Allowed¶44

Mona Puri v. State of Punjab and Another

Punjab & Haryana HC7 Jul 2026CRM-M/13188/2026

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Pre-arrest bail; anticipatory bail; Section 482 BNSS 2023; FIR No. 0043 dated 31.01.2026; Police Station Zirakpur; SAS Nagar Mohali; Sections 316(2) and 351(2) BNS 2023; corresponding Sections 406 and 506 IPC 1860; woman petitioner aged about 38; joined investigation; recovery of jewellery; interim order 11.03.2026 made absolute on 07.07.2026; non-blanket protection; cancellation/recall liberty; ASI Labh Singh; Punjab and Haryana High Court CRM-M.

What did the court decide?

Petition allowed; interim pre-arrest bail order dated 11.03.2026 confirmed and made absolute; protection expressly confined to FIR No. 0043 dated 31.01.2026 (non-blanket), with liberty to the State/complainant to seek cancellation/recall on violation of Section 482(2) BNSS conditions or other sufficient cause. ¶44

Mona Puri Vs State of Punjab and Another — Cheating and Forgery | Punjab & Haryana HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the petitioner, apprehending arrest in FIR No. 0043 dated 31.01.2026 (offences under Sections 316(2) and 351(2) BNS 2023, corresponding to Sections 406 and 506 IPC 1860), is entitled to pre-arrest bail under Section 482 BNSS 2023, and whether the interim protection of 11.03.2026 should be confirmed.

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Court's answer

Since the petitioner had joined the investigation and cooperated therein, with custodial interrogation pressed only for recovery of the articles in question, the Court confirmed the interim order dated 11.03.2026, allowed the petition and made that order absolute, i.e. confirmed pre-arrest bail under Section 482 BNSS 2023.

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Ratio / Principle

The protection is not a blanket order: it confers no indefinite protection from arrest and is confined to the FIR mentioned in the order, not operating in respect of any other incident involving commission of an offence.

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Key takeaways

Liberty is reserved to the State/complainant to move for cancellation/recall of the order if the petitioner violates any condition stipulated under Section 482(2) BNSS or upon any other sufficient cause being shown.ratio¶46
Anything observed in the order shall not be construed as an expression of opinion on the merits of the case.obiter¶51

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Punjab and Haryana High Court (Sumeet Goel J., 07.07.2026, CRM-M-13188-2026) allowed a petition under Section 482 BNSS 2023 and confirmed the interim pre-arrest bail order dated 11.03.2026 in favour of Mona Puri, who apprehended arrest in FIR No. 0043 dated 31.01.2026 of Police Station Zirakpur, District SAS Nagar Mohali, for offences under Sections 316(2) and 351(2) BNS 2023, corresponding to Sections 406 and 506 IPC 1860. Confirmation rested on the petitioner having joined the investigation and cooperated therein, custodial interrogation being pressed only for recovery of the articles in question. The protection is expressly not a blanket order: it is confined to the said FIR, confers no indefinite immunity, and liberty is reserved to the State/complainant to seek cancellation/recall on breach of Section 482(2) BNSS conditions or other sufficient cause. Observations are not an opinion on the merits of the case.

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

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(168)

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CRM-M-13188-2026 Decided on: 07.07.2026 Uploaded on: 07.07.2026

Mona Puri

……Petitioner(s)

Versus

State of Punjab and another

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……Respondent(s)

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CORAM : HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE SUMEET GOEL

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Present: Mr. Gaurav Singla, Advocate for the petitioner (s).

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Mr. Hemant Aggarwal, DAG, Punjab.

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Ms. Harpriya Gill, Advocate, for respondent No.2/complainant.

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Sumeet Goel (Oral):

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Apprehending her arrest in FIR No. 0043 dated 31.01.2026 registered for offences punishable under Sections 316(2), 351(2) of BNS, 2023 (corresponding Sections 406 and 506 of IPC, 1860), at Police Station P.S. Zirakpur, District SAS Nagar Mohali, Punjab; the petitioner has preferred this petition under Section 482 of BNSS, 2023 seeking pre-arrest bail.

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On 11 .03.2026, the following order was passed:

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“Apprehending his arrest in FIR No. 0043 dated 31.01.2026 registered for offences punishable under Sections 316(2), 351(2) of BNS, 2023 (corresponding Sections 406 and 506 of IPC,

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NAVEEN NAGPAL 2026.07.07 17:39 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment HIgh Court Chandigarh

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CRM-M-13188-2026

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1860), at Police Station P.S. Zirakpur, District SAS Nagar Mohali, Punjab; the petitioner has preferred this petition under Section 482 of BNSS, 2023 seeking pre-arrest bail.

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Inter alia contends that the petitioner is a lady aged about 38 years with clean antecedents. Learned counsel has further submitted that the petitioner has been falsely implicated into the FIR in question and that the petitioner is willing to join the investigation and cooperate therein.

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Notice of motion.

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On asking of the Court, Mr. Hemant Aggarwal, DAG, Punjab appears and accepts notice on behalf of the respondentState.

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Ms. Harpriya Gill, Advocate, has put in appearance on behalf of respondent No. 2 and has filed her power of attorney in Court today. The same be taken on record.

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Respondents are at liberty to file reply, if so advised.

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Adjourned to 09.04.2026.

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Be taken up in the urgent cause list.

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The petitioner is directed to appear before the Investigating Officer on 16.03.2026 at 11:00 A.M. at the concerned Police Station and join the investigation. In the event of arrest, the petitioner shall be released on interim bail subject to her furnishing personal/surety bond(s) to the satisfaction of the Arresting Officer/Investigating Officer. As and when further called by Investigating Officer, the petitioner shall join the investigation. She shall abide by the condition(s) enumerated under Section 482(2) of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.”

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2.1

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Thereafter, on 18.05.2026, the following order was passed:

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“Learned State counsel has submitted that though the petitioner has joined investigation but not cooperating with the Investigating Officer, especially regarding the recovery of jewellary in question.

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The petitioner is directed to appear before the concerned Investigating Officer in the concerned police station on 21.5.2026 at 11:00 a.m. and join investigation and cooperate therein.

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NAVEEN NAGPAL 2026.07.07 17:39 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment HIgh Court Chandigarh

CRM-M-13188-2026

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List on 27.5.2026.

Be shown in the urgent cause list.

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Interim order to enure.”

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Learned State counsel (on instructions from ASI Labh Singh)

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has submitted that the petitioner has joined investigation and has cooperated therein except for effecting recovery of articles in question.

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3.1. Learned counsel for the complainant has vehemently opposed

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the grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner by arguing that allegations raised against the petitioner are serious in nature and in case the petitioner is extended the concession of anticipatory bail, there is all the likelihood that she may interfere with the investigation as also intimidate the witnesses and also the FIR-complainant.

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Having heard learned counsel for the rival parties and upon perusal of the record; especially keeping in view the factum of the petitioner having joined investigation & cooperated therein and her custodial interrogation being sought for recovery of articles in question; this Court is inclined to confirm the order dated 11.03.2026. Accordingly, the petition is allowed and the order dated 11.03.2026 is made absolute.

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This order should not be treated as “blanket” order. It will not be read granting petitioner indefinite protection from arrest. It shall be confined to the FIR mentioned ibid and will not operate in respect of any other incident that involves commission of an offence.

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Liberty is reserved in favour of State/complainant to move for cancellation/recall of this order in case the petitioner violates any condition stipulated under Section 482(2) of BNSS or upon showing any other sufficient cause.

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NAVEEN NAGPAL 2026.07.07 17:39 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment HIgh Court Chandigarh

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CRM-M-13188-2026

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