282 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CRM-M No.38031 of 2026 Date of Decision:- 26.08.2026 Jaskaran Singh @ Kali …..Petitioner. Versus State of Punjab .....Respondent. CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE VIKRAM AGGARWAL ***** Present:- Mr. Anterpreet Singh, 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’) for the grant of regular bail to the petitioner in case FIR No.16 dated 19.01.2026 registered under Sections 115(2), 109, 132, 221, 324(4) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short, ‘the BNS’) and Section 25 of the Arms Act, 1959, at Police Station Doraha, Police District Khanna, District Ludhiana. 2. Custody certificate dated 24.08.2026 filed in Court today is taken on record. 3. On the statement of Inspector Akash Dutt, the FIR in question was registered, the translated version of which (as given in Annexure P-1) YAG DUTT 2026.08.27 10:15 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment. CRM-M No.38031 of 2026 -2- is as under:- “Statement of Inspector Akash Dutt, Belt No. 123/RR, Station House Officer, Police Station Doraha, Police District Khanna, District Ludhiana, aged about 32 years, Mobile No. 75891-88989. He stated that he is presently posted as the Station House Officer at Police Station Doraha, Police District Khanna. Today, while he was present at the police station in connection with official duties, ASI Satpal Singh No. 353/Khanna received information from a reljable secret informer that in FIR No. 158 dated 10.10.2025 under Sections 109/111(2) BNS and 25/54/59 Arms Act, Police Station Doraha, the accused Harsimran Singh Mand son of Kulwinder Singh, resident of Village Bhutta, Police Station Dehlon, District Ludhiana, along with one of his associates, was travelling in a black Scorpio-N vehicle without registration number and was proceeding from the Samrala side towards Village Rara via the Rampur underbridge road. The informer further stated that if a blockade was immediately established on the route, both persons along with their illegal weapons could be apprehended. Upon receiving this information, the deponent Inspector, along with ASI Satpal Singh No. 353/Khanna, HC Jashandeep Singh No. 653/PBI, boarded Government Bolero vehicle No. PB-10-FV-0463, driven by ASI Jagjit Singh No. 426/Khanna, and accompanied by ASI Lakhwinder Singh No. 739/Khanna and HC Balvir Singh No. 36/607, carrying official arms and ammunition, proceeded towards the disclosed location. Near Beant Singh Chowk, Doraha, they met Sub-Inspector Narpinderpal Singh No. 94/PTL, In-charge CIA Khanna, along with his team comprising ASI Harpreet Singh No. 320/Khanna, HC Sukhjit Singh No. 601/Khanna, HC Tejinder Singh No. 204/Khanna, YAG DUTT 2026.08.27 10:15 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment. CRM-M No.38031 of 2026 -3- HC Harveer Singh No. 297/Khanna, HC Balkar Singh No. 884/Khanna, and Constable Toib Farooqui No. 3331/TSS, who were travelling in Government Scorpio vehicle No. PB- 65-BF-6903. After associating the CIA team with the police party and briefing them about the facts of the case, they proceeded in accordance with the informer's information and reached the Rampur Cantonment Road underbridge. The CIA team was deployed to cover the underbridge from the Rampur side, while the deponent Inspector, along with the remaining police party, positioned themselves approximately 50 metres towards the Doraha side near a motor room, parking both vehicles and waiting for the accused. At about 08:00 AM, a black Scorpio-N vehicle emerged from beneath the underbridge at high speed and advanced towards them. The CIA Khanna vehicle was following it. Upon the deponent's instructions, driver Jagjit Singh quickly moved the Bolero vehicle ahead to stop the Scorpio. However, the driver of the black Scorpio resident of Village Rara, Police Station Payal, District Ludhiana. Since Harsimran Singh Mand had sustained a gunshot injury to his knee, he was sent for medical treatment to Civil Hospital, Payal, along with ASI Lakhwinder Singh No. 739/Khanna and other accompanying officials after arranging an ambulance (108 service). The deponent informed the DCR and senior police officers through his mobile phone. In the meantime, Jaswant Singh, Sarpanch of Village Rampur, who happened to be passing through the road, witnessed the entire incident with his own eyes. The deponent further stated that "I have got my statement recorded at the spot. The same has been read over to me and is correct. Appropriate legal action may be taken against Harsimran Singh Mand and his associate Avanjot Singh for opening fire upon the police party with the intention to kill.” YAG DUTT 2026.08.27 10:15 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment. CRM-M No.38031 of 2026 -4- 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner has been falsely implicated. He submits that the petitioner was not present in the vehicle and was nominated as an accused on the basis of a disclosure statement suffered by co-accused Avonjot Singh as per which it was stated that the petitioner was his friend and that he was having illegal weapons. Learned counsel submits that after the arrest of the petitioner on 21.01.2026, no recovery was effected from him. Learned counsel further submits that the main accused Harsimran Singh Mand and Avonjot Singh are in custody. The petitioner has no role to play in the matter; investigation has been completed; final report has been submitted; charges have been framed on 05.06.2026; out of 19 prosecution witnesses, none has been examined; trial will still take a sufficiently long time and 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 the allegations are serious. However, on a query raised by the Court, he concedes that pursuant to the arrest of the petitioner, no recovery was made from him. He also submits that two other cases stand registered against the petitioner. 6. To this, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is on bail in the said cases. 7. I have considered the submissions made by learned counsel for the parties. 8. Admittedly, the petitioner was not accompanying the main accused Harsimran Singh Mand and Avonjot Singh. He was arrested on the YAG DUTT 2026.08.27 10:15 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment. CRM-M No.38031 of 2026 -5- basis of a disclosure statement suffered by Avonjot Singh pursuant to which no recovery was made from him. He is in custody for the last 07 months. Investigation has been completed. Final report has been submitted. Charges have been framed on 05.06.2026. Out of 19 prosecution witnesses, none has been examined till date. Trial will still take a sufficiently long time and no useful purpose would be served by keeping the petitioner in custody any longer. 9. 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. (VIKRAM AGGARWAL) August 26, 2026 JUDGE Yag Dutt Whether speaking/reasoned: Yes/No Whether Reportable: Yes/No YAG DUTT 2026.08.27 10:15 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment.