CRM-M-62450-2024 -1- (106) IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CRM-M-62450-2024 Date of Decision: 05.08.2025 RAJINDER SINGH @ VICKY ... Petitioner Versus STATE OF PUNJAB ...Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JASJIT SINGH BEDI Present: Mr. Aminder Singh, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. Harkanwar Jeet Singh, Asstt. A.G., Punjab. **** JASJIT SINGH BEDI, J. The prayer in the present petition under Section 483 BNSS, 2023 is for the grant of regular bail in case bearing FIR No.163 dated 06.11.2020 (Annexure P-1) registered under Sections 302, 460, 458, 109, 120-B, 34 IPC, 1860 at Police Station Longowal, District Sangrur. 2. The present FIR came to be registered at the instance of Harpreet Kaur and the same reads as under:- “Statement of Harpreet Kaur wife of Amandeep Singh son of Sital Singh, resident of Jandiala Manjki, Distt. Jalandhar, aged about 36 years, Mob. No. 95016-46101. Stated that I am a resident of above said address and do household work. I have one brother, who is younger to me, whose name is Satvir Singh, aged about 33 years. We both are married. My brother Satvir Singh is married to Veerpal Kaur daughter of Late Paramjit Singh, resident of Manuke Distt. Moga for last about 8 years, who have two children. Both are sons. The name of elder son is Ekam Singh JITESH LAL 2025.08.07 13:14 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-62450-2024 -2- aged about 7 years and younger son is Abhijot Singh aged about 5-1/2 years. Today I was present at my home in Jandiala Manjki that my mother Preet Kaur made a phone call to me that Satvir Singh and his wife Veerpal Kaur was sleeping at night at his home in village Pindi Dhilwa Longowal and four unidentified persons gave merciless beatings to him and injured him badly, who was got admitted in Civil Hospital, Sangrur, where he died in the morning. I told my mother that I was reaching village and no action be taken before my arrival and I will initiate legal action. Now I had come to my mother in village Dhilwa Pindi Longowal and reached Civil Hospital, Sangrur along with my mother. You along with police party have met at Dead House, Civil Hospital, Sangrur. I make statement before you that my bharjai (brother's wife) Veerpal Kaur has illicit relations with Rajinder Singh @ Vicky son of Harwinder Singh of our village, due to which my brother did not like it and due to which my sister-in-law Veerpal Kaur and my brother Satvir Singh had altercations a number of times. In May, 2019, my sister-in-law Veerpal Kaur alongwith her brother Baljit Singh son of Paramjit Singh, resident of Manuke, Distt. Moga and two other unidentified persons had given beatings, whereupon on statement of my brother Satvir Singh, case FIR was registered in Police Station against my sister-in-law Veerpal Kaur, her brother Baljit Singh son of Paramjit Singh, resident of Manuke, Distt. Moga and two unidentified persons. After the said quarrel, my bharjai had gone to his parental village Manuke. Later, my sister-in-law Veerpal Kaur and Rajinder Singh @ Vicky had gone abroad to Cyprus and my sister-in-law Veerpal Kaur had returned from Cyprus about two months ago. Then respectable had got effected compromise between my brother Satvir Singh and my sister-in-law Veerpal Kaur regarding earlier quarrel. As per telling of my mother Preet Kaur, my mother along with my nephews Ekam Singh and Abhijot Singh had slept in separate room and my brother Satvir Singh and my sister-in-law JITESH LAL 2025.08.07 13:14 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-62450-2024 -3- Veerpal Kaur had slept in their bedroom. The main gate towards road was locked from inside and small gate was bolted from inside. At about 12:30 AM, my sister-in-law Veerpal Kaur raised alarm loudly and called my mother and my mother came out of the room immediately, who saw that four persons with muffled faces, armed with kuhari (axe), gandasi like weapons, came running out of the room of my brother. My mother went to the room of my brother and saw that a lot of blood was oozing out of the head of my brother and grievous injuries were there on his legs. The bed sheet and his clothes were also smeared with blood. Then my mother came out in the courtyard and saw that small gate was lying open. Then my mother raised alarm loudly and on