CRM-30301-2026 and CRM-30463-2026 in/and CRM-M No.31369 of 2026 -1- IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH 102+210 CRM-30301-2026 and CRM-30463-2026 in/and CRM-M No.31369 of 2026 Date of decision: 28.07.2026 Veerkaran Singh Sandhu ... Petitioner Vs. State of Punjab ... Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE MANISHA BATRA Present:- Mr. Bachanpreet Singh, Advocate, for the petitioner. Ms. Sakshi Bakshi, AAG, Punjab, for the respondent-State. Mr. Rohan Gupta, Advocate, for the complainant. ---- MANISHA BATRA, J. (Oral) CRM-30301-2026 The complainant has filed this application seeking permission to place on record documents annexed with the same. The application is allowed subject to just exceptions and the MANJU 2026.07.29 16:34 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order /judgment Chandigarh CRM-30301-2026 and CRM-30463-2026 in/and CRM-M No.31369 of 2026 -2- documents annexed with the application are ordered to be placed on record as Annexures R-1 to R-9 respectively. CRM-30463-2026 The application is allowed subject to just exceptions and the documents annexed with the same are ordered to be placed on record as Annexures P-7 to P-10 respectively. The same may be tagged at the appropriate place. Main Case 1. The present petition has been filed by the petitioner under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short ‘BNSS’) seeking anticipatory bail in the FIR mentioned below:- FIR No. Dated Police Station Sections 34 06.05.2026 Bhadaur, District Barnala 420, 467, 468 and 471 of IPC 2. Brief facts relevant for the purpose of disposal of this petition are that the aforementioned FIR was registered on the basis of a written complaint jointly submitted by victim Surinderpal and Arun Kumar alleging therein that they were members of an organization named as Punjab Mahabir Dal Bhadaur which was a registered society (For short “complainant Society”). This Society owned a property in Bhadaur. One school was being run by the Society in this property which was closed MANJU 2026.07.29 16:34 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order /judgment Chandigarh CRM-30301-2026 and CRM-30463-2026 in/and CRM-M No.31369 of 2026 -3- and then the building of the said property was rented out in favour of the petitioner during the period from 01.04.2021 to 28.02.2022 in pursuance of a rent agreement executed by the petitioner. However, with intent to take permanent possession of this property, the petitioner colluded with some other persons and filed a civil suit in the Court of Civil Judge, (Senior Division), Barnala by relying upon fake and fictitious documents. He obtained an ex parte order of injunction in his favour by showing his ownership on the basis of fake documents, maps, letterheads and stamps. He claimed himself to be in possession of the property in dispute since the year 2010 though it was actually given to him on rent w.e.f 01.04.2021. The victims, therefore, prayed for taking action in the matter. 3. On receipt of the complaint, an inquiry was initially conducted into the matter. It was revealed that site plan and letter relied upon by the petitioner in the civil proceedings had not been issued by Executive Officer of Municipal Council Bhadaur as claimed by him and were false and fabricated documents. The aforementioned FIR was registered. Investigation proceedings have been initiated and are underway. Apprehending his arrest, the petitioner moved an application for grant of anticipatory bail which was dismissed by the Court of learned Additional Sessions Judgge, Barnala vide order dated 18.05.2026. 4. It is argued by learned counsel for the petitioner that he has MANJU 2026.07.29 16:34 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order /judgment Chandigarh CRM-30301-2026 and CRM-30463-2026 in/and CRM-M No.31369 of 2026 -4- been falsely implicated in this case. The dispute between the parties is of civil nature which has been given a criminal colour. Civil suit already filed by the petitioner is pending. The ingredients for commission of the subject offences are not at all attracted qua him. The case is based on documentary evidence which is already in possession of the investigating agency. He had moved an application before the Executive Officer, Municipal Council, regarding verification of genuineness of site plan and boundary certificate of the property in question and as per the written response Annexure P-8 as received from the office, the abovesaid documents are genuine being duly recorded in the office records of the Municipal Council and this fact falsifies the allegation that he had prepared any forged and fabricated documents. He is ready to join investigation. His custodial interrogation is not required. No recovery is to be effected from him. It is, thus, argued that the petition deserves to be allowed. 5. Status report filed by the respondent-State is taken on record. Learned State counsel assisted by learned counsel for the complainant has vehemently argued that there are serious and specific allegations against the petitioner who with an intent to cause wrongful loss to the complainant Society has filed a civil suit claiming possession and title over the property of the Society on the basis of forged and fabricated MANJU 2026.07.29 16:34 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order /judgment Chandigarh CRM-30301-2026 and CRM-30463-2026 in/and CRM-M No.31369 of 2026 -5- documents. For the purpose of conducting thorough investigation in the matter, his custodial interrogation is must. There is no exceptional circumstance to exercise powers for grant of pre arrest bail. It is, therefore, argued that the petition does not deserve to be allowed. 6. This Court has considered the rival submissions. 7. The petitioner is alleged to have prepared some forged and fabricated documents and on the basis of the same, he has been claiming ownership and possession over a property which is claimed to be that of the complainant Society. The petitioner has placed on record Annexure P-8 to show that certain documents i.e. map and one boundary certificate were issued by the Municipal Council. However, the veracity of this very document itself cannot be tested at this stage since as per the status report, during the course of inquiry, statement of Executive Officer of the Municipal Council Bhadaur was recorded and he had stated that two documents i.e. site plan and a letter had neither been issued by his office nor the same bore his signatures and they were forged and fabricated documents. The allegations make out a prima facie case for commission of subject offences as against the petitioner. For conducting thorough and proper investigation in the matter, the custodial interrogation of the petitioner is must. In case, the same is denied to the investigation agency, that shall leave many glaring loopholes and gaps, adversely affecting the MANJU 2026.07.29 16:34 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order /judgment Chandigarh CRM-30301-2026 and CRM-30463-2026 in/and CRM-M No.31369 of 2026 -6- investigation. The powers of anticipatory bail are extraordinary and the same are to be exercised sparingly in exceptional circumstances. In the present case, no such exceptional circumstances warranting exercise of the powers for grant of anticipatory bail by this Court are existing. As such, this Court is of the considered opinion that the petition does not deserve to be allowed. Accordingly, the same is dismissed. 8. It is, however, clarified that observations made hereinabove shall not be construed as an expression of opinion on the merits of the case. (MANISHA BATRA) 28.07.2026 JUDGE manju Whether speaking/reasoned Yes/No Whether reportable Yes/No MANJU 2026.07.29 16:34 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order /judgment Chandigarh