CRM-M-51544 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA Harpreet Singh @ Pastor Johnson State of Punjab CORAM: HON'BLE MR. Present: SHEEL NAGU, CHIEF JUSTICE 1. has filed dated 02.05.2024 Sections 66 (C), 66 (D) IT Act, 2000 Secrets Act Hoshiarpur. 2. on record. 3. and 12 days as on 22.08.2025 cheating and forgery as well as the offences under the IT Act, 2000 and Official Secrets Act. 51544-2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of decision : Harpreet Singh @ Pastor Johnson Versus Punjab HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHEEL NAGU, CHIEF JUSTICE Mr. Narinder S. Lucky, Advocate, for the petitioner. Mr. Salil Sabhlok, Senior DAG, **** SHEEL NAGU, CHIEF JUSTICE ( Oral ) The petitioner, who is in custody since has filed this first petition for grant of regular bail in FIR No. 02.05.2024, under Sections Sections 66 (C), 66 (D) IT Act, 2000 Secrets Act, registered at Police Station, hiarpur. Custody certificate filed on behalf of the State is taken on record. The petitioner is in custody since 01 year, 03 months and 12 days as on 22.08.2025 and cheating and forgery as well as the offences under the IT Act, 2000 and Official Secrets Act. IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CRM-M-51544-2024 Date of decision : 22.08.2025 ….Petitioner ….Respondent JUSTICE SHEEL NAGU, CHIEF JUSTICE , Advocate, Senior DAG, Punjab. ( Oral ) The petitioner, who is in custody since 10.05.2024 petition for grant of regular bail in FIR No. s 419, 420, 467, 468, 471 IPC Sections 66 (C), 66 (D) IT Act, 2000 and Sections 3, 9 of Official , registered at Police Station, Model Town, District Custody certificate filed on behalf of the State is taken The petitioner is in custody since 01 year, 03 months and is alleged with the offence of cheating and forgery as well as the offences under the IT Act, -1- 2024 08.2025 ….Petitioner ….Respondent JUSTICE SHEEL NAGU, CHIEF JUSTICE 10.05.2024 petition for grant of regular bail in FIR No. 98 IPC, 3, 9 of Official Model Town, District Custody certificate filed on behalf of the State is taken The petitioner is in custody since 01 year, 03 months is alleged with the offence of cheating and forgery as well as the offences under the IT Act, AJAY PRASHER 2025.08.26 18:53 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-51544-2024 -2- 4. Learned counsel for the State indicates that the petitioner is alleged with sharing secret documents. The allegation is that the petitioner being Pastor visited Pakistan twice and came in touch with Pakistan Intelligence Agency. There are allegations of obtaining fake Indian SIMs, registering the same on WhatsApp and other internet Apps and by using the same, the petitioner carried out activities against India. 5. Looking to the gravity of the offence and the fact that none of the prosecution witnesses have been examined after the charge-sheet was submitted on 06.08.2024, this Court is of the view that though there is some prejudice caused to the petitioner by prolonged undertrial custody, but the same gets outweighed by the gravity of the offence and therefore, present petition stands dismissed with liberty to re-visit the Court in case the trial gets further delayed. With the aforesaid liberty, the petition stands dismissed. ( SHEEL NAGU ) CHIEF JUSTICE August 22, 2025 Ajay Prasher Whether speaking/reasoned : Yes/No Whether reportable : Yes/No AJAY PRASHER 2025.08.26 18:53 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document