IN THE 216 Malkeet Singh @ State of Punjab CORAM : HON'BLE Present :- Mr. Dr. ***** VINOD S. BHARDWAJ The Bharatiya Nagarik petitioner in case Sections 307, 427, 324(4), 191(3), 190 of the Arms Act, 2. The Harmanjot Kaur, Chattar. The same “...I private Today my resident 8427206058 that Singh son Singh, residents THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AT CHANDIGARH CRM-M-17720 Date of decision: @ Nawab VERSUS HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VINOD . A.P.S. Sandhu, Advocate for the (Ms.) Savi Nagpal, AAG, Punjab ***** BHARDWAJ, J. (Oral) The instant first petition has been filed Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for case bearing FIR No.293 dated 427, 148, 149, 34 of the Indian Penal 190 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Act, 1959 at Police Station Beas, District The FIR in the present case has been Kaur, wife of Maninderveer Singh, same reads thus: .I reside at the above-mentioned private teacher at St. Francis Convent Today at about 3:30 PM, I was present mother Paramjit Kaur, wife of resident of Patti Gopiki, Sathiala, 8427206058 from my phone No. 84272 that she and Komalpreet were returning Singh son of Nirmal Singh, Jarnail Singh of Baldev Singh, Baljinder Singh Singh, and Sartaj Singh alias Taj son residents of Sathiala, fired gunshots PUNJAB & HARYANA CHANDIGARH 17720-2026 (O&M) decision: 08.04.2026 ...Petitioner ...Respondent VINOD S. BHARDWAJ the petitioner. Punjab. filed under Section 483 of the grant of regular bail to the 08.12.2013 registered under Penal Code, 1860 [Sections 109, 2023) and Sections 25 and 27 District Amritsar. registered on the statement of Singh, resident of village Rattar mentioned address and I work as a Convent School, Dera Baba Nanak. present at my house and I called late Harjit Singh, caste Jatt, Sathiala, on her mobile phone No. 84272-03358. My mother told me returning from the fields when Lajit Singh son of Ajit Singh, Prince Singh alias Doni son of Harbans son of Pal Singh, all caste Jatt, gunshots at them while sitting in a SUMIT SINGH GUSAIN 2026.04.09 09:54 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document 2 216 CRM-M-17720-2026 (O&M) vehicle coming towards the fields and injured them, and thereafter they fled away on their motorcycles. While telling this, my mother stopped speaking. I repeatedly tried calling her again, but the phone kept ringing and she did not answer. Later I came to know that my mother Paramjit Kaur and my brother Komalpreet had been admitted to Guru Nanak Hospital, Amritsar. When I reached there, my mother and my brother were lying unconscious in the Emergency Ward. My husband Maninderveer Singh, son of Achhar Singh, caste Jatt, resident of Rattar Chhattar, Police Station Dera Baba Nanak, also reached there. The above-named accused persons, with the intention to kill my mother and my brother, fired gunshots and injured them. Legal action be taken against them. The reason for the enmity is that earlier a dispute had taken place regarding the college presidency.” 3. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner contends that neither the petitioner was nominated as an accused in the FIR nor has any role been attributed to him. He further contends that the petitioner was summoned as an accused under Section 319 Cr.P.C. in the year 2019 and thereafter taken in custody on 27.11.2024. He further contends that despite the petitioner having undergone an actual custody of nearly 01 year and 05 months in the present case, only 03 out of a total of 23 witnesses have been examined so far. The conclusion of trial shall thus take long. He further contends that identically placed co-accused Prabhjot Singh @ Prince and Balwinder Singh @ Donni have already been granted concession of bail. 4. Learned State Counsel however contends that the petitioner has a large history of criminal cases. She however does not dispute that the petitioner was summoned in the present case only under Section 319 Cr.P.C. and that he has already undergone a custody of nearly 01 year and 05 months. The stage of trial is also not disputed. SUMIT SINGH GUSAIN 2026.04.09 09:54 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document 3 216 CRM-M-17720-2026 (O&M) 5. I have heard learned counsel appearing on behalf of the respective parties and have gone through the documents appended along with the present petition. 6. Without commenting on the merits of the case and taking into consideration the nature of allegations levelled against the petitioner, he having been summoned under Section 319 Cr.P.C., the period of custody already undergone by him as well as the stage of trial, I deem it appropriate to allow the present petition. 7. The instant petition is allowed and the petitioner is ordered to be released on regular bail on his furnishing requisite bail bond/surety bond to the satisfaction of the trial Court/Duty Magistrate, concerned. 8. It is made clear that the petitioner shall not extend any threat and shall not influence any prosecution witnesses in any manner directly or indirectly. 9. The observation made hereinabove shall not be construed as an expression on the merits of the case and the Trial Court shall decide the case on the basis of available material. 10. Pending application(s), if any, shall stand disposed of. 08.04.2026 (VINOD S. BHARDWAJ) Sumit Gusain JUDGE Whether speaking/reasoned : Yes/No Whether reportable : Yes/No SUMIT SINGH GUSAIN 2026.04.09 09:54 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document