IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT Yogesh Kumar State of Punjab and another CORAM: HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE RAMESH KUMARI Present: Mr. Sahil Goel, Advocate, for the petitioner. Mr. Sidharth Attri, Assistant Advocate General, Punjab. Mr. Parunjeet Singh, Advocate, for the complainant. RAMESH KUMARI, J. The present petition under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha pre-arrest bail to the petitioner in criminal case arising out of the FIR detailed below: FIR No. Dated 110 22.06.2026 2. The above named FIR had been registered against the petitioner on the basis of a complaint submitted by the victim. The victim alleged that she is working as Senior Scientist in the Food Grains and Oil Seeds Processing Division at ICAR CRM M No. 39418-2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CRM M No. 39418 of 2026 (O&M) Date of Decision: 2 Yogesh Kumar versus State of Punjab and another HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE RAMESH KUMARI Mr. Sahil Goel, Advocate, for the petitioner. Mr. Sidharth Attri, Assistant Advocate General, Punjab. Mr. Parunjeet Singh, Advocate, for the complainant. **** RAMESH KUMARI, J. The present petition under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita-2023 (earlier Section 438 Cr.P.C.) for grant of arrest bail to the petitioner in criminal case arising out of the FIR detailed below:- Sections 22.06.2026 Under Section 75, 78, 79, 336(3), 351(2), 356 of the Bharatiya Nayaya Sanhita-2023 (earlier Sections 354 354-D, 509, 468, 506 IPC) The above named FIR had been registered against the petitioner on the basis of a complaint submitted by the victim. The victim alleged that she is working as Senior Scientist in the Food Grains and Oil Seeds Processing Division at ICAR-CIPHET, Ludhiana. Sh 2026 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CRM M No. 39418 of 2026 (O&M) Date of Decision: 20.07.2026 …..Petitioner …..Respondents HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE RAMESH KUMARI Mr. Sahil Goel, Advocate, for the petitioner. Mr. Sidharth Attri, Assistant Advocate General, Punjab. Mr. Parunjeet Singh, Advocate, for the complainant. The present petition under Section 482 of the Bharatiya 2023 (earlier Section 438 Cr.P.C.) for grant of arrest bail to the petitioner in criminal case arising out of the FIR Police Station 75, 78, 79, 336(3), of the Bharatiya Nayaya 354-A, Punjab Agriculture University, PAU, District Police Commissionerate, Ludhiana The above named FIR had been registered against the petitioner on the basis of a complaint submitted by the victim. The victim alleged that she is working as Senior Scientist in the Food Grains and Oil CIPHET, Ludhiana. She is a married RAVINDER KUMAR 2026.07.22 18:44 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM M No. 39418-2026 2 woman and mother of a child residing in a government allotted residential accommodation in Ludhiana. She is performing her official duties diligently and have maintained a respectable image in her professional as well as personal life. The accused, Dr. Yogesh Kumar Somvanshi, is also a Senior Scientist associated with AICRP and is currently residing in the same residential premises, specifically on the floor above her accommodation. She further alleged that the accused was earlier posted in Ludhiana and was known to her only in a professional capacity as a colleague. There was never any personal relationship or interaction beyond official limits. After his recent re-posting to Ludhiana, his conduct and behaviour towards her became inappropriate, unwelcome, and objectionable. Due to his inappropriate conduct, she consciously avoided any interaction with him and maintained distance. She also alleged that the accused started sending her unsolicited messages on WhatsApp from mobile number 9877548691, 9351491569. These messages contained abusive, insulting, defamatory, and threatening content. The petitioner-accused also threatened her that he has many altered and morphed photographs which he said he has in his custody and he can use them to destroy her married life and her professional career. She requested that he accused be immediately directed to stop circulating these photographs and also submit his cell phone email id Whats App and other relevant things for the proper investigation through the cyber cell/forensic department of the Commissioner of Police, Ludhiana. 