2025:HHC:23011 IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA. Cr.MP (M) No.  :  1307 of 2025 Reserved on  :  14th July, 2025 Decided on    :  17th July, 2025 Manbir Singh …Applicant Versus State of Himachal Pradesh …Respondent Coram The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Virender Singh,  Judge. Whether approved for reporting?1 For the applicant      :  Mr. Arsh   Chauhan,   Advocate   vice Mr. Umesh Kanwar, Advocate. For the respondent   : Mr. Anup Rattan, Advocate General with Mr. Tejasvi Sharma, Additional Advocate   General,   and   Mr. Rohit Sharma, Deputy Advocate General, assisted   by   HC   Rajesh   Kumar No.25,   Police   Station   Panchrukhi, District Kangra, H.P. Virender Singh, Judge Applicant­Manbir, apprehending his arrest,  in case   FIR   No.41   of   2025,   dated   27.05.2025,   registered, under Sections 316(2), 316(5), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (hereinafter referred to as ‘BNS’), with Police Station, Panchrukhi, District Kangra,  has filed the 1 Whether Reporters of local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? Yes. 2 2025:HHC:23011 present application,  under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (hereinafter referred to as ‘BNSS’). 2. By way of the present application, indulgence of this   Court   has   been   sought  to   direct   the   Police/ Investigating Officer of Police Station Panchrukhi, District Kangra, H.P., to release him on bail, in the event of his arrest. 3. According   to   the   applicant,   he   is   innocent person and has falsely been implicated, in this case, by the Police. 4. Applicant is stated to be the permanent resident of District Kangra and according to him, he is having deep roots in the society. 5. The   applicant   has   termed   the   case   of   the prosecution as baseless and imaginary. 6. Asserting   the   fact   that   the   applicant   has   no concern whatsoever with the crime, in question, Mr. Arsh Chauhan,  Advocate, appearing  vice Mr. Umesh Kanwar, Advocate, has given certain undertakings, on behalf of the 3 2025:HHC:23011 applicant, for which, the applicant is ready to abide by, in case, any direction is issued under Section 482 BNSS. 7. When   put   to   notice,   the   police   has  filed   the status report, in this case on 5.6.2025, disclosing therein the following facts: 7.1. That  on 27.05.2025, ASI Manvir Singh, along with other police officials, was on patrolling duty. At about 12.40 p.m., he was present at a place, known as Banuri, when he received a secret information regarding indulgence of   Gurbachan   Singh,   son   of   Sita   Ram,   in   the   illegal possession of cement meant for Government supply. 7.2. As per the information, the work of retaining wall is going on and the cement, meant for Government supply, is being used, which was kept in a separate room near   the   plot   just   2­3   days   ago   and   in   case,   raid   is conducted,   the   cement   could   be   recovered. The   said information was found to be authentic and reliable. 7.3. According to the I.O., in case of any delay, the cement   meant   for   Government   supply   could   have   been removed   from   there   as   such   he   has   requested   Monika Councillor,  Ward No.14, Municipal Corporation Palampur, 4 2025:HHC:23011 to come to the spot, upon which, she has disclosed that she is busy in meeting, as such, she cannot come to the spot. 7.4. Thereafter,   Radhe   Krishan   was   associated   in the raiding party. The raiding party reached at the site, where   Government   Contractor   Jai   Krishan,   contractor Rakesh   Kumar   and   Gurbachan   Singh   etc. were   found present. In the presence of independent witness Radhey Krishan, the room was checked and 56 cement bags were found there and 45 bags were found near the road. Total 101 bags were found. 7.5. The words ‘ACC, NOT FOR RETAIL SALE/NOT FOR RESALE (ONLY H.P. GOVT. SUPPLY)’, were mentioned over it. When, Jai Kishan and Rakesh Kumar, were asked, about   the   permit,   they   could   not   produce   the   same. Samples were drawn on the spot and remaining cement bags were taken into possession. 8. On   the   basis   of   the   above   facts,   the   police registered the FIR, in question. Thereafter, accused   Jai Kishan and Rakesh Kumar were arrested and they were bound down under Section 35(3) of the BNSS. 5 2025:HHC:23011 9. On   28.5.2025,   Gurbachan   Singh   son   of   Sita Ram, was also associated in the investigation and when the grounds of arrest were found, he was also bound down under   Section   35(3)   of   the   BNSS. Thereafter,   the documentary evidence was collected. 