CRM-M-32016-2025 (O & M) ::1:: (108) IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CRM-M-32016-2025 (O & M) Date of Decision: 27.07.2026 Daljeet singh ... Petitioner Versus State of Punjab ...Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JASJIT SINGH BEDI Present: Mr. P.S. Ahluwalia, Sr. Advocate with Mr. Deepinder Singh Virk, Advocate and Mr. Anupam Mathur, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. Athar Ahmed, DAG, Punjab. Mr. Abhinav Gupta, Advocate for the complainant. **** JASJIT SINGH BEDI, J. The prayer in the present petition under Section 483 BNSS is for the grant of regular bail to the petitioner in case bearing FIR No.64 dated 09.05.2024 under Sections 304, 34 IPC, 1860, registered at Police Station Passiana, District Patiala. VISHAL SETHI 2026.07.29 09:44 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-32016-2025 (O & M) ::2:: 2. The present FIR came to be registered at the instance of Simranjit Singh and reads as under:- “At this time, one statement of Simranjit Singh aged about 25 years S/o Darshan Singh R/o Village Karhali Police Station Patiala District Patiala Mob. No. 95017-03096 in writing by inspector / SHO Alamjit Singh Sidhu No. 138/PR, SHO Police Station Passiana has been received at Police Station Passiana for the registration of the a case against Daljit Singh @ Jeet S/o Palwinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh @ 2 Sunny Deol S/o Daljit Singh r/o Village Karhali District Patiala for committing an offence U/s 302, 34 IPC through constable Mandeep Singh No. 2603/Patiala which is reproduced as under:- I am a resident of the above-mentioned address. I am studying in the B.Α. class at Punjabi University, Patiala. My father Darshan Singh used to serve as a caretaker at Guga Marhi in our village Karhali and used to live there as well. On 08.05.2024, I and my cousin Gursewak Singh had come to Guga Marhi from home, where other devotees were also present. My cousin and I were resting with the other devotees in the veranda of Guga Marhi, and my father was resting in a room inside Guga Marhi. The light was on at Guga Marhi. Around 10:00 PM, Daljit 1 Singh alias Jeet, son of Palwinder Singh, a resident of our village, came on his Swaraj tractor and parked it VISHAL SETHI 2026.07.29 09:44 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-32016-2025 (O & M) ::3:: outside Guga Marhi. He entered the room where my father was resting, dragged him out by the hair, and started beating him. In the meantime, Daljit's son Gurpreet Singh alias Sunny Deol also arrived on the scene. Both father and son together started brutally beating my father, shouting loudly that, 'We won't let him live today. We will kill him today.' My father began to cry for help. I, along with my cousin Gursewak Singh and other people present at the scene, rushed to rescue my father. We managed to free him from both attackers, who then fled the scene while abusing and threatening. My father collapsed unconscious on the ground. I and my cousin Gursewak Singh arranged a vehicle and brought him to Amar Hospital, Patiala, where my friend Gurpreet Singh, son of Kaka Singh, resident of Nawan Mehmadpur Jatta, Patiala, also arrived. The doctors checked my father and declared him dead. The reason for enmity is that my father Darshan Singh, who served at the Guga Marhi shrine where a large number of devotees would come to pay their respects, had a field located past the path leading to Guga Marhi belonging to Daljit Singh alias Jeet. Daljit Singh alias Jeet would often cause damage to the vehicles of the devotees who visited Guga Marhi. My father, Darshan Singh, had stopped him several times from doing so. Due to this, Daljit Singh alias Jeet and his son Gurpreet Singh held a grudge against my VISHAL SETHI 2026.07.29 09:44 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-32016-2025 (O & M) ::4:: father, which eventually led them to assault and fatally injure my father, thereby murdering him. Legal action should be taken against Daljit Singh alias Jeet, son of Palwinder Singh, and his son Gurpreet Singh, residents of village Karhali. I have recorded this statement in the presence of my cousin Gursewak Singh, son of Kulwant Singh. The statement was typed word for word as per my narration. After reading it, I confirmed it to be true and signed it in English” 3. The learned Senior Counsel for the petitioner contends that the dispute between the parties was on account of parking of vehicles thereby blocking the road towards the petitioner’s fields. He came to the spot alone and unarmed. Therefore, he had no intention to commit murder. The challan was initially submitted under Section 304 of IPC after investigation had been conducted by the Investigating Agency. Subsequently, charges have been framed under Section 302 IPC. As the petitioner is in custody since 09.05.2024 but none of the 14 prosecution witnesses has been examined so far, the Trial of the present case is not likely to be concluded anytime soon and therefore, he is entitled to the concession of regular bail. 4. The learned counsel for the complainant and State, on the other hand, contend that the petitioner repeatedly banged the head of the deceased against the wall leading to his death. The nature of allegations levelled against the petitioner do not entitle him to the concession as prayed for. They, VISHAL SETHI 2026.07.29 09:44 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-32016-2025 (O & M) ::5:: however, concede that the petitioner is in custody since 09.05.2024 but none of the 14 prosecution witnesses has been examined so far. 5. I have heard the learned counsel for the parties. 6. I have examined the CCTV footage installed inside and outside the dera. There is no such video showing that the petitioner is repeatedly banging the head of the deceased either into the ground or into the wall. It would be a moot point during the course of the Trial as to what offence is made out. Admittedly, the petitioner is in custody since 09.05.2024 but none of the 14 prosecution witnesses has been examined so far. Therefore, the Trial in the present case is not likely to be concluded anytime soon. In this situation, the further incarceration of the petitioner is not required. 7. Thus without commenting on the merits of the case, the present petition is allowed and the petitioner-Daljeet Singh is ordered to be released on bail subject to his furnishing bail bonds and surety bonds to the satisfaction of learned CJM/Duty Magistrate, concerned. 8. The petitioner shall appear before the police station concerned on the first Monday of every month till the conclusion of the trial and inform in writing each time that he is not involved in any other case/crime other than the case(s) referred to in this order. 9. If any attempt whatsoever is made by the petitioner and/or his family members/friends to contact/threaten/intimidate any of the witnesses of VISHAL SETHI 2026.07.29 09:44 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-32016-2025 (O & M) ::6:: the present occurrence, the State/complainant shall be at liberty to move an application for cancellation of bail granted vide this order. 10. In addition, the petitioner (or anyone on his behalf) shall prepare an FDR in the sum of Rs.50,000/- and deposit the same with the Trial Court. The same would be liable to be forfeited as per law in case of the absence of the petitioner from Trial without sufficient cause. 11. The petition stands disposed of. (JASJIT SINGH BEDI) JUDGE July 27, 2026 vishal Whether speaking/reasoned:- Yes/No Whether reportable :- Yes/No VISHAL SETHI 2026.07.29 09:44 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document