3. The victim in her complaint also alleged that the language used by the petitioner was highly objectionable, vulgar, and derogatory, thereby outraging her modesty and dignity as a woman. The petitioner unlawfully shared her personal photographs, chats, and information without her consent with third parties, including vendors associated with her department. Such RAVINDER KUMAR 2026.07.22 18:44 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM M No. 39418-2026 3 acts were done with a malicious intention to defame her, lower her professional standing, and damage her reputation in the eyes of colleagues and others. She further alleged that the petitioner repeatedly threatened her with dire consequences if she did not comply with his intentions. Even she came to know that petitioner is still facing one criminal case filed by some female at Ludhiana which is still pending at Commissioner of Ludhiana and he is habitual offender. Such acts clearly demonstrate his intention to harass, threaten, and mentally torture her. The petitioner has explicitly threatened that he possesses certain photographs which he has altered/morphed to falsely depict her in compromising situations with him. Petitioner has further threatened to circulate such morphed images publicly with the intent to defame her and destroy her marital life and social reputation. She has reasonable apprehension that petitioner may already have circulated or he may circulate such fabricated content at any time. She alleged that the acts of the petitioner constitute cognizable offences under various provisions of law including criminal intimidation, defamation, outraging the modesty of a woman, and offences under the Information Technology Act relating to misuse and circulation of digital content. She prayed for appropriate legal action against the petitioner-accused. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is working as Senior Scientist in the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) for the last 16 years. The present FIR has been falsely got registered against him. He also submitted that the complainant had been in consensual relationship with the petitioner as per screen-shot Annexure P-2. They both visited various places, took certain photographs and maintained healthy relations as reflected from photograph (Annexure P-3). The complainant had been emotionally involved with the petitioner. Her husband came to RAVINDER KUMAR 2026.07.22 18:44 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM M No. 39418-2026 4 know about their relationship. The complainant is a married woman and mother of a child and she filed a complaint against the petitioner before the Chairman, Women Complaint Committee, for sexual harassment of woman at workplace, copy of which is Annexure P-5. The petitioner filed reply to the said complaint as Annexure P-6 and a committee was constituted and the matter is pending adjudication before the Committee. The petitioner is innocent and he applied for grant of pre-arrest bail before the trial Court but the same was declined by the Court of learned Additional Sessions Judge, Ludhiana vide order dated 14.07.2006 (Annexure P-8) without considering merits of the case. 5. The complainant had been threatening the petitioner before getting the FIR lodged and he filed a protection petition in this Court which had been disposed of by this Court vide order dated 09.07.2026 passed in CRWP No. 7088 of 2026 (Annexure P-10). 6. Learned counsel for the petitioner further submits that the maximum punishment for the offences as nominated in the FIR can be awarded as seven years rigorous imprisonment. The petitioner is ready to join the investigation in case he is granted pre-arrest bail. 7. Mr. Parunjeet Singh, Advocate filed memo of appearance on behalf of the complainant which is taken on record. 8. Learned State counsel as well as learned counsel for the complainant submitted that the petitioner was on friendly terms with the victim. However, the petitioner misused his position and started sending obscene messages to the complainant and also threatened to circulate the photographs. The petitioner is sexually harassing the complainant and therefore, he is not entitled for grant of pre-arrest bail. RAVINDER KUMAR 2026.07.22 18:44 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM M No. 39418-2026 5 9. Photocopies of the screen shots of the chat between the petitioner and the complainant-victim reveals that at one stage they were on friendly relations but thereafter the petitioner started sending abusive and obscene messages to the victim and also started calling her by uncivilized and derogatory language which is not appropriate to mention in this order. 10. It seems that the petitioner took undue advantage of his friendship with the victim and consistently harassed her by calling her by derogatory names, threatening to circulate her photographs and indulged in criminal intimidation. 11. In view of the seriousness of the allegations levelled, at this stage, the petitioner is not entitled for anticipatory bail. Accordingly, the petition filed by the petitioner for grant of pre-arrest bail in the above mentioned FIR stands dismissed. 12. Any observations made hereinabove shall have no bearing on the merits of the case. (RAMESH KUMARI) JUDGE 20.07.2026 ravinder Whether speaking/reasoned √Yes/No Whether reportable √Yes/No RAVINDER KUMAR 2026.07.22 18:44 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document