CRM CRM CRM CRM----M M M M----24338 24338 24338 24338---- 131 131 131 131 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Mukesh State of Haryana Date of Date of Date of Date of Decision Decision Decision Decision Date of Uploading: Date of Uploading: Date of Uploading: Date of Uploading: CORAM: CORAM: CORAM: CORAM: Present: Present: Present: Present:- SUMEET GOEL SUMEET GOEL SUMEET GOEL SUMEET GOEL seeking grant of regular bail to the petitioner 26.02.2026, registered for the off Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 of the PC Act added later on), at Police Station ACB Gurugram, District State Vigilance and Anticorruption Bureau. 2. was storekeeper incharge at Social Welfare Office, prepare old age pension documents by increasing age of persons. alleged demanded Rs.10,000/ ----2026 2026 2026 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CRM CRM CRM CRM----M M M M----24338 24338 24338 24338----2026 2026 2026 2026 Versus Haryana Decision Decision Decision Decision: : : : July 16 July 16 July 16 July 16, 2026 , 2026 , 2026 , 2026 Date of Uploading: Date of Uploading: Date of Uploading: Date of Uploading: July 16 July 16 July 16 July 16, 2026 , 2026 , 2026 , 2026 HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SUMEET GOEL HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SUMEET GOEL HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SUMEET GOEL HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SUMEET GOEL Mr. Rahul Deswal, Advocate and Mr. Siddharth Gautam, Advocate Mr. Gurmeet Singh, AAG Haryana. ***** ***** ***** ***** SUMEET GOEL SUMEET GOEL SUMEET GOEL SUMEET GOEL, J. (ORAL) , J. (ORAL) , J. (ORAL) , J. (ORAL) Present petition has been filed under Section grant of regular bail to the petitioner, registered for the offences punishable under Section Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (Section 13(1)(2) read with Section 13(2) of the PC Act added later on), at Police Station ACB Gurugram, District State Vigilance and Anticorruption Bureau. The gravamen of the FIR in question is that was storekeeper incharge at Old Age Pension Office, Block Tauru in District Social Welfare Office, in connivance with co prepare old age pension documents by increasing age of persons. alleged demanded Rs.10,000/- from the complainant in 1111 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH 2026 2026 2026 2026 ….Petitioner …Respondent HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SUMEET GOEL HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SUMEET GOEL HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SUMEET GOEL HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SUMEET GOEL Rahul Deswal, Advocate and Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. Gurmeet Singh, AAG Haryana. filed under Section 483 of the BNSS in case bearing FIR No.04 dated ences punishable under Sections 7, 7(A) of the (Section 13(1)(2) read with Section 13(2) of the PC Act added later on), at Police Station ACB Gurugram, District State the FIR in question is that the petitioner, who Old Age Pension Office, Block Tauru in District co-accused, namely, Aarif used to prepare old age pension documents by increasing age of persons. The petitioner from the complainant in order to process files 1111 ….Petitioner …Respondent 483 of the BNSS dated , 7(A) of the (Section 13(1)(2) read with Section 13(2) of the PC Act added later on), at Police Station ACB Gurugram, District State , who Old Age Pension Office, Block Tauru in District accused, namely, Aarif used to The petitioner order to process files MAHAVIR SINGH 2026.07.16 18:18 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/ judgment 2222 CRM CRM CRM CRM----M M M M----24338 24338 24338 24338----2026 2026 2026 2026 for old age pension, and at the time of raid, bribe money was recovered from him. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner has argued that the petitioner is in custody since 26.02.2026. Learned counsel has iterated that the petitioner has been falsely implicated into the FIR in question. Learned counsel has further urged that the petitioner was not competent to carry out the work in question for which bribe money was given. Learned counsel has further urged that the police has intentionally introduced stock witness, namely, Salma, as an independent witness. Learned counsel has further submitted that, upon culmination of investigation, challan already stands presented and trial will take long time. Learned counsel has further submitted that requisite prosecution sanction has not yet been received qua the petitioner. Thus, regular bail is prayed for. 4. Per contra, learned State counsel, while raising submissions in tandem with the reply by way of an affidavit dated 15/23.06.2026, which is already on record, has opposed the grant of bail to the petitioner by arguing that there are direct/ serious allegations against the petitioner. Learned State counsel has submitted that the documents relating to pension work of the complainant were specifically recovered from the petitioner which glaringly shows his culpability qua offence in question. Learned State counsel seeks to place on record the custody certificate dated 15.07.2026, in the Court today, which is taken on record. 5. I have heard counsel for the parties and have gone through the available records of the case. 6. The petitioner was arrested on 26.02.2026, whereinafter, the investigation was carried out and the challan has been presented on 17.04.2026. MAHAVIR SINGH 2026.07.16 18:18 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/ judgment 3333 CRM CRM CRM CRM----M M M M----24338 24338 24338 24338----2026 2026 2026 2026 Total 20 prosecution witnesses have been cited and it is conceded case before this Court that charges are yet not framed. It is, thus, indubitable that culmination of trial will take its own time. The rival contention raised at Bar give rise to debatable issues, which shall essentially be ratiocinated upon during the course of trial. This Court does not deem it appropriate to delve deep into these rival contentions, at this stage, lest it may prejudice the trial. Nothing tangible has been brought forward to indicate the likelihood of the petitioner absconding from the process of justice or interfering with the prosecution evidence. 6.1. As per custody certificate dated 15.07.2026 filed by learned State counsel, the petitioner has already suffered incarceration for a period of 04 months and 18 days, & is not shown to be involved in any other FIR(s). Suffice to say, further detention of the petitioner as an undertrial is not warranted in the facts and circumstances of the case. 7. In view of above, the present petition is allowed allowed allowed allowed. Petitioner is ordered to be released on regular bail, if not required in any other case, on his furnishing bail/surety bonds to the satisfaction of the Ld. concerned CJM/Duty Magistrate. However, in addition to conditions that may be imposed by the concerned CJM/Duty Magistrate, the petitioner shall remain bound by the following conditions: (i) The petitioner shall not mis-use the liberty granted. (ii) The petitioner shall not tamper with any evidence, oral or documentary, during the trial. (iii) The petitioner shall not absent himself on any date before the trial. (iv) The petitioner shall not commit any offence while on bail. (v) The petitioner shall deposit his passport, if any, with the trial Court. (vi) The petitioner shall give his cellphone number to the Investigating Officer/SHO of concerned Police Station and MAHAVIR SINGH 2026.07.16 18:18 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/ judgment 4444 CRM CRM CRM CRM----M M M M----24338 24338 24338 24338----2026 2026 2026 2026 shall not change his cell-phone number without prior permission of the trial Court/Illaqa Magistrate. (vii) The petitioner shall not in any manner try to delay the trial. 8. In case of breach of any of the aforesaid conditions and those which may be imposed by concerned CJM/Duty Magistrate as directed hereinabove or upon showing any other sufficient cause, the State/complainant shall be at liberty to move cancellation of bail of the petitioner. 9. Ordered accordingly. 10. Nothing said hereinabove shall be construed as an expression of opinion on the merits of the case. 11. Since the main case has been decided, pending miscellaneous application, if any, shall also stands disposed off. ((((SUMEET GOEL SUMEET GOEL SUMEET GOEL SUMEET GOEL)))) JUDGE JUDGE JUDGE JUDGE July July July July 16 16 16 16, 2026 , 2026 , 2026 , 2026 mahavir Whether speaking/reasoned: Yes/No Whether reportable: Yes/No MAHAVIR SINGH 2026.07.16 18:18 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/ judgment