. The court had granted ad-interim bail with directions to join investigation. Petitioners joined investigation and the State conceded custodial interrogation was unnecessary. Interim order was made absolute.

What did the court decide?

Ad-interim anticipatory bail order dated 11.08.2025 made absolute; petitioners to continue joining investigation as required.

Gulab and Another Vs State of Punjab — Anticipatory Bail | Punjab & Haryana HC (2025)

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CRM-M-43446-2025

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218 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

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CRM-M-43446-2025

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Decided on: 12.11.2025

Gulab and another

…... Petitioners

Versus

State of Punjab

…...Respondent

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY VASHISTH

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Present: Ms. Roja Agnihotri, Advocate with Mr. Piyush Setia, Advocate

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for the petitioners.

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Mr. Vinay Malhotra, DAG, Punjab.

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SANJAY VASHISTH, J.

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Prayer in this petition, filed under Section 482 of the BNSS, 2023 (earlier Section 438 Cr.PC.), is for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioners, who have been booked in a criminal case arising out of First Information

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Report, as detailed hereunder-

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Name & age of petitioner	FIR No.	Date	Sections	Police Station	District
1. Gulab aged	11	31.01.2025	299, 281 of BNS and	Khui Khera	Fazilka
about 30 years			Section 12 of the
2. Sultan, aged			Prevention of Cruelty of
about 25 years			Animals Act, 1960 and Sections 3, 4 and 4-A of Punjab Prohibition of Cow Slaughter Act,1955

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On 11.08.2025, this Court passed the following order:

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“1. Prayer in this petition, filed under Section 482 of the BNSS, 2023 (earlier Section 438 Cr.PC.), is for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioners, who have been booked

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SONIA BURA 2025.11.14 10:28 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

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CRM-M-43446-2025

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in a criminal case arising out of First Information Report, as detailed hereunder-

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Name & age of petitioner	FIR No.	Date Sections Police Station District
1. Gulab aged about 30 years	11	31.01.2025 299, 281 of BNS and Section 12 of the Khui Khera Fazilka
2. Sultan, aged about 25 years		Prevention of Cruelty of Animals Act, 1960 and Sections 3, 4 and 4-A of Punjab Prohibition of Cow Slaughter Act,1955
	2. that who Dal, ani	Learned counsel for the petitioners, inter alla, contends FIR has been lodged at the instance of one Vijay Kumar, is an active member of the organisation known as Bajrang which is engaged in the welfare of cows and other mals.
	3. nam follo 46M car, alle they the The part Khe	It is submitted that members of the said organisation, ely Vijay Kumar, Pankaj Swami, and Manish Swami, wed a vehicle/canter truck, bearing registration No. PB- -7770, which was allegedly carrying cows, using their own bearing registration No. HR-33D-1200. The canter was gedly being driven at a high speed, and upon realizing that were being followed, occupants of the canter abandoned vehicle a short distance ahead and managed to flee. reafter, the cows were recovered, and the complainant y informed the police by meeting them at village Khui ra.
	4. no sub hav eve	Counsel for the petitioners argues that petitioners have connection whatsoever with the alleged incident. It is mitted that they were neither present at the spot, nor they e any association with the canter in question. They are not n the registered owners of the said vehicle.

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The only reason for their implication in the present case appears to be the existence of previous cases registered against petitioner No.2, and the fact that he is known to the police team. Moreover, petitioners are ready to join the investigation and fully cooperate, if protected from arrest by this Court. Thus, prays for grant of concession of anticipatory

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SONIA BURA 2025.11.14 10:28 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

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CRM-M-43446-2025

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bail to the petitioners in the present case.

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5. Notice of motion.

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6. On advance notice, Mr. Neeraj Madaan, Sr. DAG, Punjab, puts in appearance on behalf of the respondent State, and seeks some time to file status report in the matter.

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7. Adjourned to 12.11.2025.

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8. Meanwhile, the petitioners are directed to join the investigation as and when required to do so by the Investigating Agency. In the event of their arrest, the petitioners shall be released on ad-interim bail, subject to his furnishing bail bonds to the satisfaction of the Arresting Officer. The petitioners shall also be abide by all the conditions laid down under Section 482(2) of BNSS, 2023 (earlier Section 438(2) Cr.P.C.).

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9. Besides, it is directed that petitioners would hand over their passport to the Investigating Agency or to Court concerned, if they possess. Otherwise, would submit an affidavit, disclosing the fact that they do not possess any passport.

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It is also directed that before leaving country any time during trial, petitioners would seek prior permission of the Court.”

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Continuing his submissions, learned counsel for the petitioners contends that in compliance of the order dated 11.08.2025, passed by this Court, petitioners have joined the investigation, and have fully co-operated. Therefore, he prays for confirmation of the said interim anticipatory bail order.

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Learned State counsel on instructions from HC Kuldeep confirms the said averment made by counsel for the petitioners of joining the investigation on 23.08.2025 by the petitioners, and submits that as of now, custodial interrogation of the petitioners is not required for the purpose of investigation.

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SONIA BURA 2025.11.14 10:28 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

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CRM-M-43446-2025

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Heard learned counsel for the parties.

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Since, petitioners have already joined the investigation and custodial interrogation is no more required; ad-interim bail order dated 11.08.2025, passed by this Court is hereby made absolute. Accordingly, present petition is allowed.

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However, petitioner shall continue to join the investigation as and when required to do so and abide by all the terms and conditions laid down under Section 482(2) of BNSS, 2023.

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12.11.2025 sonia

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(SANJAY VASHISTH)

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JUDGE

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Whether Speaking/Reasoned: YES /NO Whether Reportable: YES/ NO

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SONIA BURA 2025.11.14 10:28 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

Gulab and Another v. State of Punjab

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Gulab and Another v. State of Punjab

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

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