Allowed¶32

Hardeep Singh Member v. State of Punjab

Anticipatory bail – Section 482 BNSS, 2023

Punjab & Haryana HC23 Jul 2026CRM-M/4342/2026

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Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

CRM-M-4342-2026 (P&H HC, Sumeet Goel, J., 23.07.2026): anticipatory bail under Section 482 BNSS, 2023 granted in FIR No.0518 dated 18.10.2025, PS Goindwal Sahib, Tarn Taran (Sections 118(2), 117(2), 118(1), 115(2), 3(5) BNS, 2023); interim order dated 28.01.2026 made absolute as petitioner joined investigation and custodial interrogation not sought; Section 482(2) conditions imposed; protection confined to the said FIR, liberty to State/complainant for cancellation/recall.

What did the court decide?

Petition allowed; concession of anticipatory bail granted with the interim order dated 28.01.2026 made absolute, subject to the conditions under Section 482(2) of BNSS, 2023; pending application(s), if any, stand disposed of. ¶32

Hardeep Singh Member Vs State of Punjab — Anticipatory Bail | Punjab & Haryana HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the petitioner is entitled to the concession of anticipatory bail under Section 482 BNSS in case FIR No.0518 dated 18.10.2025, registered at Police Station Goindwal Sahib, District Tarn Taran, under Sections 118(2), 117(2), 118(1), 115(2) and 3(5) of the BNS, 2023.

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Court's answer

The Court made the interim order dated 28.01.2026 absolute, granting the concession of anticipatory bail to the petitioner, in view of the petitioner having joined investigation and the State not seeking his custodial interrogation, subject to the conditions enumerated under Section 482(2) of BNSS, 2023.

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Ratio / Principle

The protection granted is confined to FIR No.0518 dated 18.10.2025 alone; the order is not a blanket order and does not confer indefinite protection from arrest or extend to 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) of BNSS, 2023 or upon showing any other sufficient cause.ratio¶35
Nothing observed in the order is to be construed as an opinion on the merits of the case.obiter¶36

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Anticipatory bail — Section 482 BNSS, 2023 — Petition for concession of anticipatory bail in FIR No.0518 dated 18.10.2025, Police Station Goindwal Sahib, District Tarn Taran, for offences punishable under Sections 118(2), 117(2), 118(1), 115(2) and 3(5) of the BNS, 2023 — Interim bail granted on 28.01.2026 with conditions under Section 482(2) BNSS — State conceded petitioner had joined investigation and his custodial interrogation was not required — Interim order made absolute subject to Section 482(2) conditions — Held, the order is not a blanket order, confers no indefinite protection from arrest, and is confined to the said FIR only — Liberty reserved to State/complainant to move for cancellation/recall on violation of conditions or other sufficient cause — Observations not to be treated as an opinion on the merits.

CRM-M-4342-2026

211

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

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CRM-M-4342-2026

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Hardeep Sing h Member

....Petitione r

versus

State of Punj a b

....Responden t

Date of Decision: July 23, 2026 Date of Uploading: July 23, 2026

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CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SUMEET GOEL

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Present : Mr. Amit Arora, Advocate and Ms. Meena, Advocate for the petit i oner.

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Mr. Jaypreet Singh, DAG Punjab.

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SUMEET GOEL, J. (ORAL)

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Present petition has been filed u n der Section 482 of the Bhartiy a Nagarik Sura k sha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘B N SS’) for grant of concession o f anticipatory b ail to the petitioner, in case FIR No.0518 dated 18.10.2025 , registered for offences punishable under Secti o ns 118(2), 117(2), 118(1), 115(2 ) and 3(5) of th e BNS, 2023, at Police Station Go i ndwal Sahib, District Tarn Taran. 2. On 28.01.2026, the following ord e r was passed:

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“ Present petition has been fil ed seeking anticipatory bail in case FI R No.0518 dated 18.10.2025, registered under Sections 118(2), 117(2), 118(1 ), 115(2) and 3(5) of BNS, registered at Police Station Goindwal Sahib, Distric t Tarn Taran.

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Learned counsel for the pet it ioner has submitted that the allege d occurrence had took place on 19.09.20 25 , however, the FIR was lodged 29 day s thereafter, i.e. on 18.10.2025. He sub m its that even otherwise the allegation s levelled against the petitioner were e nquired and vide G.D. No.22 date d 13.11.2025, the allegations against th e petitioner were found to be false. H e submits that no prima facie case is m ade out against the petitioner and h e deserves to be granted the concession o f anticipatory bail.

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Notice of motion.

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On asking of the Court, Ms. Ra m ta Chowdhary, D.A.G., Punjab, accept s notice on behalf of respondent-State.

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To come up on 18.03.2026.

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MAHAVIR SINGH 2026.07.23 18:14 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/ judgment

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CRM-M-4342-2026

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In the meantime, in the event of arrest, the petitioner shall be released on interim bail subject to the satisfaction of the Arresting/Investigating Officer. The petitioner shall join investigation before the Investigating Agency/Officer. He shall abide by the following conditions as envisaged under Section 482(2) of Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023:-

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(i) That the petitioner shall make himself available for interrogation by a police officer as and when required.

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(ii) That the petitioner shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the court or to any police officer.

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(iii) That the petitioner shall not leave India without prior permission of the court. ”

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Learned State counsel (on instructions) has stated that pursuant to the order dated 28.01.2026, the petitioner has joined investigation and his custodial interrogation is not required.

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Having heard learned counsel for the parties and upon perusal of the record; especially in view of the factum of the petitioner having joined investigation and his custodial interrogation is not being sought by the State; the interim order dated 28.01.2026 passed by this Court is made absolute, subject to the conditions as enumerated under Section 482(2) of BNSS, 2023.

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Petition stands allowed , accordingly.

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This order should not be treated as “blanket” order. It will not be

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read as 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, 2023 or upon showing any other sufficient cause.

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