Harinder Singh @ Harwinder Singh Vs State of… — Cheating and Forgery | Punjab & Haryana HC (2026)

Harinder Singh @ Harwinder Singh Vs State of… — Cheating and Forgery | Punjab & Haryana HC (2026)

CRM-M-3263-2026

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

207

CRM-M-3263-2026 Date of decision: 27.03.2026

HARINDER SINGH @ HARWINDER SINGH

….Petitioner

Versus

STATE OF PUNJAB AND ANOTHER

....Respondents

CORAM:- HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE RUPINDERJIT CHAHAL

Present:- M r. Vikas Mehsempuri, Advocat e f o r the petitioner.

M r. Amrit Pal Singh Gill, DAG, P unjab.

M r. Piyush Sharma, Advocate f o r respondent No.2/complainant

RUPINDERJIT CHAHAL, J. (ORAL)

T hrough the instant petition filed under Section 482 of th e Bharatiya Na g arik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (f o r short “BNSS”), the petitione r seek anticipat o ry bail in case FIR No.351 da t ed 17.11.2025 registered unde r Section 420 of IPC and Section 24 of the Im m igration Act, at Police Statio n Division No.5, Police Commissionerate Ludh i ana.

O n 06.02.2026, the following or d er was passed by this Court: -

“Prayer in the present pe t ition filed under Section 482 o f t h e BNSS, 2023 is for grant of a n ticipatory bail to the petitione r i n case FIR No.351 dated 17.1 1 .2025 registered under Sectio n 420 of IPC and Section 24 of the Immigration Act, at Polic e S tation Division No.5, District L u dhiana.

Learned counsel for th e petitioner contends that th e petitioner has been falsely imp l icated in the present case. H e

GURPREET 2026.04.01 18:39 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document.

CRM-M-3263-2026

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argued that the petitioner is p ermanent resident of Unite d K ingdom and a false and conc o cted story has been created b y t h e complainant only to extort m oney from the complainant. H e argued that the FIR was register e d after an unexplained delay o f m ore than two years from the alleged occurrence, castin g s e rious doubt on the prosecutio n story. He further argued tha t t h e petitioner neither met the c omplainant, nor he is a trave l a g ent. He further argued that o n the alleged date of occurrenc e as mentioned in the FIR i.e. 0 5 .08.2023, the petitioner was i n U K, as is evident from his passp o rt which negates the allegation s o f the complainant that he me t the petitioner near bus stan d L udhiana on the same day. H e further argued that mer e allegation of payment of Rs.8 la k hs has been made but no detail s o f the alleged transaction has be e n provided by the complainant . N o recovery is to be effected from the petitioner. Learne d c o unsel has further submitted t h at the petitioner is ready an d w illing to join the investigation as and when called upon to do s o b y investigating agency.

On the other hand, lear n ed State counsel has filed th e s t atus report in the matter, whi c h is taken on record and whil e r e ferring to the same, she has o pposed the prayer for grant o f anticipatory bail, by submittin g that the allegations levelle d a g ainst the petitioner are serious in nature.

Learned counsel for respo n dent No.2/complainant has pu t i n appearance and filed his V a kalatnama, which is taken o n r e cord and while opposing the p rayer for grant of anticipator y bail to the petitioner, he has c o ntended that the petitioner ha s played an active role in the crim e and, thus, does not deserve th e c o ncession of bail.

Adjourned to 24.02.2026.

In the meantime, the p etitioner is directed to joi n i n vestigation within a week from today and would appear as an d w hen required by the Investiga t ing Officer and cooperate wit h t h e Investigating Agency. In the event of arrest, he shall b e

GURPREET 2026.04.01 18:39 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document.

CRM-M-3263-2026 3

admitted to interim bail on furni s hing of bail/surety bonds to th e s a tisfaction of Arresting/Invest i gating Officer. The petitione r s h all also abide by the conditi o ns as envisaged under Sectio n 482(2) of BNSS, 2023.”

T he petitioner could not join investigation and was grante d another oppor t unity vide order dated 24.02.20 2 6.

L earned counsel for the petition e r submits that in compliance o f the order da t ed 06.02.2026 and 24.02.20 2 6 passed by this Court, th e petitioner has j oined the investigation.

L earned counsel for the State, o n instructions of ASI Jaswinde r Singh, has su b mitted that the petitioner has j o ined the investigation and is n o longer required for further investigation.

L earned counsel appearing for t h e complainant submits that th e offence com m itted by petitioner is serious i n nature and hence, opposes th e grant of bail t o the petitioner.

I n view of the statement made by learned State counsel, th e interim order dated 06.02.2026 passed by th i s Court, is made absolute. Th e petitioner sh a ll continue to join investigati o n, as and when called by th e Investigating O fficer and shall also abide by t he conditions as provided unde r Section 482(2 ) of the BNSS.

27.03.2026 Gurpreet

(RUPINDERJIT CHAHAL) JUDGE

i) Whether speaking/reasoned? Yes/ N o ii) Whether reportable? Yes/No

GURPREET 2026.04.01 18:39 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document.