1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH 221 CRM-M-34187-2026 (O&M) Date of decision : 08.07.2026 Lakhvir Singh ..... Petitioner(s) VERSUS State of Punjab ..... Respondent CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SURYA PARTAP SINGH Present: Mr. Umesh Kumar Kanwar, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. Rohit Bansal, Sr. DAG Punjab. ***** SURYA PARTAP SINGH, J. (Oral) This petition for pre-arrest bail is the first petition filed by the petitioner under Section 482 of ‘the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023’. It has been filed with regard to a case arising out of FIR No.77 dated 04.06.2026, for the commission of offence punishable under Sections 61, 1, 14 of the Punjab Excise Act, 1914, Police Station Koom Kalan, District Ludhiana. 2. The FIR of this case came into being at the instance of ‘HC Jagtar Singh’. It was reported by the abovenamed police officer that on the basis of a tip-off given by a reliable source, near Cremation Ground at village Gujarwal Bet, he found that the petitioner was there waiting for customers. According to abovenamed police officer, the moment petitioner VINOD KUMAR ARYA 2026.07.09 17:37 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document 2 spotted the presence of police party, he fled from the spot leaving behind 36 bottles of liquor, make ‘999 Power Star Fine Whisky’. 3. It is the case of the prosecution that pursuant to recovery of abovementioned liquor, formal FIR of this case was lodged and the investigation taken up. 4. Status report has been filed by learned State Counsel. The same be taken on record. 5. Heard. 6. The record has been perused carefully. 7. A perusal of the record shows that there are several factors which are required to be taken into consideration at this stage. Those factors are:- i. that the offence is triable by the Court of Judicial Magistrate; ii. that the maximum punishment prescribed for the offence is imprisonment up to three years; iii. that recovery of liquor has already taken place, and therefore, nothing has been left to be recovered from the possession of petitioner; iv. that investigation and trial are not likely to be concluded in near future; v. that custodial interrogation of the petitioner is not likely to produce a fruitful result; vi. that the detention of petitioner in judicial lock-up is not likely to serve any purpose; VINOD KUMAR ARYA 2026.07.09 17:37 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document 3 vii. that there is nothing on record to show that while on anticipatory bail, the petitioner is likely to tamper with the evidence or influence the witnesses; and viii.that there is nothing on record to show that while on anticipatory bail, the petitioner will not participate/cooperate in the investigation. 8. Taking into consideration the cumulative effect of all the abovementioned factors, it is hereby held that the petitioner is entitled for anticipatory bail. 9. In view of the abovementioned discussion, it is hereby held that the present petition deserves to be allowed. Hence, the same is hereby allowed, and the petitioner is accorded the benefit of anticipatory bail. It is hereby directed that in the event of his arrest, the petitioner shall be released on bail on furnishing bonds to the satisfaction of Arresting Officer. However, the petitioner shall join the investigation as and when notice is served upon him, in writing, by the Investigating Officer. He shall abide by the terms and conditions as envisaged under Section 482(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. 08.07.2026 (SURYA PARTAP SINGH) Vinod JUDGE Whether speaking/reasoned Yes/No Whether reportable Yes/No VINOD KUMAR ARYA 2026.07.09 17:37 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document