CRM-M-49475-2026 1 102 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CRM-M-49475-2026 Date of Decision: 03.09.2026 GURPREET SINGH ...Petitioner Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB ...Respondent CORAM:- HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VIRINDER AGGARWAL Present: Mr. Sohrab Dhanda, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. J.S. Rattu, DAG, Punjab. VIRINDER AGGARWAL , J. (Oral) 1. The present petition has been filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (corresponding to Section 438 Cr.P.C.), seeking grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner in case bearing FIR No. 140 dated 25.07.2026, under Sections 316(2) and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (corresponding to Sections 406 and 420 IPC), registered at Police Station Division No.4, District Patiala. 2. As per the allegations in the FIR, the complainant came in contact with the petitioner through Facebook in July 2025, whereafter he allegedly proposed marriage to her and gained her confidence. It is alleged that on the pretext of marriage and related arrangements, the petitioner demanded and received various amounts from the complainant through bank transfers and in cash, totaling approximately Rs.8 lakhs. The complainant subsequently became suspicious about the marriage arrangements and, upon verification, allegedly found that no such arrangements had been made. Thereafter, the petitioner allegedly blocked her from all platforms. On these allegations, the present FIR came to be registered under Sections 316(2) and 318(4) BNS. KUMUD VERMA 2026.09.07 18:31 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document Chandigarh CRM-M-49475-2026 2 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner contends that the petitioner has been falsely implicated in the present case and that the allegations against him are baseless. It is submitted that although certain amounts were transferred by the complainant into the account of the petitioner, the same were subsequently transferred to the family members of the complainant and the petitioner was not the beneficiary thereof. It is further submitted that no account number or bank details have been mentioned by the complainant in the FIR through which the alleged amount was stated to have been transferred pursuant to any demand made by the petitioner. 3.1 Learned counsel further submits that the petitioner has already joined the investigation and is ready and willing to cooperate with the investigating agency as and when required. It is also submitted that the petitioner is on bail in two other cases and that the co-accused has been granted interim bail by this Court vide order dated 17.08.2026 in CRM-M- 45485-2026. Learned counsel further submits that nothing is to be recovered from the petitioner and that no useful purpose would be served by taking him into custody. It is, accordingly, prayed that the petitioner be granted the concession of anticipatory bail. 4. Notice of motion. 5. Mr. J.S. Rattu, DAG, Punjab, having served with an advance copy, appeared on behalf of respondent and opposes the prayer for anticipatory bail and submits that the allegations against the petitioner are serious in nature. It is submitted that the complainant has specifically alleged that the petitioner induced her to part with substantial amounts of money on the pretext of solemnizing marriage with her and that various amounts were KUMUD VERMA 2026.09.07 18:31 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document Chandigarh CRM-M-49475-2026 3 transferred into the account of the petitioner pursuant to the demands allegedly made by him. Learned State counsel further submits that the allegations require proper investigation and custodial interrogation of the petitioner cannot be ruled out at this stage. 6. Be that as it may, the allegations against the petitioner are that a sum of approximately Rs.8,00,000/- was taken from the complainant, who is living in London on the pretext of making arrangements for the marriage, but subsequently the petitioner denied the same. It is also alleged that the petitioner projected himself before the complainant as a police officer. On the other hand, the petitioner is taking the plea that the amounts received by him were handed over to different persons at the instance of the complainant. These rival assertions require proper investigation and verification of the alleged monetary transactions and the role of the petitioner. At this stage, the plea raised by the petitioner cannot be accepted merely on the basis of his assertion. The allegations are serious in nature and custodial interrogation of the petitioner is required for a proper and effective investigation. 7. It is also not disputed that the petitioner’s earlier application for anticipatory bail has already been declined by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Patiala, vide order dated 06.08.2026. The mere fact that the petitioner is on bail in other cases or that the co-accused has been granted interim bail in a separate proceeding would not, by itself, entitle the petitioner to the same relief, particularly when the allegations and role attributed to the petitioner have to be examined on their own merits. 8. Be that as it may, considering the nature of allegations, the specific role attributed to the petitioner and the fact that the matter requires KUMUD VERMA 2026.09.07 18:31 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document Chandigarh CRM-M-49475-2026 4 investigation into the alleged monetary transactions, this Court is not inclined to grant the concession of anticipatory bail to the petitioner. 9. Accordingly, the present petition is dismissed. 10. However, it is made clear that nothing stated herein shall be construed as an expression of opinion on the merits of the case. (VIRINDER AGGARWAL) JUDGE 03.09.2026 kv Whether speaking/reasoned : Yes/No Whether reportable : Yes/No KUMUD VERMA 2026.09.07 18:31 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document Chandigarh