CRM-M-39963-2026 (O&M) -:1:- IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH (225) CRM-M-39963-2026 (O&M) Date of Decision:21.08.2026 Munish Bedi … Petitioner Versus State of Punjab ... Respondent -.- CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VIRINDER AGGARWAL Present:- Ms. Kiran Verma, Advocate for Mr. Aditya Dassaur, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. Baljinder Singh Sra, Addl. A.G. Punjab. Mr. Deepak Sabherwal, Advocate with Ms. Nitika Sabherwal, Advocate for the complainant. -.- VIRINDER AGGARWAL , J . (Oral) 1. First Petition under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (corresponding to Section 438 Cr.P.C., 1973), seeking grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner in FIR No. 51 dated 29.04.2026 (Annexure P-1), registered at Police Station Lambra, District Jalandhar (Rural), under Sections 318(4), 316(4), 336(2), 336(3), 338, 340(2) and 61 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (corresponding to Sections 420, 408, 465, 468, 467, 471 and 120-A IPC). 2. Briefly stated, the prosecution case emanates from the statement of complainant Gaurav Gupta, who stated that he was running a GAURAV SOROT 2026.08.21 16:49 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-39963-2026 (O&M) -:2:- firm, namely D.B.N. Packwell Private Ltd., in partnership with Mona Bedi, wife of Vikas Bedi. Vikas Bedi, who was also employed with the firm, subsequently got his brother Munish Bedi, the present petitioner, employed therein. The petitioner was entrusted with the responsibility of dealing with outside purchasers and collecting payments against goods supplied by the firm. 2.1. It is alleged that, subsequently, on account of a financial dispute, Mona Bedi ceased to be a partner. The petitioner, however, continued to discharge his duties and, by virtue of the trust reposed in him, was entrusted with collection of outstanding payments from purchasers even outside the State. It is alleged that, while at Srinagar, the petitioner informed the complainant telephonically that certain payments were likely to be received shortly and, on that representation, requested that further goods worth approximately 15-20 lakh be dispatched. The complainant ₹ accordingly supplied the goods; however, thereafter the petitioner allegedly stopped responding to telephone calls. Upon contacting the purchasers at Srinagar, the complainant allegedly learnt that they had not received the goods from D.B.N. Packwell Private Ltd. and that one purchaser had received a consignment through Vikas Bedi, though the goods were allegedly those belonging to the complainant's firm. 2.2. It is further alleged that, during investigation, it surfaced that on 22.01.2026 the complainant's firm had dispatched goods worth 2,19,232/- to Green Kashmir Packages through Arun Goods Carrier. ₹ Upon verification, Green Kashmir Packages allegedly disclosed that the consignment had been received from Vikas Bedi and the corresponding GAURAV SOROT 2026.08.21 16:49 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-39963-2026 (O&M) -:3:- payment had also been made to him. It consequently emerged that Vikas Bedi had allegedly represented the goods as belonging to him, sold them to Green Kashmir Packages and appropriated the sale proceeds. 2.3. It is further alleged that, upon verification from other purchasers to whom consignments had been dispatched through the petitioner, they denied having received the goods through the vehicles in question. The concerned drivers allegedly disclosed that the goods had been unloaded by the petitioner at another factory owned by one Abbas, who was stated to be a purchaser dealing with Vikas Bedi. On the basis of the material collected during investigation, it is alleged that Vikas Bedi and the petitioner, being real brothers, acted in concert and, pursuant to a common design, misappropriated the goods belonging to the complainant's firm and thereby caused an alleged wrongful loss of approximately 31,00,000/-. On these allegations, the present FIR came to be registered. ₹ 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is innocent and has been falsely implicated on account of pre-existing business rivalry and personal animosity. It is contended that the allegation of misappropriation of 31,00,000/- is founded primarily upon the ₹ assertion that, while the petitioner was allegedly collecting outstanding payments from purchasers at Srinagar during March-April 2026, he failed to account for the same. However, the investigation conducted by the police, as reflected in the report of the Dy. S.P., Sub-Division Kartarpur, does not substantiate such attribution. On the contrary, with regard to the consignment dated 22.01.2026 dispatched to Green Kashmir Packages, Pulwama, through vehicle No. JK22B3563, the material collected during GAURAV SOROT 2026.08.21 16:49 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-39963-2026 (O&M) -:4:- investigation allegedly reveals that the consignment was received and a payment of 1,00,000/- was made directly into the personal bank account ₹ of co-accused Vikas Bedi and not that of the petitioner. It is further submitted that the driver of the said vehicle, upon being examined by the investigating agency, specifically stated that the goods were unloaded at the factory of one Abbas, stated to be a purchaser dealing with co-accused Vikas Bedi, rather than being delivered to the parties indicated by the complainant. Thus, the very material relied upon by the prosecution does not prima facie establish any personal receipt, retention or misappropriation of the alleged sale proceeds by the petitioner. 3.1. Learned counsel further submits that the complainant and co- accused Vikas Bedi were already embroiled in a pre-existing financial and business dispute, and that an amount of approximately 4,00,000/- ₹ allegedly payable by the complainant to the wife of Vikas Bedi remains outstanding. It is contended that the present criminal proceedings are an offshoot of the said commercial discord and have been instituted to exert pressure upon the petitioner and his family by giving a criminal colour to what is essentially a business dispute. The petitioner is stated to have been implicated merely on account of his being the real brother of Vikas Bedi, without any independent material demonstrating dishonest appropriation of the complainant's goods or money by him. 3.2. It is further contended that the complainant has sought to implicate several members of the petitioner's family, including his wife, brother and brother's wife, which, according to learned counsel, is indicative of an ulterior motive to harass the family and settle a GAURAV SOROT 2026.08.21 16:49 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-39963-2026 (O&M) -:5:- commercial dispute through the coercive machinery of criminal law. It is also pointed out that co-accused Vikas Bedi has already been extended the concession of interim anticipatory bail by this Court. In these circumstances, the petitioner, who is similarly situated and against whom no independent recovery or specific financial trail is shown, deserves the concession of anticipatory bail. 4. Learned State counsel, assisted by learned counsel for the complainant, vehemently opposes the prayer for grant of anticipatory bail. It is contended that the allegations disclose a deliberate and concerted course of conduct involving misappropriation of goods entrusted in the course of business, and that the specific role attributed to the petitioner, the magnitude of the alleged financial loss and the material emerging during investigation render the matter sufficiently grave to disentitle him from the discretionary relief of pre-arrest bail. Dismissal of the petition is accordingly prayed for. 4.1. Learned State counsel has further placed on record a status report by way of affidavit of Narinder Singh, PPS, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Sub-Division Kartarpur, District Jalandhar, filed on behalf of the respondent-State of Punjab in compliance with the order dated 22.07.2026 passed by this Court. As per the status report, the purchasers/clients of the complainant at Srinagar were joined during investigation and their statements were recorded. Sartaj Ahmed Dogar, proprietor of Green Kashmir Package, Lassipora, District Pulwama, stated that he had received a telephone call from co-accused Vikas Bedi, who represented that he was running a factory manufacturing corrugated boxes at Jalandhar and offered GAURAV SOROT 2026.08.21 16:49 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-39963-2026 (O&M) -:6:- to supply Duplex paper. Vikas Bedi thereafter allegedly visited his factory, furnished a sample and subsequently supplied 8,445 kg. of Duplex paper through vehicle No. JK-22-B-3563. Though the corresponding bill was issued in the name of DBN Company, Jalandhar, the sale consideration was allegedly received by Vikas Bedi in his personal bank account, including a sum of 2,00,000/- transferred through two separate ₹ transactions into his account maintained with J&K Bank, Jalandhar. 4.2. It is further submitted that the investigation has prima facie revealed that goods valued at approximately 31 lakh were allegedly ₹ dispatched to Srinagar at the instance of the petitioner, Munish Bedi, in the names of various purchasers, but the consignments were not delivered to the persons whose names appeared on the corresponding bills. The investigating agency has also obtained the call detail records of the mobile numbers attributed to the petitioner and co-accused Vikas Bedi. The CDR analysis allegedly reflects their presence in Srinagar during the period from 05.04.2026 to 09.04.2026. According to learned State counsel, these circumstances assume significance in determining the actual movement of the goods, the financial trail, the respective roles of the petitioner and his co-accused, and the manner in which the alleged misappropriation was carried out. 4.3. It is, therefore, contended that the investigation is still required to be taken to its logical conclusion, particularly for tracing the misappropriated goods and proceeds, reconciling the corresponding transactions and bills, and ascertaining the precise role and inter se arrangement between the petitioner and co-accused Vikas Bedi. In view of GAURAV SOROT 2026.08.21 16:49 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-39963-2026 (O&M) -:7:- the nature and magnitude of the allegations and the material collected during investigation, the petitioner does not deserve the discretionary protection of anticipatory bail at this stage. Dismissal of the present petition is accordingly prayed for. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and have gone through the paper book minutely with their able assistance. 6. Having regard to the fact that the investigation discloses multiple disputed transactions involving several purchasers of the complainant-firm, who have allegedly asserted that the goods/transactions entrusted through the petitioner were not duly accounted for or delivered, the role attributed to the petitioner cannot, at this stage, be regarded as merely peripheral. The investigating agency is required to ascertain the complete modus operandi, trace the movement of the goods and corresponding sale proceeds, reconcile the transactions and accounts, identify the persons involved, examine the inter se arrangement between the petitioner and the co-accused, and determine the extent of the alleged misappropriation. These investigative facets assume significance particularly in view of the material indicating that substantial consignments were allegedly routed through the petitioner and that the corresponding proceeds were received by persons other than the ostensible recipients. 6.1. In the totality of the circumstances, custodial interrogation of the petitioner cannot, at this stage, be characterised as unwarranted, as his custodial availability may be necessary for an effective and unhindered investigation into the complete financial trail, the modus operandi and the GAURAV SOROT 2026.08.21 16:49 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-39963-2026 (O&M) -:8:- respective roles of the persons allegedly involved. The nature and magnitude of the allegations, the multiplicity of transactions, the involvement of several purchasers and the material emerging during investigation do not persuade this Court to extend the extraordinary discretionary protection of anticipatory bail to the petitioner at this stage. 6.2. Accordingly, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the allegations or the ultimate culpability of the petitioner, the present petition seeking grant of anticipatory bail is dismissed. 7. In view of the final adjudication of the principal matter, all pending miscellaneous applications, if any, arising out of or ancillary to the present proceedings shall also stand disposed of accordingly. No separate or further orders are called for in respect of such applications, the same having been rendered infructuous in consequence of the present adjudication. ( VIRINDER AGGARWAL) 21.08.2026 JUDGE Gaurav Sorot Whether reasoned / speaking? Yes / No Whether reportable? Yes / No GAURAV SOROT 2026.08.21 16:49 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document