IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA 209 AKASHDEEP SINGH STATE OF PUNJAB CORAM: HON’BLE MRS. Present : Mr for the petitioner. Ms. Sakshi Bakshi, AAG, Punjab MANISHA BATRA 1. Prayer in this petition, filed under Section 482 of Bhar Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’), is for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner in case registered under Section 67 B of Information Technology Act, 2000 and Section 15(1) of Protection Police Station Cyber Crime, District Fatehgarh Sahib. 2. Vide order dated 13.02.2025, passed by this Court, the petitioner was granted interim bail and was directed to join investigation. Order dated 13.02.2025, passed by this Court, reads as under: petitioner is a student aged about 22 years and is having B.Sc degree and the copy of the provisional degree is placed on record. It is further submitted that the petitioner is falsely implicated i IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CRM-M Date of decision: AKASHDEEP SINGH Versus STATE OF PUNJAB HON’BLE MRS. JUSTICE MANISHA BATRA Mr. Abhishek Grover and Ms. Nandini Gupta for the petitioner. Ms. Sakshi Bakshi, AAG, Punjab. **** MANISHA BATRA, J. (oral) Prayer in this petition, filed under Section 482 of Bhar Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’), is for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner in case FIR No.13 dated 19.12.2024 (Annexure P registered under Section 67 B of Information Technology Act, 2000 and Section 15(1) of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, at Police Station Cyber Crime, District Fatehgarh Sahib. Vide order dated 13.02.2025, passed by this Court, the petitioner was granted interim bail and was directed to join investigation. Order dated .2025, passed by this Court, reads as under: “The counsel for the petitioner inter alia submits that the petitioner is a student aged about 22 years and is having B.Sc degree and the copy of the provisional degree is placed on record. It is further submitted that the petitioner is falsely implicated i IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH M No.5185 of 2025 Date of decision: 15.05.2025 …. Petitioner …. Respondent MANISHA BATRA Abhishek Grover and Ms. Nandini Gupta, Advocates . Prayer in this petition, filed under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’), is for grant of anticipatory FIR No.13 dated 19.12.2024 (Annexure P-1), registered under Section 67 B of Information Technology Act, 2000 and of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, at Police Station Cyber Crime, District Fatehgarh Sahib.. Vide order dated 13.02.2025, passed by this Court, the petitioner was granted interim bail and was directed to join investigation. Order dated .2025, passed by this Court, reads as under: The counsel for the petitioner inter alia submits that the petitioner is a student aged about 22 years and is having B.Sc degree and the copy of the provisional degree is placed on record. It is further submitted that the petitioner is falsely implicated in tiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’), is for grant of anticipatory 1), registered under Section 67 B of Information Technology Act, 2000 and of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, at Vide order dated 13.02.2025, passed by this Court, the petitioner was granted interim bail and was directed to join investigation. Order dated The counsel for the petitioner inter alia submits that the petitioner is a student aged about 22 years and is having B.Sc degree and the copy of the provisional degree is placed on record. n Jyoti 2025.05.16 09:26 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM the present case having FIR No.13 dated 19.12.2024 (Annexure P- Act, 2000 and Section 15(1) of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, at Police Station Cyber Crime, District Fateh case of the prosecution that police officials visited the house of the petitioner on 22.09.2024 and took away his mobile phone and after about 3 months, police registered present FIR against the petitioner alleging that Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material (CSEAM) was found loaded in the aforesaid mobile phone of the petitioner. The counsel for the petitioner further submits that it may have been uploaded by someone else during the aforesai that even otherwise, as the concerned material is already available with the police, the custodial interrogation of the petitioner who is having bright career, is not required. It is further submitted investigation with the police. submits that CSEAM content was found uploaded in the I Phone of the petitioner. That the petitioner is required by the po the purpose of ascertaining the source of the said material. belonging to the petitioner is already seized by the police, the petitioner is hereby directed to join the investigation with the CRM-M No.5185 of 2025 the present case having FIR No.13 dated 19.12.2024 (Annexure -1), registered under Section 67 B of Information Technology Act, 2000 and Section 15(1) of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, at Police Station Cyber Crime, District Fatehgarh Sahib. It is further submitted that it is the admitted case of the prosecution that police officials visited the house of the petitioner on 22.09.2024 and took away his mobile phone and after about 3 months, police registered present FIR against the etitioner alleging that Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material (CSEAM) was found loaded in the aforesaid mobile phone of the petitioner. The counsel for the petitioner further submits that it may have been uploaded by someone else during the aforesaid integrum period of 3 months. It is further submitted that even otherwise, as the concerned material is already available with the police, the custodial interrogation of the petitioner who is having bright career, is not required. It is further submitted that petitioner is ready and willing to join the investigation with the police. The State counsel while opposing the present petition submits that CSEAM content was found uploaded in the I Phone of the petitioner. That the petitioner is required by the po the purpose of ascertaining the source of the