CRM-M-37277-2025 (O&M) -1- IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH 104 CRM-M-37277-2025 (O&M) Date of decision: 21.07.2025 ANKIT ...Petitioner VERSUS STATE OF HARYANA ...Respondent CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANDEEP MOUDGIL Present: Mr. Mayur Karkara, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. Sushil Bhardwaj, Addl. AG, Haryana. **** SANDEEP MOUDGIL , J.(ORAL) 1. The jurisdiction of this Court has been invoked under Section 438 Cr.P.C. (Section 482 of BNSS), for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner in FIR No.175, dated 26.05.2025, under Sections 318(4) BNS and Section 61 of Punjab Excise Act, 1914, registered at Police Station Mathlauda, District Panipat. 2. In compliance of the order dated 18.07.2025, short affidavit of Mr. Bhupender Singh, IPS, Superintendent of Police, Panipat has been filed on behalf of the respondent-State, which is taken on record. Learned State counsel seeks more time and refer to para 3 of the above affidavit, which reads as under:- “3. That Sh. Rajbir Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Police, City, Panipat, conducted a preliminary enquiry into the negligence and discovered that the then MHC of P.S. Matlauda, District Panipat, did not update the record/file index in the Police Station Matlauda, Panipat because of which the last update was mentioned that the petitioner was a PO but qua the later developments the entries were not made and therefore while passing on the instructions to the Ld. Law Officer the NISHA 2025.07.23 11:54 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document dated July 18th, 2025, placing the then MHC, P.S. Matlauda under suspension and also initiating regular department enquiry against him under section 16.17 and 16.24 of the PPR. True Copy of order dated 18.07.2025 is annexed herewith as Annexure R-1.” A perusal of the same would indicate that deponent i.e. Superintendent of Police Panipat has made an attempt to shift the whole onus on MHC, Police Station Matlauda. Sandeep Kumar No.75/PPT has been placed under suspension and a regular departmental enquiry being initiated against him under Rule 16.17 and 16.24 of the Punjab Police Rules. This Court is not convinced that the explanation given in para 3 thereafter an unconditional apology for the incorrect information provided by the police which has been tendered in para 4 of the same affidavit. SSP, Panipat is expected to take appropriate action in accordance with law to ensure that it should not be a case where the MHC Head Constable Sandeep Kumar is made solely responsible in the department for not updating the entries in the record within time and Senior Officer is not expected to shrug off all responsibility by shifting the whole onus on him making him the escape goat. In view of the above and the said observation, no further indulgence is required to be made by the Court in the present petition and the same is disposed of. All pending miscellaneous application(s) also stand disposed of. (SANDEEP MOUDGIL) JUDGE 21.07.2025 Nisha Yadav Whether reasoned/speaking? Yes/No Whether reportable? Yes/No NISHA 2025.07.23 11:54 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document