CRM-M-34817-2025 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH 222 Navjot v. CRM-M-34817-2025
Case Details
CRM-M-34817-2025 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH 222 Navjot Singh @ Noy @ Nav State of Punjab Versus CRM-M-34817-2025 (O&M) Date of decision: 11.07.2025 ....Petitioner ....Respondent
Legal Reasoning
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HARPREET SINGH BRAR Present: Mr. G.S. Randhawa, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. Nitesh Sharma, DAG, Punjab. HARPREET SINGH BRAR J. (Oral) 1. Prayer in this petition filed under Section 483 of the BNSS, 2023, is for grant of regular bail to the petitioner in FIR No.011 dated 30.01.2025 registered under Sections 111(3), 113 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (in short ‘BNS, 2023’) (Section 109, 3(5) of BNS, 2023 added later on), Sections 3, 4, 5, 6 of Explosive Substances Act, 1908 and Section 25(6), 25(7) of Arms Act, 1959 at Police Station Sirhali, District Tarn Taran. 2. As per the prosecution case, on 30.01.2025, Inspector Sukhdev Singh, along with other police officials, was on patrol duty moving through various areas including Sheron, Usma, Naushara Pannua, Thathia Mhantan, Sarhali, and Suhawa. During the patrol, the police received a credible secret information that accused persons namely Robinjit Singh, Juvraj Singh, Karan Singh, Jasdeep Singh, MOHD YAKUB 2025.07.11 17:45 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Punjab & Haryana High Court at Chandigarh CRM-M-34817-2025 2 Harpreet Singh @ Happy, Ajay @ Tunda, Jatt Sekho Gurdaspur, Navjot Singh @ Nav, and Sahib Singh @ Saba, had formed an organized gang and are allegedly involved in criminal activities. It was specifically alleged that the gang had procured illegal weapons from Pakistan, extorted money from the public, and instilled fear by firing at residential houses. They were also said to be involved in cases of snatching and murder. Treating the information as reliable, an FIR was registered, and the police conducted a raid at the location disclosed in the secret information. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner inter alia contends that the petitioner has been falsely implicated in the FIR (supra). Admittedly, the petitioner has been nominated as an accused along with others on the basis of a secret information, however, the accused Robinjit Singh and Harpreet Singh were apprehended at the spot. Thereafter, both the said accused suffered the disclosure statements, naming the present petitioner in the FIR (supra), during their custodial interrogation, however, such statement has no evidentiary value in the eyes of law as the same is hit by Sections 25 and 26 of the Evidence Act. Further, after registration of the FIR (supra), the petitioner has been implicated in one more case on the basis of disclosure statement. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner further submits that there are total 22 prosecution witnesses cited in the list of witnesses, out of which, no PW has been examined till date and the trial is likely to take long time in conclusion. MOHD YAKUB 2025.07.11 17:45 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Punjab & Haryana High Court at Chandigarh CRM-M-34817-2025 3 5. Per contra, learned State counsel opposes the prayer made by learned counsel for the petitioner on the ground that the complicity of the petitioner has been duly established and two country-made pistols along with 10 live cartridges have been recovered from the petitioner, however, he could not controvert the fact that the petitioner has suffered the incarceration of more than 05 months. 6. Having heard learned counsel for the parties and after perusing the record of the case, it transpires that the petitioner is behind the bars from the last more than 05 months. Investigation is complete. The final report under Section 173 Cr.P.C. was presented before the concerned Court. Charges were framed and trial of the case has not made much progress. Out of 22 prosecution witnesses, no PW has been examined so far. 7. A two Judge Bench of Hon’ble Supreme Court in “Satender Kumar Antil vs. CBI”, (2022) 10 SCC 51, with respect to prevailing conditions of undertrial prisoner in India has observed: “6. Jails in India are flooded with undertrial prisoners. The statistics placed before us would indicate that more than 2/3rd of the inmates of the prisons constitute undertrial prisoners. Of this category of prisoners, majority may not even be required to be arrested despite registration of a cognizable offence, being charged with offences punishable for seven years or less. They are not only poor and illiterate but also would include women. Thus, there is a culture of offence being inherited by many of them. As observed by this Court, it certainly exhibits the mindset, a vestige of colonial India, on the part of the MOHD YAKUB 2025.07.11 17:45 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Punjab & Haryana High Court at Chandigarh CRM-M-34817-2025 4 investigating agency, notwithstanding the fact arrest is a draconian measure resulting in curtailment of liberty, and thus to be used sparingly. In a democracy, there can never be an impression that it is a police State as both are conceptually opposite to each other.” 8. Further the culpability, if any, would be determined at the time of trial and as such, no useful purpose will be served by further detention of the petitioner-accused. Keeping the petitioner in further detention without the prospect of the trial being concluded in the near future, would be violative of his rights under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. 9. Further keeping in view the law laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in “Prabhakar Tewari vs. State of U.P. and another” 2020 (1) R.C.R. (Criminal 831) and “Maulana Mohd. Amir Rashadi vs. State of U.P. and another”, 2012 (2) SCC 382, the involvement of the petitioner in other cases would not be a ground to refuse grant of concession of regular bail. 10. In view the discussion above, the present petition is allowed. Accordingly, without commenting upon the merits of the case, the petitioner namely Navjot Singh @ Noy @ Nav is ordered to be released on regular bail during pendency of the trial, on furnishing bail bonds/surety bonds to the satisfaction of Illaqa Magistrate/Trial Court/Duty Magistrate. 11. Nothing observed hereinabove shall be construed to be expression of an opinion by this Court on merits of the case. The MOHD YAKUB 2025.07.11 17:45 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Punjab & Haryana High Court at Chandigarh CRM-M-34817-2025 5 learned Court below is directed to proceed with the matter on its own merits, lest it may prejudice the trial. (HARPREET SINGH BRAR) JUDGE 11.07.2025 yakub Whether speaking/reasoned: Whether reportable: Yes/No Yes/No MOHD YAKUB 2025.07.11 17:45 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Punjab & Haryana High Court at Chandigarh