Manjeet Singh and Others Vs State of Punjab… — Cheating and Forgery | Punjab & Haryana HC (2026)

Manjeet Singh and Others Vs State of Punjab… — Cheating and Forgery | Punjab & Haryana HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

FIR No.174 dated 26.09.2025 registered under Sections 318(4), 336(3), 338, 339, 340(2) and 61(2)(a) of BNS, 2023 at Police Station City Rampura, District Bathinda, and all subsequent proceedings quashed qua the petitioners, subject to payment of Rs.20,000/- (Rs.5,000/- each petitioner) as cost to be deposited with the Indian Red Cross Society; receipt of deposit to be produced before the Court concerned; non-deposit within one month (upto 14.06.2026) renders the petition deemed dismissed.

Issue for consideration

Whether FIR No.174 dated 26.09.2025 registered under Sections 318(4), 336(3), 338, 339, 340(2) and 61(2)(a) of BNS, 2023 at Police Station City Rampura, District Bathinda, and all subsequent proceedings arising therefrom, should be quashed on the basis of the compromise deed dated 16.12.2025 arrived at between the parties. +1 more

Court's answer

In view of the Magistrate's report confirming the compromise as genuine and free from undue influence or coercion, and the no-objection of respondent No.2, nothing remains to be adjudicated; continuation of the criminal proceedings between the parties would be a futile exercise, sheer wastage of the Court's time, and an abuse of the process of law.

Ratio / Principle

Having regard to the law laid down by the Hon'ble Apex Court in Gian Singh v. State of Punjab and another, 2012 (4) RCR (Criminal) 543, and the Five Judges Bench of this Court in Kulwinder Singh and others v. State of Punjab and another, 2007(3) RCR (Criminal) 1052, the petition is allowed and FIR No.174 dated 26.09.2025 and all subsequent proceedings are quashed qua the petitioners, subject to payment of Rs.20,000/- (Rs.5,000/- each petitioner) as cost, to be deposited with the Indian Red Cross Society.

Key takeaways

Receipt regarding deposit of the cost is to be produced before the Court concerned; if the cost is not deposited within one month, i.e. upto 14.06.2026, the present petition shall be deemed to be dismissed.ratio¶26

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Criminal Miscellaneous — Quashing of FIR on the basis of compromise — Petition under Section 528 of BNSS, 2023 for quashing of FIR No.174 dated 26.09.2025, registered under Sections 318(4), 336(3), 338, 339, 340(2) and 61(2)(a) of BNS, 2023, at Police Station City Rampura, District Bathinda, and subsequent proceedings, on the basis of compromise deed dated 16.12.2025 — Complainant (respondent No.2) raised no objection to quashing — Trial Court/Illaqa Magistrate directed to record statements on genuineness and validity of compromise — Report of learned Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate, Phul: compromise genuine, no undue influence or coercion — Continuation of criminal proceedings would be a futile exercise, sheer wastage of the Court's time and an abuse of process of law — Relying on Gian Singh v. State of Punjab and another, 2012 (4) RCR (Criminal) 543 (SC) and Kulwinder Singh and others v. State of Punjab and another, 2007(3) RCR (Criminal) 1052 (Five Judges Bench, P&H HC) — Petition allowed; FIR and all subsequent proceedings quashed qua petitioners, subject to cost of Rs.20,000/- (Rs.5,000/- per petitioner) to be deposited with Indian Red Cross Society — Receipt of deposit to be produced before Court concerned; default in deposit within one month (upto 14.06.2026) results in petition being deemed dismissed.

In the High Court for the States of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh

322

CRM-M-3519-2026 (O&M) Date of Decision:- 14.05.2026

Manjeet Singh and others … Petitioners

V

State of Punjab and another

... Respondents

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SUBHAS MEHLA

Present:Mr. Kanishk Swaroop, Advocate for Mr. Vishal Garg Narwana, Advocate for the petitioners.

Ms. Navreet Kaur, AAG, Punjab.

Ms. Sukriti Jain, Advocate, for respondent No.2.

SUBHAS MEHLA, J . (Oral)

This petition has been filed under Section 528 of BNSS, 2023 for quashing of FIR No.174 dated 26.09.2025 registered under Sections 318(4), 336(3), 338, 339, 340(2) and 61(2)(a) of BNS, 2023, at Police Station City Rampura, District Bathinda (Annexure P-1) along with all subsequent proceedings arising therefrom, on the basis of compromise deed dated 16.12.2025 (Annexure P-2) arrived at between the parties.

The above stated FIR was registered on the statement of the complainant/respondent No.2.

On notice of motion, respondent No.2 appeared through her counsel and pleaded that she has no objection if the FIR in this case is quashed on the basis of the aforesaid compromise, which has been effected between the parties.

GEETA RANI 2026.05.14 16:56 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment Punjab & Haryana High Court at Chandigarh

CRM-M-3519-2026 (O&M) ( 2 )

During the course of preliminary hearing, the trial Court/Illaqa Magistrate was directed to record the statements of all the concerned parties with regard to genuineness and validity or otherwise of the aforesaid compromise.

In compliance thereof, report from the Court of learned Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate, Phul, along with statements of the parties has been received, in which, it is mentioned that the compromise is genuine and there was no undue influence or coercion from any side.

In view of above, nothing remains to be adjudicated further in the present case. Thus, continuation of the criminal proceedings between the parties would be a futile exercise and sheer wastage of time of the Court and thus, amounts to abuse of process of law.

For the reasons afore-stated and having regard to the law laid down by Hon'ble Apex Court in Gian Singh v. State of Punjab and another, 2012 (4) RCR (Criminal) 543 and Five Judges Bench of this Court in Kulwinder Singh and others v. State of Punjab and another, 2007(3) RCR (Criminal) 1052 , this petition is allowed and FIR No.174 dated 26.09.2025 registered under Sections 318(4), 336(3), 338, 339, 340(2) and 61(2)(a) of BNS, 2023, at Police Station City Rampura, District Bathinda, and all the subsequent proceedings are hereby quashed qua the petitioners, subject to payment of Rs.20,000/- (Rs.5000/- each petitioner) as cost, to be deposited with Indian Red Cross Society having account No.3578152035, Central Bank of India, Sector 17-B, Chandigarh, IFSC CBIN0280412.

GEETA RANI 2026.05.14 16:56 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment Punjab & Haryana High Court at Chandigarh

CRM-M-3519-2026 (O&M)

( 3 )

Receipt regarding deposit of aforesaid cost be produced before Court concerned. It is made clear that if cost is not deposited within one month i.e. upto 14.06.2026, present petition shall be deemed to be dismissed.

( SUBHAS MEHLA ) 14.05.2026 JUDGE

Geeta Whether speaking /reasoned Yes / No Whether Reportable Yes / No

GEETA RANI 2026.05.14 16:56 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment Punjab & Haryana High Court at Chandigarh