CRM M-49953 of 2026 and CRM M-50150-2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH 229 (2) CRM M-49953 of 2026 Date of Decision: 10.09.2026 Jaswinder Kaur Lamba ...Petitioner Versus State of Punjab ... Respondent CRM M-50150 of 2026 Joginder Singh Lamba ...Petitioner Versus State of Punjab ... Respondent CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE N.S.SHEKHAWAT Present : Mr. Sanjeev Sharma, Sr. Advocate with Mr. Sandeep Singh, Advocate for the petitioner. (in both the petitions). Mr. Hemant Aggarwal, DAG, Punjab. Mr. Bhupinder Ghai, Advocate for the complainant (in both the petitions). N.S.SHEKHAWAT , J. (Oral)] 1. This order shall dispose of two petitions, i.e., CRM M- 49953 of 2026 titled as Jaswinder Kaur Lamba Vs. State of Punjab AMIT RANA 2026.09.11 17:33 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM M-49953 of 2026 and CRM M-50150-2026 -2- and CRM M-50150 of 2026 titled as Joginder Singh Lamba Vs. State of Punjab, whereby, the petitioners have prayed for grant of concession of regular bail in case FIR No. 26 dated 22.06.2026, under Sections 318(2), 336, 339, 340, 316(2), 61, 338, 318(4) and 82(2) of the B.N.S.S, 2023 (corresponding to Sections 420, 465, 471, 474, 406, 120-B, 467 and 494 I.P.C, 1860), registered at Police Station Women, SAS Nagar, District SAS Nagar. 2. Learned senior counsel for the petitioners has vehemently argued that the present case arises out of matrimonial dispute between the daughter of the petitioners and her husband/complainant, and the FIR is an outcome of deliberations, exaggerations, and based on some legal advice. In fact, the daughter of the petitioner came in contact of the complainant through a matrimonial website, Shaadi.com, and with the consent of the families, the marriage was performed on 30.11.2025. The petitioners had spent more than Rs. 50 lakhs on the wedding of their daughter, and rather the belongings of their daughter have been misappropriated by the complainant. He further submits that even in the FIR, there is no specific attribution to the petitioners, and there is not even a whisper in the FIR that there was any entrustment to the petitioners in any manner. Even otherwise, it is a settled law that the articles which were gifted to a lady in her marriage clearly constitute istridhan and it is her exclusive property. Consequently, the allegations that the AMIT RANA 2026.09.11 17:33 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM M-49953 of 2026 and CRM M-50150-2026 -3- daughter of the petitioner had misappropriated certain jewellery, gift items, etc. are highly exaggerated and cannot be construed as a wrongful gain by the daughter of the petitioner. Learned senior counsel has further submits that even the complainant himself instituted a petition under Section 12 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, on 10.03.2026 before the Court of Principal Judge, Family Court, Mohali and, later on, with a view to exert the petitioners and their family members, complainant got the present FIR registered by colluding with the local police. Apart from that, even Gurpreet Kaur, daughter of the petitioner, had lodged a criminal complaint against the complainant with Crime Against Women Cell, South West District, Delhi, Annexure P-2, raising grave allegations of sexual harassment by her parents-in-law and other family members of the complainant. Apart from that, it has been falsely alleged that the daughter of the petitioners had performed marriage with a person, namely, Vivek Mahajan. But surprisingly, statement of Vivek Mahajan was never recorded by the police during the course of investigation to substantiate the claim of second marriage of Gurpreet Kaur. Learned senior counsel further submits that, in fact, basic allegations levelled by the complainant in the present case are centered around the matrimonial discord between the daughter of the petitioners and her husband, i.e., the complainant, and the entire dispute is essentially matrimonial in nature. However, the entire dispute has been given the AMIT RANA 2026.09.11 17:33 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM M-49953 of 2026 and CRM M-50150-2026 -4- texture of criminality with an intention to pressurize the petitioners and their daughter to settle the matrimonial proceedings. Learned senior counsel further submits that the petitioners, who are both senior citizens, were arrested in the present case on 17th July 2026 and are in custody since then. Even, during course of investigation, they had cooperated with the IO of the present case and the investigation is almost complete qua them. Apart from that, both the petitioners have clean antecedents and their further continued custodial incarceration is not warranted as the allegations have been primarily levelled against Gurpreet Kaur, their daughter, and the dispute between the parties is essentially a matrimonial dispute, which has been illegally converted into a criminal offence. 3. On the other hand, learned State counsel assisted by learned counsel for the complainant have vehemently opposed the submissions made by learned counsel for the petitioners on the ground that the petitioners are the parents of Gurpreet Kaur, who is accused of matrimonial harassment, demands for money and misappropriation of jewellery ornaments. Apart from that, even Gurpreet Kaur had committed a fraud and had concealed her date of birth. Still further, there is sufficient documentary evidence to show that Gurpreet Kaur, co-accused, had performed her first marriage with Vivek Mahajan on 22.11.2022, and even both the petitioners were present at the time of first marriage of Gurpreet Kaur. Even, they were AMIT RANA 2026.09.11 17:33 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM M-49953 of 2026 and CRM M-50150-2026 -5- seen in the photographs of the first marriage of Gurpreet Kaur with Vinay Mahajan. However, by concealing first marriage, Gurpreet Kaur had performed second marriage with the complainant fraudulently and had misappropriated the gold and diamond ornaments which were given to Gurpreet Kaur from time to time. 4. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the report very carefully. 5. In the present case, it is evident that both the petitioners, who are senior citizens with clean antecedents, are parents of Gurpreet Kaur, who is admittedly having matrimonial discord with the present complainant, and the complainant has already instituted a petition under Section 12 of the Hindu Marriage Act before the Court of Principal Judge, Family Court, Mohali, seeking annulment of marriage. Apart from that, even Gurpreet Kaur, daughter of petitioners, has also lodged a criminal complaint with Crime Against Women Cell, Delhi Police, Annexure P2, levelling serious allegations of sexual harassment, and the said complaint is also stated to be pending with Delhi Police. At this stage, this Court is conscious of the fact that both the petitioners, who belong to a respectable family, are senior citizens and are in custody since 17.07.2026. Even, there is no material to show that the petitioners are in a position to influence the witnesses of the prosecution, or there are any chances of fleeing from the process of justice. Thus, the continued custody of the petitioners AMIT RANA 2026.09.11 17:33 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM M-49953 of 2026 and CRM M-50150-2026 -6- as undertrial prisoners for a longer period is not warranted, more particularly, when they had cooperated with the IO in the present case and the documentary evidence has already been collected by the police. 6. In view of the above, without commenting any further on the merits, the present petitions are allowed and the petitioners are ordered to be released on bail on their furnishing bail bonds/surety bonds to the satisfaction of the learned trial Court/Duty Magistrate/CJM concerned. 10.09.2026 (N.S.SHEKHAWAT) amit rana JUDGE Whether reasoned/speaking : Yes/No Whether reportable : Yes/No AMIT RANA 2026.09.11 17:33 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document