2026:HHC:3 IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA. Cr. MP(M) No. 2925 of 2025 Reserved on : 29.12.2025 Decided on : 01.01.2026 Pankaj Singh …Applicant Versus State of Himachal Pradesh …Respondent Coram The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Virender Singh, Judge. Whether approved for reporting? For the applicant       : Mr. Udit Shaurya Kaushik, Advocate. For   the   respondent   :   Mr. Mohinder   Zharaick,   Additional Advcate   General,   with   Ms. Avni Kochhar   Mehta,   Deputy   Advocate General, assisted by ASI Gopal Singh, Police   Station   Balh,   District   Mandi, H.P. Virender Singh, Judge Applicant­Pankaj   Singh   has   filed   the   present application  under   Section   483   of   the   Bharatiya   Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (hereinafter referred to as ‘BNSS’), for releasing him, on bail, during the pendency of the trial, arising   out   of  FIR   No.   248/2024,   dated   13.12.2024, registered under Sections 103(1), 3(5) & 238 of Bharatiya 2 2026:HHC:3 Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (hereinafter referred to as the BNS), with Police Station Balh, District Mandi, H.P. 2. According to the applicant, he is innocent person and   falsely   been   implicated,   in   the   present   case,   at   the instance of some interested person. 3. The applicant has further pleaded that he has no concern whatsoever, with the crime, nor the police could collect   any   evidence   connecting   him   with   the   crime   in question. The   investigation   of   the   case   is   stated   to   be completed, as the police has filed the charge­sheet, in the present case. 4. The applicant has earlier tried his luck by filing Cr. MP(M) No. 2480 of 2025, before this Court, which was dismissed   as   withdrawn,   vide   order   dated   14.10.2025. Thereafter,   he   has   approached   the   Court   of   learned Additional   Sessions   Judge,   Mandi,   H.P.,   however,   his application was dismissed vide order dated 22.11.2025. 5. The applicant has also pleaded that apart from the present case, another criminal case arising out of FIR No. 37 of 2023, dated 29.05.2023, under Sections 379 & 34 3 2026:HHC:3 of   IPC,   registered   with   Police   Station   Kullu,   is   pending against him. 6. Apart from this, the applicant has given certain undertakings, for which, he is ready to abide by, in case, ordered to be released on bail, during the pendency of the trial. 7. On the basis of above facts, Mr. Udit Shaurya Kaushik Advocate, appearing for the applicant, has prayed that the bail application  be allowed. 8. When,   put   to   notice,   the   police   has   filed   the status   report,   disclosing   therein,   that   on   13.12.2024, complainant Rohit Thakur, made a statement under Section 173 of BNSS, before SI/SHO Karan Singh, Police Station Balh, disclosing therein, that he is a labourer by profession. They are two brothers and two sisters. Their mother had expired. His brother Vijay Kumar and his father reside in the village. His father had gone to reside with his sister Champa Devi, in Village Sadyana, a month prior to the date, when he made the statement under Section 173 BNSS. 8.1 His   brother   Vijay   Kumar   is   labourer   by 4 2026:HHC:3 profession. However, he was addicted of consuming liquor. Vijay Kumar has not returned to his home for two days. On 12.12.2024, at about 6:00 pm, Ward Member Anil Kumar, told the complainant that at place known as Khyuri Doom Magzine, in a room, one dead body is lying. According to Ward Member, the said body seems to be of his brother Vijay   Kumar,   upon   which,   complainant,   along   with   Anil Kumar, reached at Khyuri Doom Magzine and found that in the Magzine room, his younger brother Vijay Kumar is lying. His body was soiled with blood and he was lying there in semi­naked   condition. Shirt   was   not   on   his   body   and injuries were there on his head and body. Lot of blood was also there. He expressed his opinion that someone had killed his brother, as such, he prayed that action, as per law, be taken, upon which, police machinery swung into motion. 8.2 The team from RFSL was requested to visit the spot. On the basis of the statement, case under Section 103 of   BNS   was   registered,   against   some   unknown   person. Thereafter, investigation was carried out by SI Karan Singh. 5 2026:HHC:3 8.3 On 12.12.2024, he has visited the spot Khyuri Doom Magzine and at the instance of the complainant, spot map was prepared. The team from RFSL Mandi, inspected the spot and collected the physical evidence from there. The spot was videographed and photography was also done. 8.4 On 13.12.2024, dead body of Vijay Kumar was sent   to   Lal   Bahadur   Medical   College   Nerchowk,   where postmortem examination was done on his body. Dead body was,   thereafter,   handed   over   to   the   complainant,   for performing the last rites. 8.5 Thereafter,   SI   Nagender   Singh   and   SI   Vinod Kumar,   were   associated   in   the   investigation. On 13.12.2024,   SI   Nagender   Singh,   recovered   the   black coloured Air Jordan shoes, alongwith white red rexine cloth, from a place in the jungle, which is 250 meters away, from the spot. Those articles were taken into possession. Those shoes were got identified from the complainant. 