102 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CRM-M-19992-2026 (O&M) DECIDED ON: 09.07.2026 JATINDER SINGH .....PETITIONER VERSUS STATE OF PUNJAB .....RESPONDENT CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY VASHISTH. Present: Mr. Sumit Dua, Advocate, for the petitioner. Mr. Manjinder Singh Bhullar, DAG, Punjab. SANJAY VASHISTH , J (ORAL) 1. Present petition has been filed by the petitioner, seeking grant of anticipatory bail, in case, FIR No.07, dated 16.02.2026, under Section 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 amended by PC (amendment Act, 2018), registered at Police Station Vigilance Bureau, Range Jalandhar, District Jalandhar. 2. In the present case, a judgment and decree with respect to the house had already been passed in favour of the decree-holder, i.e. complainant. During the execution proceedings, Executing Court had issued warrants of possession for delivery of possession of the property. 3. Complainant, Hardev Singh, alleged in his complaint that petitioner, acting through his brother, initially demanded a bribe of Rs.50,000/- for facilitating delivery of possession. It is alleged that the said amount was transferred by the complainant to petitioner through UPI Google Pay. Thereafter, petitioner allegedly demanded an additional LAVISHA 2026.07.09 17:32 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document PHHC, Chandigarh CRM-M-19992-2026 (O&M) -2- amount of Rs.1,00,000/-. It is further alleged that, for collecting the said amount, petitioner deputed his brother, Parminder Singh, who arrived in a car belonging to the petitioner. 4. In the aforesaid factual backdrop, the allegations, as noticed by learned Additional Sessions Judge, Jalandhar, in the impugned order dated 30.03.2026 (Annexure P-9), reads as under: “Complainant Hardev Singh stated to the police on 16.02.2026 that he is agriculturist and also runs Sandhu Car Bazaar at Nakodar. He agreed to purchase 12 marlas house of Jaswinder Kaur who rather did not come forward to register the sale deed on 02.11.2015. Complainant filed civil suit against her which was decreed. Thereafter, with the orders of the Court, the sale deed was executed in his favour on 22.12.2025. He filed application to take possession of said house and it was marked to Naib Tehsildar, Mehatpur. On 06.02.2026 he visited the office of Naib Tehsildar, Mehatpur, where applicant met him. Computerized demarcation of said property was to be conducted for which government fee is 15,000/-. He transferred ₹ that amount via Gpay to applicant but he did not issue any receipt to complainant. On asking of applicant, complainant took him to the spot. Applicant entered said house and met Jaswinder Kaur. On coming out he asked Jaswinder Kaur to vacate said house till 13.02.2026. On 11.02.2026 notice was affixed on said house. On 12.02.2026 applicant called complainant to his office. On 13.02.2026 latter reached there. Applicant demanded 1,00,000/- from complainant to ₹ obtain possession of said house. Complainant showed inability to pay such huge amount. Then the matter was settled for payment of said amount in installments LAVISHA 2026.07.09 17:32 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document PHHC, Chandigarh CRM-M-19992-2026 (O&M) -3- of 20,000/- each. Entire incident was recorded in ₹ mobile phone. Then, they went to the spot but it was lying locked. They returned to the office. Applicant called complainant on 17.02.2026 and further asked him to pay money on 16.02.2026. With these allegations FIR was registered against applicant. Trap was laid to apprehend him. He sent his brother Parminder Singh to collect said amount who was caught red handed while accepting bribe on behalf of applicant. Recovery of currency notes of Rs.20,000/- was effected from him.” 5. It has also been brought to the notice of this Court that petitioner was earlier found to have been allegedly involved in a similar incident, pursuant to which FIR No.31 dated 05.08.2025, under Section 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act, was registered against him at Police Station Vigilance Bureau, Range Jalandhar. However, it is not disputed that petitioner has already been granted bail in the said case. 6. Be that as it may, upon prima facie examination of the material placed on record, this Court finds that complainant also appears to have voluntarily paid a part of the alleged bribe amount on the petitioner's demand. The record indicates that after the application for delivery of possession was marked to the Naib Tehsildar, Mehatpur, on 06.02.2026, complainant visited the office of the Naib Tehsildar, where he allegedly met the petitioner. It is alleged that, on petitioner's demand, an amount of Rs.15,000/- was transferred to his account through Google Pay, though no official receipt was issued in respect thereof. LAVISHA 2026.07.09 17:32 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document PHHC, Chandigarh CRM-M-19992-2026 (O&M) -4- 7. It is further alleged that on 12.02.2026, petitioner called the complainant to his office, and when complainant visited on 13.02.2026, petitioner demanded Rs.1,00,000/- for facilitating delivery of possession of the house. Eventually, the demand was allegedly negotiated and settled at Rs.20,000/- per instalment. Complainant further claims that the conversation relating to the demand of illegal gratification was recorded on his mobile phone. 8. FIR in the present case came to be registered on 16.02.2026. Subsequently, on 05.03.2026, in RSA-57-2026 filed by the judgment- debtor, Jaswinder Kaur, operation of the impugned judgments and decrees was stayed by the co-ordinate Bench of this Court. 9. Having regard to the nature of allegations, material collected during the investigation, and the circumstances in which FIR came to be registered, this Court does not find any compelling or substantial ground to exercise its discretionary jurisdiction in favour of the petitioner. Accordingly, present petition is dismissed. (SANJAY VASHISTH) 09.07.2026 JUDGE Lavisha Whether speaking/reasoned Yes/No Whether reportable Yes/No LAVISHA 2026.07.09 17:32 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document PHHC, Chandigarh