Central Bureau of Investigation Vs Ajay Chaudhary and Ors. — Punjab & Haryana HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

Central Bureau of Investigation Vs Ajay Chaudhary and Ors. — Punjab & Haryana HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Leave to appeal granted and main appeal admitted (appeal not finally decided); CRM-21712-2015 allowed as prayed for; accused directed to execute attendance bonds within two months and furnish personal bonds of Rs. 25,000 each with one surety of Rs. 25,000 each; Registry to communicate the order to the trial Court without delay, and to proceed per law if bonds are not furnished; certified copy dispensed with — a downloaded copy attested by the accused's advocate suffices.

Issue for consideration

Whether leave to appeal should be granted to the CBI against the judgment of acquittal dated 23.02.2015, and on what terms the appeal should be admitted.

Court's answer

Leave to appeal is granted to the CBI against the judgment of acquittal dated 23.02.2015, notwithstanding the opposition of counsel for the private respondents.

Ratio / Principle

The main appeal is admitted after hearing.

Key takeaways

The accused (private respondents) are to execute a bond for attendance within two months, undertaking to appear before the Court in case the appeal is allowed.ratio¶15
As a condition of admission, each accused/private respondent shall furnish a personal bond of Rs. 25,000 with one surety of Rs. 25,000 to the satisfaction of the concerned Trial Court/Duty Magistrate; the Court must satisfy itself that the surety can produce the accused if they fail to appear; furnishing the personal bond is deemed acceptance of all stipulations, terms and conditions of the order.ratio¶16

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Criminal appeal (CRM-A-1146-MA-2015 (O&M)) filed by the CBI against a judgment of acquittal dated 23.02.2015 of the private respondents (Ajay Chaudhary and Ors.). Despite opposition from counsel for the private respondents, leave to appeal was granted and the main appeal was admitted. As conditions, the accused were directed to execute attendance bonds within two months and to furnish personal bonds of Rs. 25,000 each with one surety of Rs. 25,000 each to the satisfaction of the concerned Trial Court/Duty Magistrate, furnishing of the bonds being deemed acceptance of all terms of the order. The Registry was directed to communicate the order to the trial Court; a downloaded, advocate-attested copy of the order was accepted in lieu of a certified copy. Associated application CRM-21712-2015 was allowed as prayed for. Bench: Anoop Chitkara and Sukhvinder Kaur, JJ.; order dated March 10, 2026.

214-3 CRM-A-1146-MA-2015 (O&M) CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION V/S AJAY CHAUDHARY AND ORS.

Present: Mr. Prateek Gupta, Advocate for the appellant – CBI.

Mr. R.K. Girdhar, Advocate for respondent No.3.

Mr. B.R. Kaushik, Advocate for respondent Nos.4 to 6.

CRM-21712-2015

Allowed as prayed for.

CRM-A-1146-MA-2015

Counsel for CBI submits that he has a very good case on merit and there is sufficient evidence on record which is sufficient for convic�on of the private respondents. There is no apprecia�on of evidence in judgment of acqui�al dated 23.02.2015.

Counsel(s) appearing for the private respondent(s) oppose the prayer. Leave to appeal granted.

Registry to assign number to appeal.

Main appeal

Heard.

Admi�ed.

The accused i.e. private respondents execute a bond for a�endance within two months, undertaking to appear in this Court, in case appeal is allowed.

Given above, the accused i.e. private respondents shall furnish a personal bond of Rs. Twenty Five Thousand only (INR 25,000/-) each, and furnishing one surety for Rs. Twenty Five thousand only (INR 25,000/-) each, to the sa�sfac�on of the concerned Trial Court/Duty Magistrate. Before accep�ng the sure�es, the concerned Court must sa�sfy that if the accused fails to appear in Court, then such surety is capable of producing them before the Court.

The furnishing of the personal bonds shall be deemed acceptance of the all s�pula�ons, terms, and condi�ons of this order.

Registry to communicate this order to the trial Court without any delay. In case of failure of respondents to furnish bond, the concerned Court shall proceed further in accordance with law.

There would be no need for a cer�fied copy of this order for furnishing bonds, and any Advocate for the accused can download this order along with case status from the official web page of this Court and a�est it to be a true copy. In case the a�es�ng officer

SANGEETA 2026.03.24 11:17 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

CRM-A-1146-MA-2015 (O&M)

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wants to verify the authen�city, such an officer can also verify its authen�city and may download and use the downloaded copy for a�es�ng bonds.

(ANOOP CHITKARA) JUDGE (SUKHVINDER KAUR) March 10, 2026 JUDGE Sangeeta

SANGEETA 2026.03.24 11:17 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document