8.6 On 13.12.2024, complainant Rohit Thakur has disclosed   that   on   09.12.2024,   when   he   along   with   his brother Vijay, were present at their home, then Pankaj and 6 2026:HHC:3 Saurav, came there in their Alto car bearing No. HP82­2419, and both of them kept two tyres on the pretext that they will take   the   same   from   there   in   future. However,   on 09.12.2024, his brother Vijay without the consent of Pankaj and Saurav, sold those tyres to Sunny of their village, for a sum of Rs. 1000/­. 8.7 On 10.12.2024, during the day time, when he was present at his home, then Pankaj and Saurav came there to take those tyres, upon which, complainant told that his brother sold the tyres to Sunny, upon which, both of them became furious and left the place by threatening the complainant by saying that they will not spare his brother. 8.8 Thereafter, efforts were made to nab Pankaj and Saurav, but they were not found at their house. Thereafter, on   14.12.2024,   a   secret   information   was   received   that Pankaj   and   Saurav   are   present   at   Lassi   Ke   Padhar,   in vehicle No. HP82­2149. Consequently, both were brought to the Police Station, for investigation along with the vehicle. During investigation, accused Pankaj and Saurav disclosed that on 10.12.2024, both of them had taken Vijay Kumar, in 7 2026:HHC:3 their Alto car No. HP82­2149 to Khyuri Doom. Both were under the influence of liquor and Vijay had also consumed liquor. At Khyuri Doom, after reaching in the Magzine room, accused   Saurav   had   gone   to   Baggi   to   purchase   liquor, thereafter,   both   of   them   along   with   Vijay   Kumar   had consumed   liquor. Both   the   accused   persons   allegedly disclosed to the police that they had kept two tyres with Vijay Kumar, who had sold them to Sunny of their village and on account of the amount of those tyres, quarrel had taken place between them and Vijay. Since, both of them were under the influence of liquor, as such, both had a scuffle with Vijay. Pankaj banged the head of Vijay Kumar with   the   wall. Consequently,   Vijay   Kumar   sustained injuries   on   his   head   and   blood   started   oozing   out. Thereafter, Saurav had inflicted blow with wooden log on the head and body of Vijay Kumar. Thereafter, both of them left Vijay Kumar in agony. He was in severe pain. They left the spot in their vehicle No. HP82­2149. The said vehicle was taken   into   possession. On   14.12.2024,   two   tyres   were recovered from the house of Sunny, which were also taken 8 2026:HHC:3 into   possession. On   the   basis   of   the   above   revelation, accused persons were arrested. Thereafter, Section 3(5) of BNS was added, in this case. 8.9 Case FIR No. 37/2023, dated 29.05.2023, under Sections 379, 34 of IPC, registered with Police Station Sainj, District   Kullu,   H.P.   was   found   to   be   registered   against applicant Pankaj Singh. 8.10 On   15.12.2024,   the   team   of   RFSL   Mandi, inspected vehicle No. HP82­2149 and collected the physical evidence i.e. blood stained foot­mat, piece of cloth, which was also found to be blood stained and two iron panna. On the   same   day,   both   the   accused   persons   were   produced before   the   Court   and   remanded   to   police   custody   till 17.12.2024. During   police   remand,   both   the   accused persons   have   disclosed   about   the   weapon   of   offence, however, on identification of the place, said danda was not found there, as such, Section 238 of BNS, was added. 8.11 On 18.12.2024, the CCTV camera installed on the shop of Vihan Enterprises was checked and it was found that on 10.12.2024, from the nearby liquor vend, accused 9 2026:HHC:3 Saurav was purchasing liquor and from the adjoining sweet shop, he had purchased other articles. Those articles were found   on   the   spot. The   CCTV   footage   was   taken   into possession. As per the footage of the CCTV camera installed in the house of Gur Singh, on 10.12.2024, deceased Vijay was found to be moving towards Nalsar. He was identified from his shoes and wearing apparels. Said CCTV footage was also taken into possession. 8.12 On 19.12.2024, statement of Sunny son of Sh. Nanak Chand was recorded under Section 180 of BNSS, who   disclosed   that   on   09.12.2024,   during   evening   time, deceased Vijay Kumar had sold two tyres to him, for a sum of Rs. 1,000/­ and on 10.12.2024, Sunny had gone to Una along with his truck No. HP62D­0785, then, he was on the way   back   to   his   house,   then   accused   Pankaj   Mankotia called   him   from   mobile   phone   No.   85809­45664   to   his mobile phone No. 82193­35103 and also talked about the tyres. 