IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH 219 CRM-M-34355-2026 Date of Decision: 09.07.2026 Simranjit Singh @ Seema …Petitioner V/s State of Haryana …Respondent CORAM : HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE VIKRAM AGGARWAL Present: Mr. Shivam Chaudhary, Advocate, for the petitioner. Ms. Vasundhara Dalal Anand, Sr. DAG, Haryana. *** VIKRAM AGGARWAL, J (ORAL) Prayer in the present petition preferred under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short the “BNSS”) is for the grant of regular bail to the petitioner in case FIR No.137, dated 14.06.2025 registered under Sections 316(2), 318(2), 318(4), 338, 336(3), 340 (2), 61(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short the “BNS”) (corresponding Sections 406, 417, 420, 467, 468, 471, 120B IPC) at Police Station Guhla, District Kaithal. 2. Custody certificate dated 08.07.2026 filed by learned State counsel in Court today is taken on record. 3. On a complaint submitted by Joginder Singh and Shish Pal, the FIR in question was registered, which reads as under:- “To, the Superintendent of Police, Kaithal. Subject: Application regarding taking action against accused persons: (1) Karamjit son of name not known, resident of Village Khedi Nigran, District Patiala (Mobile No. 9878158955), (2) Joginder son of name not known, resident of Samana, Tehsil Samana, District Patiala (Mobile No. 98722-19203), (3) Angrez Singh son of Arjan Singh, resident of Badaicha Patti, Samana, District Patiala (Mobile No. 70092-55571), and two other persons who introduced themselves as Amarjit Singh and Kamaljit Singh, sons of VIKAS CHANDER 2026.07.10 14.33 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-34355-2026 -2- Nishan Singh son of Jagir Singh, residents of Village Palondia, Tehsil and District Patiala, and executed an agreement to sell dated 12.03.2025 and further earnest money receipt dated 21.04.2025 with us. Madam, the applicants respectfully submit as follows: (1) That we, the applicants Joginder Singh and Shishpal, wanted to purchase land, and accused Nos. 1 to 3, namely Karamjit Singh, Joginder Singh and Angrez Singh, work as dealers (brokers). These three accused met us and showed us land in several villages for purchase, but we did not like any land. Thereafter, accused Nos. 1 to 3 showed us land measuring 50 Kanals 15 Marlas comprised in Khewat No. 34 Min, Khatauni No.52 Min, Rectangle No. 43, Killa Nos. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17 and 18, situated in Village Shadipur, Tehsil Guhla, District Kaithal, as per Jamabandi for the year 2023-2024, and stated that the said land belonged to Amarjit Singh and Kamaljit Singh, sons of Nishan Singh son of Jagir Singh, residents of Village Palondia, Tehsil and District Patiala, known to them, and that the land was available for sale. We liked the land, after which accused Nos. 1 to 3 introduced us to two persons and stated that they were Amarjit Singh and Kamaljit Singh aforesaid and were the owners of the said land. Accused Nos. 1 to 3 got the deal of the aforesaid 50 Kanals 15 Marlas land finalized between us and the persons introduced by them as Amarjit Singh and Kamaljit Singh at the rate of Rs. 37,75,000/- per acre on 12.03.2025. We paid Rs. 60,00,000/- as earnest money to the said Amarjit Singh and Kamaljit Singh introduced by accused Nos. 1 to 3, out of which applicant Joginder Singh paid a cheque of Rs. 10,00,000/- bearing No. 5 dated 12.03.2025 from his HDFC Bank, Kaithal account to Amarjit, applicant Shishpal paid cheque No. 032409 dated 12.03.2025 from his Bank of Maharashtra, Kaithal account to Kamaljit Singh, and the remaining Rs. 40,00,000/- was paid in cash to Amarjit Singh and Kamaljit Singh. The date for execution of the sale deed was fixed as 22.05.2025. A copy of the agreement to sell dated 12.03.2025 is enclosed. The agreement to sell dated 12.03.2025 was written and attested in Guhla Tehsil by the persons introduced as Amarjit Singh and Kamaljit Singh by accused Nos. 1 to 3, and Narayan Dass son of Telu Ram, resident of Papsar, signed as witness on our behalf, while accused Angrez Singh affixed his thumb impression as witness on behalf of the accused. (2) That after the execution and attestation of the agreement to sell dated 12.03.2025, the persons introduced as Amarjit Singh and Kamaljit Singh by accused Nos. 1 to 3 started calling us from mobile numbers 75080-04868 and 70876-93070 and demanded more money. Accordingly, we paid an additional earnest money amount of Rs. 20,00,000/-, out of which Rs. 15,00,000/- was paid through cheque No. 032410 dated 21.04.2025 drawn on Bank of Maharashtra, Kaithal, and Rs. 5,00,000/- was paid in cash. On behalf of the said Amarjit Singh and VIKAS CHANDER 2026.07.10 14.33 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-34355-2026 -3- Kamaljit Singh, Kamaljit Singh executed and got attested an additional earnest money receipt dated 21.04.2025 in our favour at Guhla Tehsil. At the