CRM-M-27078-2026 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH 209 CRM-M-27078-2026 DECIDED ON: 13.07.2026 PARMINDER SINGH .....PETITIONER VERSUS STATE OF PUNJAB .....RESPONDENT CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY VASHISTH. Present: Mr. Parminder Singh Sekhon, Senior Advocate, with Mr. Rajdeep Singh Gill, Advocate, for the petitioner. Mr. Manjinder Singh Bhullar, DAG, Punjab. SANJAY VASHISTH, J (ORAL) 1. Prayer in this petition, filed under Section 482 of the BNSS, 2023 (earlier Section 438 Cr.P.C.), is for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner, who has been booked in a criminal case arising out of First Information Report, as detailed hereunder:- Name & age of Petitioner (s) FIR No. Date Section(s) Police Station District Parminder Singh, aged about 22 years 73 27.03.2026 15, 15-C, 29, 61 of NDPS Act, Section 109 of BNS (corresponding to section 307 of IPC) and sections 25, 27 of Arms Act, 1959 Jamalpur Ludhiana 2. Vide order dated 14.05.2026, following order was passed by this Court:- “2. As per the case of prosecution, while police party was present in the area on routine patrolling duty, a secret informer approached the LAVISHA 2026.07.13 18:23 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document PHHC, Chandigarh CRM-M-27078-2026 2 police and disclosed that a truck, bearing registration No.HR-64A-5376, occupied by certain unknown persons, had been parked at a secluded place within the jurisdiction of Police Station Ladowal after allegedly supplying poppy husk in the area falling under Police Station Jamalpur. It was further informed that several other vehicles, i.e. a Scorpio, bearing registration No.PB-13-BS-2020, a Mahindra Bolero, bearing registration No.PB-10CC-3767, a Fortuner and an Isuzu vehicle, along with some other vehicles, were also stationed at the spot and the occupants thereof were in the process of loading poppy husk into the said vehicles for further supply in the area of Ludhiana city. Acting upon the aforesaid information, a raid was conducted by the police party, pursuant whereto 155 bags/sacks of poppy husk, weighing approximately 3100 kilograms, were allegedly recovered from the aforesaid vehicles. 4. During the course of investigation, one Sukhpreet Singh, Ex-Member of the Panchayat, got his statement recorded before the police, wherein he named Gurcharan Singh and Jaswant Singh as accused persons, who were subsequently arrested on 05.04.2026. 5. It is further the case of the prosecution that on the basis of disclosure statements suffered by the arrested accused, present petitioner namely Parminder Singh, along with his father Gurmeet Singh and brother Sukhpreet Singh, was also found to be involved in the alleged offence, whereupon Section 29 of the NDPS Act came to be added, vide GD No. 13 dated 08.04.2026. 6. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that during further investigation, it was revealed that the Scorpio vehicle recovered from the spot was bearing a fake registration number i.e. PB- 13-BS-2020, which, in fact, pertains to a vehicle owned by the present petitioner. However, it is specifically contended that even as per the case of prosecution, the said Scorpio vehicle does not belong to the petitioner. It is further submitted that the original registration number of the recovered Scorpio vehicle was found to be HR-05-BA-5934 and petitioner, along with his father and brother, has falsely been implicated in the present case, only in order to shield the actual owner of the vehicle, namely Jagjeet Singh. LAVISHA 2026.07.13 18:23 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document PHHC, Chandigarh CRM-M-27078-2026 3 7. Learned counsel further argues that except of the disclosure statements allegedly made by the co-accused, there is no independent incriminating material or substantive evidence available on record, connecting the petitioner with the alleged recovery or the commission of the offence. It is contended that implication of the petitioner is wholly baseless and rests solely upon inadmissible disclosure statement. 8. It is lastly submitted that petitioner is ready and willing to join the investigation and to fully cooperate with the Investigating Agency as and when required, in case, he is granted protection from arrest by this Court. Thus, counsel prays for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner in the present case. 9. Notice of motion. 10. On advance notice, Mr. Neeraj Madaan, Sr. DAG, Punjab, puts in appearance on behalf of the respondent – State, and seeks some time to file status report in the matter. 11. Adjourned to 26.05.2026. 12. Meanwhile, petitioner shall not be arrested. However, issue of joining of investigation by the petitioner would be examined on the next date of hearing, after reviewing the status report, which is yet to be filed by learned State counsel.” 3. Today, learned Senior Counsel for the petitioner submits that registration number of the vehicle in question actually belongs to a vehicle owned and maintained by the petitioner. However, the said registration number has been mischievously used by certain persons without any involvement of the petitioner. It is contended that mere use of the registration number pertaining to the petitioner's vehicle is, by itself, insufficient to implicate the petitioner as an accused in the present case. It is further submitted that petitioner is ready and willing to join the investigation and to extend full cooperation to the Investigating Agency, provided he is protected from arrest by this Court. Thus, prayer LAVISHA 2026.07.13 18:23 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document PHHC, Chandigarh CRM-M-27078-2026 4 has been made for the grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner in the present case. 4. On the other hand, learned State counsel has filed a status report dated 09.07.2026 in Court today, which is taken on record. Registry is directed to tag the same at the appropriate place in the file. 5. Learned State counsel submits that, during the course of investigation, police visited the garage where the vehicle in question was allegedly repaired and recorded the statement of its proprietor. As per the said statement, it was the petitioner-Parminder Singh, who used to visit the garage for carrying out repair work on the vehicle which was subsequently apprehended by the Investigating Officer at the place of occurrence. It is, therefore, contended that petitioner does not deserve the concession of anticipatory bail in the present case. 6. This Court has heard the learned counsel for the parties and has perused the material available on record. 7. The veracity of allegations, and the question whether proprietor of the garage could correctly identify the vehicle merely because the registration number displayed on it was found belonging to the petitioner's vehicle, are matters of evidence which can be established only, during the course of trial. At this stage, no conclusive finding can be recorded on those aspects. 8. Therefore, in the facts and circumstances of the case, this Court does not find it necessary to keep the present petition pending any further and, accordingly, deems it appropriate to dispose of the same, LAVISHA 2026.07.13 18:23 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document PHHC, Chandigarh CRM-M-27078-2026 5 with the direction to the petitioner to join the investigation within two weeks from today or as and when called by the investigating officer, and in the eventuality of the arrest, petitioner would be released on anticipatory bail, subject to his furnishing bail bonds to the satisfaction of the Arresting Officer. The petitioner shall also be abide by all the conditions laid down under Section 482(2) of BNSS, 2023 (earlier Section 438(2) Cr.P.C.). 9. Besides, it is directed that petitioner would hand over his passport to the Investigating Agency or to Court concerned, if he possesses. Otherwise, would submit an affidavit, disclosing the fact that he does not possess any passport. It is also directed that before leaving country any time during trial, petitioner would seek prior permission of the Court. 10. However, it shall be clarified that this order shall be deemed inoperative, if petitioner fails to join and cooperate with the investigation, in terms of the directions mentioned in the present order. 11. With the directions recorded here above, present petition stands disposed of. (SANJAY VASHISTH) 13.07.2026 JUDGE Lavisha Whether speaking/reasoned Yes/No Whether reportable Yes/No LAVISHA 2026.07.13 18:23 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document PHHC, Chandigarh