8.13 Thereafter, the request was made to the service provider to provide the CDRs of mobile phone numbers of 10 2026:HHC:3 accused Pankaj (applicant), Saurav and witness Sunny. As per CDRs, mobile phone No. 85804­55166 was issued in the name of Saurav and on 09.12.2024 and 10.12.2024, Saurav and   Pankaj   talked   with   each   other. Mobile   phone   No. 85809­45664 was found to be registered in the name of accused Pankaj (applicant) and location of both the accused was also found to be of Khyuri Doom. Mobile phone No. 82193­35103 was also found to be registered in the name of Sunny and on 10.12.2024, both of them had talked with each other. After the receipt of FSL report, police filed the charge­sheet on 26.03.2025 and supplementary challan has been filed on 17.12.2025 and case was listed on 23.12.2025, for checking of copies. 9. On the basis of above facts, a prayer has been made to dismiss the application. 10. The accused persons, in the present case, were arrested on 14.12.2024, and the involvement of the accused in the present case was found on the basis of their alleged revelation,   as   well   as,   on   the   basis   of   circumstantial evidence. The   role,   which   has   been   alleged   against   the 11 2026:HHC:3 accused Pankaj (applicant) would be proved during the trial and after more than one year of the arrest of the applicant, the charges have not yet been framed against him, what to talk about the commencement and conclusion of the trial against him. 11. Although,   at   the   time   of   deciding   the   bail application, the Court should not dwell deep into the merits of   the   case   to   ascertain   the   guilt   or   innocence   of   the accused, but, when the involvement of the applicant was allegedly found on the basis of his alleged revelation and thereafter, on the basis of the alleged CCTV footage, as well as,   the   statement   of   Sunny,   which   was   recorded   on 19.12.2024, after five days from the alleged incident, this Court is of the view that the applicant cannot be kept in judicial custody, that too, for indefinite period, prior to his conviction, as accused is presumed to be innocent, unless proven   guilty. The   presumption   of   innocence   is   still available to the applicant, as the bail application cannot be rejected merely as a matter of punishment, since, pre­trial punishment is prohibited under the law. 12 2026:HHC:3 12. So far as the registration of another case against the  applicant  is   concerned,   the   said  fact  is   too   short  to decline the relief of bail to the applicant, as he has not been convicted in the said case, nor the police has made any effort to get the bail cancelled, in the above noted case. 13. The applicant is permanent resident of District Mandi, as such, it cannot be apprehended that in case, he is ordered to be released on bail, he may not be available for the trial. 14. So far as the apprehensions, which have been expressed by the police in the status report, are concerned, for   those   apprehensions,   reasonable   conditions   can   be imposed. 15. Considering all these facts, this Court is of the view that the bail application is liable to be allowed and is accordingly allowed. 16. Consequently,   the   applicant   is   ordered   to   be released, on bail, during the pendency of trial, arising out of FIR   No.   284/2024,   dated   13.12.2024,   under   Sections 103,   3(5)   of   BNS,  registered   with  Police   Station   Balh, 13 2026:HHC:3 District Mandi, H.P. on his furnishing personal bonds in the sum of Rs. 1,00,000/­, with one surety of the like amount, to the satisfaction of the learned trial Court. 17. This   order,   however,   shall   be   subject   to   the following conditions:­ a)  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   the   appropriate application; b)   The   applicant   shall   not   tamper   with   the prosecution evidence nor hamper the investigation of the case in any manner whatsoever; c) The applicant shall not make any inducement, threat or promises to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissearchsuade them from disclosing such facts to the Court or the Police Officer; and d)   The   applicant   shall   not   leave   the   territory   of India without the prior permission of the Court. 18. 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 bail application. 19. It   is   made   clear   that   respondent­State   is   at liberty to move an appropriate application, in case, any of the bail conditions is found violated by the applicant. 14 2026:HHC:3 20. The Registry is directed to forward a soft copy of the bail order to the Superintendent of Jail, District Jail Mandi, H.P., through e­mail, with a direction to enter the date of grant of bail in the e­prison software. 21. In case, the applicant is not released within a period  of  seven  days  from  the  date  of  grant  of  bail,  the Superintendent of Jail, District Jail Mandi, H.P., is directed to   inform   this   fact   to   the   Secretary,   DLSA,   Mandi. The Superintendent of Jail, District Jail Mandi, H.P., is further directed that if the applicant fails to furnish the bail bonds, as per the order passed by this Court, within a period of one month from today, then, the said fact be submitted to this Court. 22. Record   be   returned   back   to   the   quarter concerned. (Virender Singh) Judge 01st January, 2026 (Pramod Kumar) KALPANA Digitally signed by KALPANA Date: 2026.01.01 17:02:04 +0000