said material. In view of the fact that the device having CSEAM content belonging to the petitioner is already seized by the police, the petitioner is hereby directed to join the investigation with the M No.5185 of 2025 -2- the present case having FIR No.13 dated 19.12.2024 (Annexure 1), registered under Section 67 B of Information Technology Act, 2000 and Section 15(1) of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, at Police Station Cyber Crime, District garh Sahib. It is further submitted that it is the admitted case of the prosecution that police officials visited the house of the petitioner on 22.09.2024 and took away his mobile phone and after about 3 months, police registered present FIR against the etitioner alleging that Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material (CSEAM) was found loaded in the aforesaid mobile phone of the petitioner. The counsel for the petitioner further submits that it may have been uploaded by someone else during d integrum period of 3 months. It is further submitted that even otherwise, as the concerned material is already available with the police, the custodial interrogation of the petitioner who is having bright career, is not required. It is that petitioner is ready and willing to join the The State counsel while opposing the present petition submits that CSEAM content was found uploaded in the I Phone of the petitioner. That the petitioner is required by the police for the purpose of ascertaining the source of the said material. In view of the fact that the device having CSEAM content belonging to the petitioner is already seized by the police, the petitioner is hereby directed to join the investigation with the the present case having FIR No.13 dated 19.12.2024 (Annexure 1), registered under Section 67 B of Information Technology Act, 2000 and Section 15(1) of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, at Police Station Cyber Crime, District garh Sahib. It is further submitted that it is the admitted case of the prosecution that police officials visited the house of the petitioner on 22.09.2024 and took away his mobile phone and after about 3 months, police registered present FIR against the etitioner alleging that Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material (CSEAM) was found loaded in the aforesaid mobile phone of the petitioner. The counsel for the petitioner further submits that it may have been uploaded by someone else during d integrum period of 3 months. It is further submitted that even otherwise, as the concerned material is already available with the police, the custodial interrogation of the petitioner who is having bright career, is not required. It is that petitioner is ready and willing to join the The State counsel while opposing the present petition submits that CSEAM content was found uploaded in the I Phone lice for In view of the fact that the device having CSEAM content belonging to the petitioner is already seized by the police, the petitioner is hereby directed to join the investigation with the Jyoti 2025.05.16 09:26 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM police and in case of arrest, he is to be released on interim bail by the investigating officer/arresting officer to his own satisfaction till the next date fixed in this case. The petitioner is also to abide by the conditions envisaged under Section 438 be listed on 15.05.2025 3. Learned State counsel, on instructions from the Investigating Officer, has submitted that the petitioner has joined investigation on 24.02.2025 and the challan has also been presented. custodial interrogation. 4. Keeping in view the above mentioned facts and circumstances, without commenting on the merits of the case, the present petition is allowed and the order dated absolute, subject to grant of anticipatory bail. 15.05.2025 Jyoti-IV CRM-M No.5185 of 2025 police and in case of arrest, he is to be released on interim bail by the investigating officer/arresting officer to his own satisfaction till the next date fixed in this case. The petitioner is also to abide by the conditions envisaged under Section 438 be listed on 15.05.2025.” Learned State counsel, on instructions from the Investigating Officer, has submitted that the petitioner has joined investigation on 24.02.2025 and the challan has also been presented. custodial interrogation. Keeping in view the above mentioned facts and circumstances, without commenting on the merits of the case, the present petition is allowed and the order dated 13.02.2025, granting interim bail to the petitioner, is made subject to compliance of usual terms and conditions requisite for grant of anticipatory bail. (MANISHA BATRA) Whether speaking/reasoned: Yes/No. Whether reportable : Yes/No M No.5185 of 2025 -3- police and in case of arrest, he is to be released on interim bail by the investigating officer/arresting officer to his own satisfaction till the next date fixed in this case. The petitioner is also to abide by the conditions envisaged under Section 438 (2) of Cr.P.C. Now Learned State counsel, on instructions from the Investigating Officer, has submitted that the petitioner has joined investigation on 24.02.2025 and the challan has also been presented. He is not required for Keeping in view the above mentioned facts and circumstances, without commenting on the merits of the case, the present petition is allowed .2025, granting interim bail to the petitioner, is made compliance of usual terms and conditions requisite for (MANISHA BATRA) JUDGE Yes/No. Yes/No police and in case of arrest, he is to be released on interim bail by the investigating officer/arresting officer to his own satisfaction till the next date fixed in this case. The petitioner is also to abide (2) of Cr.P.C. Now Learned State counsel, on instructions from the Investigating Officer, has submitted that the petitioner has joined investigation on for Keeping in view the above mentioned facts and circumstances, without commenting on the merits of the case, the present petition is allowed .2025, granting interim bail to the petitioner, is made compliance of usual terms and conditions requisite for Jyoti 2025.05.16 09:26 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document