CRM-M-37518-2024 (O&M) -1- IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATES OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CRM-M-37518-2024 (O&M) Reserved on : 11.08.2025 Pronounced on : 19.08.2025 Manpreet Singh @ Manna ...Petitioner Versus State of Punjab ...Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE MANISHA BATRA Present:- Ms. Manpreet Kahlon, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. Roshandeep Singh, AAG, Punjab. MANISHA BATRA, J. 1. The instant one is the second petition that has been filed by the petitioner under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of regular bail to him in case bearing FIR No. 26 dated 23.08.2023, registered under Sections 21, 25 and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (for short ‘NDPS Act’), Section 109, 115 and 120 of IPC and Section 25 of the Arms Act, 1959 at Police Station State Special Operations Cell, District Intelligence Wing (CID), Amritsar. 2. Brief facts of the case relevant for the disposal of the present petition are that on receipt of a secret information that co-accused Jodhbir Singh along with his companions Prince Singh @ Prince, Malkeet Singh @ Meeta and the present petitioner, who were indulged in criminal activities, had received a consignment of illegal weapons and were planning to commit MOHAMMAD WASEEM ANSARI 2025.08.21 10:34 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-37518-2024 (O&M) -2- some crime in Amritsar and Tarn Taran, ruqa was sent to the police station concerned and a case under Sections 109, 115 and 120 of IPC and Section 25 of the Arms Act was registered. On the same day i.e. 23.08.2023, the petitioner and co-accused Malkeet Singh and Prince, while driving a car bearing registration number DL-3CAH-2741, were apprehended by the police party and recovery of 02 pistols of .32 bore with 10 live cartridges was effected from the said car. Certain documents/articles were also recovered from their personal search. Upon interrogation, they disclosed that a rented house in Amritsar was being used for smuggling of heroin and for other criminal activities. The said house was immediately raided and one Amit Kumar was apprehended from there. Recovery of some illegal arms and ammunitions along with 280 grams of heroin was effected from there. Offences under Sections 21, 25 and 29 of the NDPS Act were added. During the course of investigation, it surfaced that the said house was arranged by co-accused Jodhbir Singh to facilitate the criminal activities. Several other persons were also nominated in this case as co-accused. After completion of necessary investigation and usual formalities, challan was presented in the Court and presently, the petitioner along with the co-accused is facing trial for commission of aforesaid mentioned offences. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner has argued that he has been falsely implicated in this case. The petitioner was apprehended by the police party along with co-accused Malkeet Singh and Prince on 23.08.2023. However, no contraband was recovered from them. In fact, the recovery of alleged contraband was effected from a house which belonged to co-accused Jodhbir Singh. Even otherwise, investigation has since been completed and MOHAMMAD WASEEM ANSARI 2025.08.21 10:34 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-37518-2024 (O&M) -3- challan has been filed. Conclusion of trial is likely to take time. The petitioner is in custody since 23.08.2023. Similarly situated co-accused Malkeet Singh @ Malkiat Singh and Prince Singh @ Prince have already been granted concession of regular bail by this Court, vide common order dated 07.05.2025 passed in CRM-M-55525-2024 and CRM-M-6209-2025, respectively. On the grounds of parity, the petitioner too deserves the same benefit. Therefore, it is urged that the petition deserves to be allowed and the petitioner deserves to be released on regular bail. 4. Status report has been filed by the respondent-State. Learned State counsel has argued that keeping in view the gravity of the allegations levelled against the petitioner as well as his criminal antecedents, he is not entitled to get benefit of bail. Hence, it is urged that the petition is liable to be dismissed. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties at considerable length and have also perused the material placed on record. 6. The petitioner along with co-accused Malkeet Singh @ Malkiat Singh and Prince Singh @ Prince is alleged to have been apprehended by the police party on 23.08.2024. Recovery of some illegal weapons was effected from them. However, no contraband whatsoever was recovered from them. The allegations against them are that they along with co-accused Jodhbir Singh were planning to commit some crime in Amritsar and Tarn Taran after receiving a consignment of illegal weapons. Co-accused Jodhbir Singh, who is alleged to be the kingpin of the subject crime, is stated to be still absconding. Investigation has since been completed and challan has been filed. Conclusion of trial is likely to take time. The petitioner is in custody MOHAMMAD WASEEM ANSARI 2025.08.21 10:34 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-37518-2024 (O&M) -4- since 23.08.2023. Co-accused Malkeet Singh and Prince, who are similarly situated with the present petitioner, have already been granted concession of regular bail by this Court, as mentioned above. Keeping in view the discussion as made above, I am of the considered opinion that no useful purpose would be served by keeping him in custody anymore. Accordingly, the present petition is allowed. The petitioner is ordered to be released on regular bail, subject to his furnishing personal/surety bonds to the satisfaction of the trial Court/Duty Magistrate concerned. However, it will be open for the prosecution to apply for cancellation of bail in case the petitioner is found involved in any other subsequent case. 7. It is made clear that any observation made herein above is only for the purpose of deciding the present petition and the same shall have no bearing on the merits of the case. 19.08.2025 (MANISHA BATRA) Waseem Ansari Waseem Ansari Waseem Ansari Waseem Ansari JUDGE Whether speaking/reasoned Yes/No Whether reportable Yes/No MOHAMMAD WASEEM ANSARI 2025.08.21 10:34 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document