2025:HHC:28508 IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA Cr.MP(M) No.   : 1824 of 2025 Reserved on  : 13 th   August , 2025 Decided on :  22 nd    August , 2025 Sushil …Applicant Versus State of Himachal Pradesh …Respondent Coram The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Virender Singh, Judge. Whether approved for reporting?1 For the applicant     :  Applicant   in   person   with   Mr. Ashwani Dhiman, Advocate. For the respondent   : Mr. Mohinder   Zharaick,   Mr. H.S. Rawat   and   Mr. Varun   Chandel, Additional Advocates General. Virender Singh, Judge Applicant­Sushil,   apprehending   his   arrest,  in case   FIR   No.56   of   2023,   dated   05.11.2023,   registered, under Section 409 of the Indian Penal Code (hereinafter referred to as ‘IPC’), with Police Station, Nerwa, District Shimla,  has filed the present application,  under Section 482   of   the   Bharatiya   Nagarik   Suraksha   Sanhita,   2023 (hereinafter referred to as ‘BNSS’). 1 Whether Reporters of local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? Yes. 2 2025:HHC:28508 2. By way of the present application, indulgence of this   Court   has   been   sought  to   direct   the   Police/ Investigating   Officer   of   Police   Station   Nerwa,   District Shimla, H.P., to release him on bail, in the event of his arrest, in the above noted case. 3. The relief, as claimed, in the application  has been sought on the ground that the applicant is innocent person and has falsely been implicated, in this case, by the Police. 4. According to the applicant, he was posted as Gramin   Dak   Sewak   Assistant   Branch   Post   Master Madhana,   Branch   Office   Nerwa,   Tehsil   Nerwa,   District Shimla, H.P.  Later on, he was removed from service by the concerned department, after holding departmental inquiry and the alleged misappropriated amount has already been recovered from the applicant. As such, no recovery is to be effected from the applicant. 5. As per the applicant, investigation of the case is going   on   from   the   date   of   registration   and   he   is   fully cooperating in the investigation. 3 2025:HHC:28508 6. According to the applicant, no recovery is to be effected   from   him,   as,   most   of   the   documents   are   in possession of the Investigating Officer. 7. The applicant has also tried his luck by moving similar application before the learned Additional Sessions Judge­I,   Shimla,   however,   the   same   was   dismissed   on 04.07.2025. 8. Apart from this, learned counsel appearing for the applicant, has given certain undertakings, on behalf of the applicant, for which, the applicant is ready to abide by, in case, any direction is issued under Section 482 BNSS. 9. On the basis of the above facts, a prayer has been made to allow the application. 10. When   put   to   notice,   the   police   has   filed   the status   report,   disclosing   therein,   that   on   05.11.2023,   a complaint   was   received   from   the   office   of   Senior Superintendent of Post Offices Shimla Division, mentioning the following facts:­ “ The Station House Officer, Nerwa Police Station   Nerwa­171210. No   F­4/3/2020­2021 dated   at   Shimla   the   16.10.2023.Request   to register FIR against Sh. Sushil formerly Gramin Dak   Sewak   Assistant   Branch   Postmaster Madhana BO via Nerwa SO in misappropriation 4 2025:HHC:28508 case amounting to Rs 1,25,500/­ (Rs One lakh twenty five thousand five hundred only). Sir.lt is kindly intimated that Sh. Sushil formerly Gramin Dak   Sewak   Assistant   Branch   Postmaster Madhana   BO   via   Nerwa   SO   has   committed embezzlement of Govt Money to the tune of Rs 1,25.500/­(Rs   One   lakh   twenty   five   thousand five hundred only) by withdrawing amount after the death of social security account holders and by forged thumb impressions/signatures of the depositors. The detail of the accounts wherein amount has been misappropriated by aforesaid GDS is given below please:­Account holder name (Sh./Smt) Lali Devi W/o Bhajnu Account number 3516207796   Withdrawal   date   27.04.2022 Amount   5   000.00   Date   of   withdrawal   27­05­ 2018­15000.00,   11­05­2022­3000.00,   11­05­ 2022­15000.00,   Date   of   Death   17.05.2018, Santosh   W/o   Devender   Singh   account   No 3624577316   withdrawal   Date   10.03­2022 amount 11000.00, 09­03­2022­2000.00, 09­03­ 2022­18000­00   Date   of   death   04­12­2019, Jhenku Ram S/o Late Sh. Puran Ram account No 3561503652 Date of withdrawal 22.04.2022 amount   15000­00,   22­04­2022­10000­00,   22­ 04­2022­5000­00, 22­04­2022 5000­00, 25­04­ 2022­   3500­00,   06­06­2022­5000­00   Date   of death 16­04­2020, Relu Ram S/O Lt Sh Fatta Ram   Account   No   9623826314   Date   of withdrawal 19­01­2022 amount 5000­00, 20­01­ 2022­8000­00 ( Live) Total (RS one lakh twenty five thousand five hundred only) 1, 25, 500­00/­ In   this   case,   departmental   inquiry   on   the working   of   Sh. Susheel   formally   Gramin   Dak Sewak Assistant Branch Post master Madhan BO Via Nerwa So was conducted. Meanwhile Sh Susheel   formally   ABPM   Madhana   BO   was removed form the engagement for Department of Post for submitting fake educational certificate during   his   recruitment. Recovery   of   the misappropriate amount has already been made from the faulty Gramin Dak Sewak in this case, Detailed departmental inquiry report if the case is enclosed for your kind reference please. It is 5 2025:HHC:28508 therefore requested kindly investigate the matter and lodge First Information Report against the above   motioned   faulty   Gramin   Dak   Sewak please. Sd/   Vikas   Negi   Sr   Suptd. Post   Office Shimla Div Shimla 171001.” 