IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH 220 CRM-M-32778-2026 (O&M) Date of Decision: 23.07.2026 BALDEV SINGH ....Petitioner V/s STATE OF PUNJAB .…Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VIKRAM AGGARWAL Present: Mr. Digvijay Nagpal, Advocate, for the petitioner. Mr. Rahul Jindal, AAG, Punjab. *** VIKRAM AGGARWAL, J. (ORAL) Prayer in the present petition preferred under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short the ‘BNSS’) is for the grant of regular bail to the petitioner in case FIR No.164 dated 05.04.2026 registered under Sections 319, 318 (4), 335, 336, 340 and 61 (2) of BNS at Police Station City Faridkot, District Faridkot, Punjab. 2. Custody certificate dated 22.07.2026 filed in Court today is taken on record. 3. On a complaint submitted one Smt. Manju Bala, Principal of S.S.B.F. Khalsa C.S. Khalsa College, Faridkot, the FIR in question was registered. The allegation is that on 05.04.2026, an examination of Group-D candidates was going on in the said College. Two out of the appearing candidates were Mangal Singh and Davinder Singh but Sunil Singh and Subeg Singh were found to be impersonating them and appearing in the examination. Both were apprehended and ultimately it was found that Subeg Singh was in fact Baldev Singh i.e. the present petitioner. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner has been falsely implicated. He submits that in fact he is a Government MANI KUMAR 2026.07.23 19:15 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-32778-2026 (O&M) -2- Teacher and is in custody for the last 3 months and 13 days. He submits that the antecedents of the petitioner are clean; investigation stands completed; final report has been submitted; charges are yet to be framed; trial will take a sufficiently long time, therefore, no useful purpose would be served by keeping the petitioner in custody any longer. 5. Per contra, learned State counsel has opposed the bail application, stating that if the petitioner is released on bail, he may try to influence and threaten the witnesses and may even abscond. 6. I have considered the submissions made by learned counsel for the parties. 7. The petitioner is in custody for the last 3 months and 13 days. The antecedents of the petitioner are clean. As to whether it was the petitioner who had appeared in the exam in place of Davinder Singh, shall be determined when the trial concludes. Investigation has been concluded; final report has been submitted; though charges have not been framed. It is therefore, clear that trial will take a sufficiently long time and in the considered opinion of this Court, no useful purpose would be served by keeping the petitioner in custody any longer. 8. In view of the aforementioned facts and circumstances, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, the present petition is allowed. The petitioner is ordered to be released on regular bail on his furnishing bail/surety bonds to the satisfaction of the concerned trial Court/Chief Judicial Magistrate/Duty Magistrate. 9. Pending application(s), if any, shall also stand disposed of. (VIKRAM AGGARWAL) JUDGE July 23, 2026 Mani Kumar Whether speaking/reasoned: Yes/No Whether reportable: Yes/No MANI KUMAR 2026.07.23 19:15 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document