1 ( 2026:HHC:25157 ) IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA Cr. MP(M) No. 1024 of 2026 Decided on: 29.06.2026 ________________________________________________ Raman ....Petitioner Versus State of H.P. …Respondent _ Coram The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sushil Kukreja, Judge. Whether approved for reporting?1 For the petitioner : Mr. Karan Kapoor, Advocate. For the respondent : Mr. Raj Kumar Negi, Additional Advocate General. Sushil Kukreja, Judge (oral) At this stage, learned counsel for the petitioner seeks permission of this Court to withdraw the present petition. However, he submitted that learned trial Court may be directed to decide the case as expeditiously as possible, as only one witness remains to be cross-examined and the case was fixed for the said purpose on 22.06.2026 when the witness could not be cross-examined. 1 Whether reporters of Local Papers may be allowed to see the judgment? 2 ( 2026:HHC:25157 ) 2. Learned Additional Advocate General stated that on 22.06.2026 prosecution witness namely Vilochan Negi was present and his examination-in-chief was conducted, however, he could not be cross-examined, as the counsel representing the accused was unable to attend the Court due to death of his relative and thereafter the case has been fixed for cross-examination of the aforesaid witness on 26.08.2026. He further stated that the evidence of the prosecution is complete except the cross-examination of witness Vilochan Negi. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner stated that the petitioner is in custody since December, 2022 and learned trial Court had given a long date for the purpose of cross- examination of the last witness of the prosecution. He prayed that the learned trial Court be directed to prepone the matter and to decide the case as expeditiously as possible. 4. The prayer made by learned counsel for the petitioner appears to be genuine and is allowed. 5. Consequently, the petition is dismissed, as withdrawn. The learned trial Court is directed to prepone the 3 ( 2026:HHC:25157 ) case for the purpose of cross-examination of prosecution witness namely Vilochan Negi and thereafter decide the case as expeditiously as possible and in any event not later than 30.09.2026. Parties are directed to appear before the learned trial Court on 06.07.2026. Pending application(s), if any, stands disposed of. ( Sushil Kukreja ) 29th June, 2026 Judge (raman)