12.2024 Rhimat Ali @ Remmu v. State of Punjab

CORAM: HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE NIDHI GUPTA Present: - Mr.Dinesh Mahajan, Advocate for the petitioner. Ms. Aakanksha Gupta, A.A.G., Punjab. *** NIDHI GUPTA, J. (ORAL) Prayer in this petition filed under Section 482 Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (B.N.S.S.) is for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner in case FIR No.36 dated 30.03.2024 (Annexure P-1) under Section 346 IPC (Sections 363, 366, 376, 120-B of IPC and Section 6 of POCSO Act and Section 9 of Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 added later on), registered at Police Station Sujanpur, District Pathankot. On 08.08.2024, when this case was listed for hearing, following order was passed by this Court:- “Prayer in this petition filed under Section 482 Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (B.N.S.S.) is for grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner in case FIR No.36 dated 30.03.2024 (Annexure P-1) under Section 346 IPC (Sections 363, 366, 376, 120-B of IPC and Section 6 of POCSO Act and Section 9 of Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 added later on), registered at Police Station Sujanpur, District Pathankot. DIVYANSHI 2024.12.13 17:46 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-38602-2024 (O&M) -2- Learned counsel for the petitioner, inter alia, submits that the present FIR was registered on the basis of statement of brother of the victim. Learned counsel submits that the allegation against the petitioner is that he helped the main accused Maskeen in kidnapping the victim. Learned counsel submits that the petitioner has been falsely implicated in the present case because he is relative of the main accused, namely, Maskeen. As per the FIR, at the time of alleged occurrence, the victim was stated to be 19% years of age. As per the Aadhar Card and PAN Card of the victim, her date of birth is

01.01.2001. As such on the date of incident i.e. 14.3.2024, she was around 23 years of age. It is submitted that the main accused Maskeen and the victim were in a consensual relationship. They had even filed a protection petition before the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh at Jammu, which was allowed vide order dated 06.5.2024. It is submitted that the victim and the main accused Maskeen have even solemnized marriage on 15.3.2024. At present, the victim is residing with the main accused Maskeen. Moreover, the victim in her statement recorded under Section 164 Cr.P.C. has not supported the prosecution case. Learned counsel also refers to the order dated 25.7.2024 (Annexure P-7) passed by this Court in CRM-M-34355 of 2024, vide which, the co-accused Mustak Ali has been granted regular bail in the same FIR. Learned counsel for the petitioner prays for grant of interim relief to the petitioner and undertakes that the petitioner will join the investigation and co-operate with the Investigating Agency.

Notice of motion. On asking of the Court, Mr. Kunwarbir Singh, AAG, Punjab accepts notice on behalf of respondent-State and seeks time to file the reply/status report in the matter. Adjourned to 13.12.2024. In the meantime, the petitioner is directed to appear before the SHO/Investigating Officer to join investigation and in the event of his arrest, he shall be released on interim bail on his furnishing bail bonds to the satisfaction of SHO/Investigating Agency subject to the following conditions as envisaged under Section 438(2) Cr.P.C.:- DIVYANSHI 2024.12.13 17:46 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CRM-M-38602-2024 (O&M) -3- i. that the petitioner shall make himself available for interrogation before the Investigating Officer as and when required; ii. that the petitioner shall not, directly or indirectly, make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him/her from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police officer; iii. that the petitioner shall not leave the country, without prior permission of the Court and shall surrender his passport, if any.

Meanwhile, State counsel is directed to file an affidavit/status report as to the exact role of the petitioner along with details of pending FIRs, if any, on or before the next date of hearing.” Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that in compliance of the order dated 08.08.2024 passed by this Court, the petitioner has joined investigation on 11.08.2024. Reply dated 10.12.2024 filed by way of an affidavit of the Deputy Superintendent of Police (Dhar Kalan), District Pathankot on behalf of respondent-State in Court today is taken on record. A copy thereof has been supplied to learned counsel for the petitioner. Learned counsel for the State, on instructions from ASI Jagdish Singh, confirms that the petitioner has joined investigation on