CRM-M-35536-2026 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH 240 CRM-M-35536-2026 Date of Decision:21.07.2026 RAJNI ....PETITIONER VERSUS STATE OF PUNJAB .....RESPONDENT CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE H.S.GREWAL. Present: Mr. Yashpal Thakur, Advocate for the petitioner. H.S. GREWAL, J. (ORAL) 1. This petition has been filed under Section 483 of BNSS of 2023 (earlier section 439 of Cr.PC) for the grant of regular bail to the petitioner in case FIR No. 157 dated 09.04.2026, under Sections 105, 61(2) of BNS, 2023 (old sections 304, 120-B of IPC), Police Station: City Barnala, District Barnala, Punjab. (Annexure P-1). 2. The case of the prosecution, in brief, is that the instant FIR was registered on the statement of Gurpal Singh alias Gori, brother of deceased Gurwinder Singh alias Kali. As per the prosecution, on 04.04.2026, Gurwinder Singh left his house at about 2:30 P.M. and did not return. Subsequently, it came to light that the deceased had gone to Barnala along with co-accused Bhupinder Singh alias Bhinder, where they allegedly purchased intoxicant substance from Rajni i.e. petitioner. It is further alleged that Bhupinder Singh alias Bhinder consumed the said intoxicant substance and also administered an injection containing the same to Gurwinder Singh alias Kali, deliberately and with the knowledge that it could cause his death. RENU RAWAT 2026.07.22 17.02 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document Chandigarh CRM-M-35536-2026 2 Consequently, Gurwinder Singh died on the spot, whereafter Bhupinder Singh alias Bhinder allegedly fled from the place of occurrence. On the basis of the statement of the complainant, the present FIR was registered against the accused persons. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that there is no specific allegation against the petitioner that she had administered any poisonous or intoxicating substance to the deceased. He submits that the petitioner has been implicated merely on the basis of a hearsay statement of the complainant, who himself is not an eyewitness to the alleged occurrence. It is further contended that no allegation attributes any overt act or intention to her in causing the death of the deceased. Learned counsel further submits that the petitioner has been falsely implicated merely because she had previously been involved in an FIR registered under the NDPS Act. There are no call detail records, money transactions, or any other material connecting the petitioner with the deceased or the co-accused in relation to the alleged occurrence. Thus, the implication of the petitioner is based solely on suspicion and hearsay, and there is no cogent or credible material to connect her with the commission of the alleged offence. 4. Notice of motion. 5. Mr. Subhash Godara, Addl. Advocate General, Punjab accepts notice on behalf of the respondent-State and vehemently opposes the prayer for grant of regular bail. Learned State counsel has filed the custody certificate of the petitioner in Court today, which is taken on record. As per the custody certificate, the petitioner is in custody for the last 03 months and RENU RAWAT 2026.07.22 17.02 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document Chandigarh CRM-M-35536-2026 3 09 days. 6. I have heard the submissions made by the parties and gone through the record. 7. After hearing the rival contentions and considering the fact that in the case in hand, the petitioner is in custody for the lastlast 03 months and 09 days; apart from the statement of the complainant there is no evidence to connect the petitioner with the alleged offence coupled with the fact that the trial is likely to take considerable time, this Court is of the view that no useful purpose would be served by further incarceration of the petitioner. Accordingly, the petitioner is granted the concession of regular bail during the pendency of the trial. 8. Therefore, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, the instant petition is allowed. The petitioner is ordered to be released on regular bail on her furnishing requisite bail/surety bonds to the satisfaction of the trial Court/Duty Magistrate concerned. 9. Nothing discussed hereinabove shall be construed as an expression of opinion on the merits of the case. 10. It is clarified that if while on bail so granted through the instant order, the petitioner is found indulged in any other criminal case/activity, it shall be open to the State to seek cancellation of her bail. (H.S.GREWAL) 21.07.2026 JUDGE renu Whether speaking/reasoned: Yes/No Whether Reportable: Yes/No RENU RAWAT 2026.07.22 17.02 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document Chandigarh