hearing the alarm, neighbours of our village Pindi gathered. Bhola, Sarpanch of Pindi also came to the spot, who called Ambulance by making phone call. Then my sister-in-law Veerpal Kaur along with Baldev Singh son of Teja Singh, resident of Pindi Dhilwa Longowal took my brother Satvir Singh in Ambulance to Civil Hospital, Sangrur for treatment. Later, my mother came to know that my brother Satvir Singh died in Civil Hospital, Sangrur due to serious injuries. CCTV cameras are installed at our home and I have seen the footage and of those persons, Rajinder Singh @ Vicky son of Harwinder Singh, resident of Pindi Dhilwa Longowal is also involved. My brother Satvir Singh aforesaid has been murdered/got murdered by my sister-in-law Veerpal Kaur in collusion with Rajinder Singh @ Vicky son of Harwinder Singh, resident of village Pindi Dhilwa Longowal and three-four unidentified persons by hatching a conspiracy. Appropriate legal action be initiated against my sister-in-law Veerpal Kaur, Rajinder Singh @ Vicky son of Harwinder Singh, resident of Pindi Dhilwa Longowal and three-four unidentified persons. I have got recorded my statement with you. I have heard the same, which is correct. Sd/- Harpreet Kaur.” JITESH LAL 2025.08.07 13:14 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-62450-2024 -4- 3. The learned counsel for the petitioner contends that it is a case of circumstantial evidence. The CCTV footage allegedly pertaining to the area outside the house of the deceased shows masked persons but the identity of the said persons cannot be established. Other than this, there is no other evidence with the prosecution. As the petitioner is in custody since 12.11.2020 but only 14 of the 33 prosecution witnesses have been examined so far, the trial of the present case is not likely to be concluded anytime soon and therefore, he is entitled to the concession of bail. 4. A short reply dated 02.08.2025 by way of an affidavit of Harvinder Singh Khaira, PPS, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Sub- Division Sunam, District Sangrur has been filed on behalf of the State by the learned counsel for the State. The same is taken on record. He contends that as per the case of the prosecution, the petitioner was in an illicit relationship with Veerpal Kaur (co-accused) and wife of the deceased. He along with his co-accused committed the offence in question. Therefore, the serious nature of the allegations do not entitle him to the concession of bail. He, however, concedes that the petitioner is in custody since 12.11.2020 but only 14 of the 33 prosecution witnesses have been examined so far. 5. I have heard the learned counsel for the parties. 6. The case is based on circumstantial evidence. It would be a matter of adjudication during the course of the trial as to whether the chain of circumstantial evidence is sufficient to establish the culpability of the petitioner and his co-accused. The petitioner is in custody since 12.11.2020 JITESH LAL 2025.08.07 13:14 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-62450-2024 -5- but only 14 of the 33 prosecution witnesses have been examined so far. Therefore, the Trial of the present case is not likely to be concluded anytime soon. In this situation, the further incarceration of the petitioner is not required. 7. Thus without commenting on the merits of the case, the present petition is allowed and petitioner-Rajinder Singh @ Vicky S/o Harwinder Singh is ordered to be released on bail subject to his furnishing bail bonds and surety bonds to the satisfaction of learned CJM/Duty Magistrate, concerned. 8. The petitioner shall appear before the police station concerned on the first Monday of every month till the conclusion of the trial and inform in writing each time that he is not involved in any other crime other than the present case. 9. In addition the petitioner (or anyone on his behalf) shall prepare an FDR in the sum of Rs.50,000/- and deposit the same with the Trial Court. The same would be liable to be forfeited as per law in case of the absence of the petitioner from trial without sufficient cause. 10. The petition stands disposed of. (JASJIT SINGH BEDI) JUDGE 05.08.2025 JITESH Whether speaking/reasoned:- Yes/No Whether reportable:- Yes/No JITESH LAL 2025.08.07 13:14 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document