time of execution and attestation of the agreement to sell dated 12.03.2025, the accused had provided us photocopies of the Aadhaar Cards and PAN Cards of Amarjit and Kamaljit. Copies of the additional earnest money receipt dated 21.04.2025, Aadhaar Cards and PAN Cards are enclosed. (3) That on the date fixed for registration, i.e., 22.05.2025, we reached Guhla Tehsil for execution of the sale deed, but the accused did not appear, whereupon we got our presence marked and attested. (4) Thereafter, we contacted the accused and requested them to execute the sale deed. Initially, all the accused kept avoiding the matter, and later their phones were switched off. We became suspicious and conducted inquiries in Village Shadipur, where we came to know that all the accused had conspired together and committed cheating and forgery against us. The two persons whom accused Nos. 1 to 3 had introduced to us as Amarjit Singh and Kamaljit Singh were not the real Amarjit Singh and Kamaljit Singh who owned the 50 Kanals 15 Marlas land in Village Shadipur. Accused Nos. 1 to 3, namely Karamjit Singh, Joginder Singh and Angrez Singh, had produced fake persons in place of the real Amarjit Singh and Kamaljit Singh and got the agreement to sell dated 12.03.2025 and the additional earnest money receipt dated 21.04.2025 executed and attested through those fake persons, thereby cheating and defrauding us of Rs. 80,00,000/-. (5) That we have now also come to know that some of the three persons who had represented themselves as dealers and arranged the transaction had also disclosed false names, and besides the above accused, some other persons are also involved in this cheating, forgery and conspiracy. Therefore, it is prayed that strict action be taken against the above accused and all persons involved in the a conspiracy, cheating and forgery forgery. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner has been falsely implicated. He further submits that investigation stands completed and charges stand framed. However, out of 25 prosecution witnesses, only 2 witnesses have been examined as of now and, therefore, trial will take a sufficiently long time to conclude and, therefore, no useful purpose would be served by keeping the petitioner in custody any longer. He further submits Karamjit Singh, who is alleged to be the main conspirator, has been granted anticipatory bail by the Hon’ble Apex Court vide order dated VIKAS CHANDER 2026.07.10 14.33 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-34355-2026 -4- 09.04.2026 passed in SLP (Crl.) No.12528/2025 (Annexure P-2). He further submits that co-accused Akshay Kumar Puri and Rajwant Singh @ Banty and Sahab Singh @ Sabi @ Sahib Singh have also been granted bail by a coordinate Bench vide order dated 06.05.2026 passed in CRM-M-54854- 2025 and order dated 25.05.2026 passed in CRM-M-14279-2026 and CRM- M-27612-2026 (Annexures P-3 and P-4, respectively). 5. Per contra, learned counsel representing the State has opposed the bail petition stating that the allegations are very serious. It has been submitted that three cases are pending against the petitioner and that he had already stands convicted and sentenced for 10 years in a case under the NDPS Act and for 1 year in a case under the Arms Act. One case under the NDPS is still pending. 6. Concededly, the petitioner is in custody in the present case for the last 9 months and 26 days. Out of 25 prosecution witnesses, only 2 have been examined till date. Karamjit Singh, who is stated to be main conspirator, has been granted anticipatory bail by the Hon’ble Apex Court. Co-accused Akshay Kumar Puri and Rajwant Singh @ Banty and Sahab Singh @ Sabi @ Sahib Singh have also been granted bail by a coordinate Bench. No doubt, the antecedents of the petitioner are not clean. However, the parameters for the grant of regular bail and anticipatory bail are different. The trial will take a sufficiently long time to conclude and no useful purpose would be served by keeping the petitioner in custody any longer. In the present case, while considering the issue of grant of regular bail, especially keeping in mind the fact that one co-accused has been granted anticipatory bail and three others have been granted regular bail, this Court does not deem it appropriate to deny the grant of regular bail to the petitioner. VIKAS CHANDER 2026.07.10 14.33 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-34355-2026 -5- 8. In view of the aforementioned facts and circumstances, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, the present petition is allowed. The petitioner is ordered to be released on regular bail on his furnishing bail/surety bonds to the satisfaction of the concerned trial Court/Chief Judicial Magistrate/Duty Magistrate. (VIKRAM AGGARWAL) JUDGE July 09, 2026 vcgarg Whether speaking/reasoned : Yes/No Whether reportable : Yes/No VIKAS CHANDER 2026.07.10 14.33 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document