10. During investigation, accused Jai Kishan and Ram Kumar, have disclosed that those 104 cement bags were   given   to   them,   by   Manbir   Singh   (applicant)   for construction of retaining wall about 7­8 days prior to the incident. Thereafter, record from Gram Panchayat, Sungal was obtained. 11. On the basis of the statements of the witnesses, Section 316 (5) of the BNS was added, in this case. As per the   stock   register   dated   19.06.2025,   105   bags   cement meant for Government Supply were issued to Up­Pradhan Manbir Singh (applicant) for land levelling. 12. Lastly, it has been stated that accused Manbir Singh   has   misused   the   cement,   as   such,   he   is   to   be inquired. 6 2025:HHC:23011 13. After   perusing   the   said   status   report,   on 5.6.2025, interim protection was given to the applicant and the matter was adjourned for 19.06.2025. 14. On 19.06.2025, the police has filed the status report, disclosing therein the similar facts. Thereafter, the matter was adjourned for 3.7.2025. 15. On 3.7.2025, the police filed the supplementary status report disclosing therein that, during investigation, on 28.06.2025, Secretary, Gram Panchayat Sungal, along with   Nisha   Kumari,   Pradhan,   Gram   Panchayat,   Sungal appeared before the police and handed over the attested copies   of   the   proceedings   register,   in   which,   resolution No.08, dated 22.02.2025, was passed, copy of application form for fund transfer, dated 20.05.2025, Kangra Central Cooperative   Bank   Ltd.,   receipt   dated   20.05.2025,   and certificate   dated   15.02.2025,   which   were   taken   into possession. 16. Statements of the witnesses, under Section 180 of   the   BNSS   were   recorded. Resolution   No.08,   dated 25.05.2025, was passed to purchase the cement bags from Gurbachan   Singh,   at   the   rate   of   Rs.500/­   per   bag. 7 2025:HHC:23011 Similarly, Gurbachan Singh had agreed to rent out a room, at   the   rate   of   Rs.500/­   per   month   and   Rs.1500/­   was transferred   in   the   name   of   Gurbachan   Singh   from   the account of Panchayat on 20.05.2025. 17. In   the   status   report   filed   on   14.07.2025,   a stand has been taken that the samples, so collected, out of the cement found on the spot, were sent to RFSL Mandi, from where, report is still awaited. It has specifically been mentioned that the custodial interrogation of the applicant is not required, as such, a prayer has been made to pass appropriate orders. 18. The role allegedly attributed to the applicant, in the commission of the alleged crime, will be proved during the trial. 19. Except the present case, no other case is found to have been registered against the applicant. In such situation,   presumption   of   innocence   is   still   available   in favour of the applicant. 20. Considering all these facts, the interim  order dated 05.06.2025, passed by this Court, is hereby made absolute. Therefore, it is ordered that the applicant be 8 2025:HHC:23011 released on bail, in the event of his arrest, in case  FIR No.41   of   2025,   dated   27.05.2025,   registered,   under Sections 316(2), 316(5), and 3(5) of the BNS, with  Police Station   Panchrukhi,   District   Kangra,   H.P., on   his furnishing personal bond, in the sum of   5 ₹ 0,000/­, with one surety of  the like amount, to the satisfaction of the Investigating Officer. 21. This   order,   however,   shall   be   subject   to   the following conditions :­ a)  That the applicant will join the investigation of the case, as and when, called for, by the Investigating Officer, in accordance with law; b)  That the applicant will not leave India, without prior permission of the Court; c) That the applicant will 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/her from disclosing such facts to the Investigating Officer or the Court; and d) That the applicant shall regularly attend the trial Court on each and every date of hearing and if prevented by any reason to do so seek exemption from appearance by filing appropriate application. 22. 22. Any   of   the   observations,   made   hereinabove, shall not be taken as an expression of opinion, on the 9 2025:HHC:23011 merits of the case,  as these observations, are confined, only, to the disposal of the present application. 23. It is made clear that the respondent­State is at liberty to  move an appropriate application, in case, any of the bail conditions, is found violated by the applicant. ( Virender Singh ) Judge July 17, 2025(ps)