11. As per the complaint, applicant had withdrawn an   amount   of   Rs.1,25,500/­,   from   the   accounts   of deceased   Lali   Devi   wife   of   Bhajnu,   Santosh   wife   of Devender Singh, Jhenku Ram son of late Shri Puran Ram after their death, by putting the forged thumb impressions and from the account of Relu Ram, son of late Shri Fatta Ram. 12. The police has conducted the investigation and during investigation,  it  was  found that  applicant  Sushil was posted in Branch Post Office, Branch Madhana Nerwa, on 04.05.2021. When, the case of embezzlement came in the light, then, audit was done and inquiry was conducted. 13. As   per   the   inquiry   report,   the   allegations against the Gramin Dak Sewak were proved and the report was submitted to the higher authorities. As per the report, when,   the   applicant  was  posted   as  Gramin  Dal  Sewak, then he had withdrawn an amount of Rs.1,25,500/­ from the account of deceased Lali Devi wife of Bhajnu, Santosh 6 2025:HHC:28508 wife   of   Devender   Singh,   Jhenku   Ram   son   of   late   Shri Puran Ram and Relu Ram son of late Shri Fatta Ram, by forging their thumb impressions/signatures. Thereafter, the applicant has voluntarily deposited the amount, along with interest on 17.3.2023. 14. During   investigation,   the   death   certificates   of Lali Devi wife of Bhajnu, Santosh wife of Devender Singh and   Jhenku   Ram   son   of   late   Shri   Puran   Ram   were obtained. 15. After perusing the above status report, interim protection was granted to the applicant and the matter was adjourned to 06.08.2025. 16. On   06.08.2025,   the   Police   filed   the supplementary status report, disclosing therein, about the fact that the applicant is not entitled to the relief, as, he is permanent resident of the adjoining State and in case, the interim order is made absolute, he may not be available for the   trial. Thereafter,   the   matter   was   adjourned   for 13.08.2025. 7 2025:HHC:28508 17. On   13.08.2025,   the   police   filed   the supplementary   status   report,   by   mentioning   the   same apprehensions. 18. The police, in the status reports, so filed, has not mentioned even a single sentence with regard to the fact   that   the   custodial   interrogation   of   the   applicant   is required. 19. The   role   attributed   to   the   applicant   will   be proved during the trial and considering the fact that prior to registration of FIR, the applicant voluntarily deposited the amount on 17.03.2023, is also a relevant fact, which cannot   be   ignored,   at   this   stage,   while   deciding   the question of releasing on bail, under Section 482 of the BNSS. 20. When, the police is not able to make out a case for   custodial   interrogation   of   the   applicant,   then, dismissing the application would be nothing, but, pre­trial punishment,   which   is   prohibited   under   the   law. The punishment can only be inflicted after the full­fledged trial, as, it is the golden principle of criminal jurisprudence that 8 2025:HHC:28508 the accused is presumed to be innocent, until proven guilty by the competent Court of law. 21. So   far   as   the   apprehension,   which   has   been expressed, by the Police, in the status report, qua the fact that  the  applicant   is  resident  of  the  adjoining  State,   is concerned,   for   that  apprehension,  reasonable   conditions can   be   imposed,   in   case,   the   interim   order   is   made absolute. 22. When, the police is not claiming the custodial interrogation,   then,  this   Court   is   of   the   view   that   the interim protection, granted to the applicant, is required to be made absolute. 23. Considering  all   these  facts,  the  interim  order dated 30.07.2025, passed by this Court, is hereby made absolute. Therefore, it is ordered that the applicant be released on bail, in the event of his arrest, in case  FIR No.56 of 2023, dated 05.11.2023, registered, under Section 409  of the IPC,  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. This order, however, shall be subject to the following conditions : 9 2025:HHC:28508 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. 24. Any   of   the   observations,   made   hereinabove, shall not be taken as an expression of opinion, on the merits of the case, as these observations, are  confined, only, to the disposal of the present application. 25. 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 August 22, 2025 (ps)