IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH 136 CRM-M-36703-2026 Date of decision: 20.07.2026 Date of uploading: 20.07.2026 Harjeet Kaur ….Petitioner versus State of Punjab ….Respondent CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SUMEET GOEL Present:- Mr. Simranjeet Singh Sarwara, Advocate for the petitioner(s). Mr. Hemant Aggarwal, DAG, Punjab. Ms. Ripandeep Kaur, Advocate, for the complainant. ***** SUMEET GOEL, J. (ORAL) 1. Present second petition has been filed under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023 for grant of regular bail to the petitioner in case bearing FIR No. 204 dated 19.12.2025 (Annexure P-1), registered for the offences punishable under Sections 123, 309(4) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Sections 111(2) and 238 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 added later on), at Police Station Mataur, District SAS Nagar. 2. The case set up in the FIR in question (as set out by the petitioner in the present petition) is as follows:- “Copy of statement Statement of Ankit Jaggi son of late Sanjay Jaggi resident of house number 277 Giani Jail Singh Nagar Police Station City Ropar, District Rupnagar, age about 32 years, Mo: No:- 80000- 01068, stated that I am a resident of the above address and I am the owner of Sri Chamkor Sahib near village Bassi Gujra and Ropar brick kiln near village Sanana. On 13-12-2025, I talked to a girl named Aditi through Tinder App, after which we exchanged Snapchat IDs. After which we made a program to meet Aditi on the NAVEEN NAGPAL 2026.07.20 17:42 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment HIgh Court Chandigarh 2 CRM-M-36703-2026 same day, then at around 10:30 PM, after getting free from my work, I boarded my car number PB-12-N-0020 brand Swift and came to Jubilee Walk Sector 70 Mohali as told by that girl, where we both met, where we both took coffee and sat in my car. Where that girl told me her name was Navdeep instead of Aditi. When we got into the car and started going to the hotel, the girl expressed her desire to smoke and sent me to get Jubilee Walk cigarettes. When I returned with a pack of cigarettes, Aditi alias Navdeep was mixing something in my coffee. When I asked her about adding sugar, she told me about adding sugar. After which we both had coffee at Hotel Radius and reached TDI Light Point nearby. Since all the rooms were booked, the girl told me about going to Gill Lodge. After which we both went to Hotel Gill Lodge. Where we booked room number 102. By this time, I had lost my senses and I was not feeling well and when we entered the room, my body became helpless in the state of intoxication. Where this girl took a 6.5 tola gold chain around my neck and a 5.5 tola gold bracelet, a 5 gram gold ring, 70 thousand rupees cash which was lying in my pocket. She forcibly took out the cash, then the same girl supporting me threw me into my car parked near Hotel Gill Lodge and left. During my sleep, I saw this girl sitting with a young boy in a white Kia Seltos car whose number I know is PB-3131, I can recognize the girl and the boy when I come face to face. After this accident, I remained there for a long time in a state of intoxication. We entered the room of Gill Lodge at around 12:30 AM and after about 10 minutes the said girl left me and till around 4:30 AM in the morning I kept getting calls from my friends and family. Then I attended the call of my friend Subam 84750- 00099 and told him about myself and I also drove away again and since my condition was not good I am undergoing treatment at Hospital Phase 6 Mohali and then after I got better I went to Kharar police station with my family after which I came to your police station as the case is related to your police station. I have written a statement to you. Please take legal action against Aditi alias Navdeep and her accomplice for robbing me of my gold by giving me something poisonous in my coffee. Sd/- Ankit Jaggi", verified by Sd/- Jagmeet Singh Asi, police station, Motor. Date: 19-12-2025, Police action:- Today, ASI is present at the police station, Ankit Jaggi, son of late Sanjay Jaggi, resident of house number 277, Giani NAVEEN NAGPAL 2026.07.20 17:42 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment HIgh Court Chandigarh 3 CRM-M-36703-2026 Jail Singh Nagar, police station, city, Ropar, district, Rupnagar, along with his friends, came to the police station and wrote his statement. Whose statement was written and read out. Who signed his statement in English after reading it. Which was verified by ASI. From the statement, it is found that there is a crime under section 123, 309(4), 61 (2) BNS, therefore, the police have written the statement and taken action against Aditi alias Navdeep and Aditi alias Navdeep's companion, car number PB-3131 Unknown driver of brand Kia Seltos color white is being referred to the Main Munsi Police Station. A case should be registered and the number file should be informed. Special reports should be issued. The control room should be informed via Bajria Wireless, in the service of the Area Magistrate Sahib and other officers. Report should be sent by post. ASI is investigating. Address:- Police Station Motor Time:- 10:40 PM Sd/- Jagmeet Singh Asi Police Station Motor. Date:- 19- 12-2025, which will be held today at Police Station Mosul, but the case against Aditi alias Navdeep and Aditi alias Navdeep's companion car number PB-3131 brand Kia Seltos color white unknown driver has been registered and the completion of the process has been completed. The FIR is being sent as special reports to the Area Magistrate Sahib Ji and higher officers of S/CT Ajaib Singh 2306/SAS. Control Room Mohali is being informed by telephone. The original statement of the case is being handed over to ASI Jagmeet Singh 1074/SAS for further investigation. The Chief Munshi of the police station was instructed to complete the record.” 3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner has argued that the petitioner is in custody since 04.01.2026. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner has further submitted that the FIR in question was registered deed on account of mis-understanding, which has since been resolved and the matter has been settled with the FIR-complainant. Learned counsel for the petitioner in this regard has placed reliance upon compromise/settlement dated 26.05.2026 (copy whereof has been appended as Annexure P-5 with the NAVEEN NAGPAL 2026.07.20 17:42 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment HIgh Court Chandigarh 4 CRM-M-36703-2026 present petition). counsel appearing for the petitioner has further submitted that the petitioner is a lady aged 29/31 years. Thus, regular bail is prayed for. 4. Learned State counsel has opposed the present petition by arguing that the allegations raised against the petitioner are serious in nature and, thus, he does not deserve the concession of the regular bail. Learned State counsel seeks to place on record custody certificate dated 19.07.2026 in Court, which is taken on record. 4.1. Ms. Ripandeep Kaur, Advocate has entered appearance on behalf of the FIR-complainant and has ratified the veracity of the compromise/settlement deed dated 26.05.2026 (copy whereof has been appended as Annexure P-5 with the present petition). 5. I have heard counsel for the rival parties and have gone through the available records of the case. 6. The petitioner was arrested on 04.01.2026 whereinafter investigation was carried out and challan was presented on 27.02.2026. Total 21 witnesses have been cited and out of which none has been examined till date. The rival contentions raised at the Bar, including the weightage/veracity required to be attached to the compromise/settlement deed dated 26.05.2026 (copy whereof has been appended as Annexure P-5 with the present petition) give rise to debatable issues, which shall be ratiocinated upon during the course of the 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 NAVEEN NAGPAL 2026.07.20 17:42 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment HIgh Court Chandigarh 5 CRM-M-36703-2026 petitioner absconding from the process of justice or interfering with the prosecution evidence. 6.1. Indubitably, the present petition is the second attempt on behalf of the petitioner for securing regular bail. The first one bearing no. CRM-M- 24145-2026 was dismissed as withdrawn on 06.05.2026 (Annexure P-7). However, keeping in view the entirety of facts and circumstance of the case in hand especially keeping in view the extended custody, pace of trial as also the factum that matter has now been settled between the rival parties as per compromise/settlement deed dated 26.05.2026 (copy whereof has been appended as Annexure P-5 with the present petition); this Court is inclined to favourably consider the instant plea for bail. A profitable reference, in this regard, can be made to a judgment of this Court passed in CRA-S-2332-2023 titled as Rafiq Khan versus State of Haryana and another; relevant whereof reads as under: “10. As an epilogue to the above discussion, the following principles emerge: I Second/successive regular bail petition(s) filed is maintainable in law & hence such petition ought not to be rejected solely on the ground of maintainability thereof. II. Such second/successive regular bail petition(s) is maintainable whether earlier petition was dismissed as withdrawn/dismissed as not pressed/dismissed for non-prosecution or earlier petition was dismissed on merits. III For the second/successive regular bail petition(s) to succeed, the petitioner/applicant shall be essentially/pertinently required to show substantial change in circumstances and showing of a mere superficial or ostensible change would not suffice. The metaphoric expression of seeking second/successive bail plea(s) ought not be abstracted into literal iterations of petition(s) without substantial, effective and consequential change in circumstances. IV No exhaustive guidelines can possibly be laid down as to what would constitute substantial change in circumstances as every case has its own unique facts/circumstance. Making such an attempt is nothing but an utopian endeavour. Ergo, this issue is best left to the judicial wisdom and NAVEEN NAGPAL 2026.07.20 17:42 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment HIgh Court Chandigarh 6 CRM-M-36703-2026 discretion of the Court dealing with such second/successive regular bail petition(s). V In case a Court chooses to grant second/successive regular bail petition(s), cogent and lucid reasons are pertinently required to be recorded for granting such plea despite such a plea being second/successive petition(s). In other words, the cause for a Court having successfully countenanced/entertained such second/successive petition(s) ought to be readily and clearly decipherable from the said order passed.” 6.2. As per custody certificate dated 19.07.2026 filed by the learned State counsel, the petitioner has already suffered incarceration for a period of 6 months and 10 days & is not shown to be involved in any other FIR. 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. Petitioner is ordered to be released on regular bail on her furnishing bail/surety bonds to the satisfaction of the Ld. concerned trial Court/Duty Magistrate. However, in addition to conditions that may be imposed by the concerned trial Court/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 herself on any date before the trial. (iv) The petitioner shall not commit any offence while on bail. (v) The petitioner shall deposit her passport, if any, with the trial Court. (vi) The petitioner shall give her cellphone number to the Investigating Officer/SHO of concerned Police Station and shall not change her 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 trial Court/Duty Magistrate as directed hereinabove or upon showing any other sufficient cause, the NAVEEN NAGPAL 2026.07.20 17:42 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment HIgh Court Chandigarh 7 CRM-M-36703-2026 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 of. (SUMEET GOEL) JUDGE 20.07.2026 Naveen Whether speaking/reasoned: Yes/No Whether reportable: Yes/No NAVEEN NAGPAL 2026.07.20 17:42 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment HIgh Court Chandigarh