Pala v. State of Haryana
Case Details
CRM-M-48656-2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CRM-M-48656-2024 Reserved on: 16.01.2025 Pronounced on: 21.01.2025 Jaipal Jangra @ Pala ...Petitioner Versus State of Haryana …Respondent CORAM:
Legal Reasoning
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANOOP CHITKARA Present: Mr. Ashok Kumar Sharma, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. Aashish Bishnoi, D.A.G., Haryana. ANOOP CHITKARA, J. **** FIR No. Dated Police Station Sections 409 28.09.2022 Sadar District Hansi Hansi, 120-B, 406, 420 IPC (Section 467, 468, 471 IPC, 3 & 4 of Haryana Protection of Interest of depositors in Financial Establishment Act and 3, 4, 5 and 6 of Price Chits and Money Circulation Scehemes (Banning) Act added later on) 1. The petitioner incarcerated in the FIR captioned above had come up before this Court under Section 483 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, [BNSS], seeking regular bail. 2. In paragraph 18 of the bail petition, the accused declares that he has no criminal antecedents. 3. The facts and allegations are being taken from the status report filed by the State, which reads as follows:- “2. That the brief facts of the case are that a complaint dated 16.09.2022 moved by the complainant namely Ram Chander son of Gulab Singh resident of Village Mamanpura, District Hisar, in the office of Superintendent of Police, Hansi, after enquiry conducted by Economic Cell, Hansi was received in the police station on dated 28.09.2022, in which complainant namely Ram Chander has alleged that he used to do Organic Farming and in Factory address no. 46, Riyal Bio Limited, Jind, he met with co-accused namely Subhash Sihag. In the month of July 2019 co-accused namely Subhash Sihag and Sunder Singh had come in the Farm 1 Jyoti Sharma 2025.01.21 16:43 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment High Court, Sector 1, Chandigarh CRM-M-48656-2024 House of complainant situated at Village Mamanpura and agreed to purchase 210 quintals organic wheat at the rate of Rs.3050/- per quintal and thereafter, they paid Rs.6,40,500/- and took the purchased wheat. The complainant further alleged that on 05.09.2019 co- accused namely Subhash Sihag and Sunder Singh again visited his farm house and asked to invest money in Herbal Raja Industry Limited to get the gain and on the assurance of accused persons, complainant gave Rs.7,50,000/- to the @used persons in presence of Om Parkash, Manjeet Numberdar, STAVA Ramphal and Vedpal. In the month of October persons cleared the account of complainant and returned the total invested amount. Complainant further alleged that after some time, accused persons again met the complainant and asked him to invest Rs.25 Lacs in Herbal Raja Gaubhakti Industry Limited to get double of the amount after one year and present petitioner namely Jaipal Jangra presented himself as Managing Director, co-accused namely Sunder Singh as CMD, co-accused Subhash Sihag, Anil, Sumender and Rajesh Atri as Directors of the said firm. On the assurance of accused-persons, complainant in the presence of Om Parkash, Manjeet Numberdar, Sajjan, Mahipal, Shri Bhagwan, Naresh, Ramphal, Dharambir, Surajbhan, Sita Ram, Sandeep, Ramesh Numberdar, Partap Singh, Balwan, Vedpal, Satpal Malik, Bimla Devi and Karan Singh gave Rs.22,50,000/- to accused persons. Complainant further alleged that co-accused Subhash Sihag and Sunder Singh also fradulently obtained Rs.10 Lakhs from him on the pretext to provide job to Karan Singh and Manoj (both are relatives of the complainant) in Delhi Metro and accused persons also gave two cheques to the complainant with the assurance that if the job is not provided to Karan Singh and Manoj before 15.02.2021 then the complainant would get his money back by presenting those cheques in the bank. Complainant further that till 15.02.2021 no job was provided to Karan Manoj and then he presented both the cheques in the Bank, which were issued by accused persons but both the cheques were dishonored by the bank and in this regard, when he talked with the accused persons, then they obtained back both the cheque and again assured to provide job to Karan Singh and Manoj. Complainant further alleged that again on the assurance of accused persons, he and his family members gave more amounts to the accused persons to invest in Crypto- currency and Elite Coin. Complainant further alleged that accused persons rsons in connivance with each other, fraudulently obtained Rs.80,50,000/- from him and his family members and when he demanded his money back, accused persons refused and extended threat to kill him and his family members. On the basis of said complaint and enquiry proceedings, case under sections 406, 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of IPC was registered.” 4. The petitioner's counsel prays for bail by imposing any stringent conditions and contends that further pre-trial incarceration would cause an irreversible injustice to the petitioner and their family. Jyoti Sharma 2025.01.21 16:43 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment High Court, Sector 1, Chandigarh 2 CRM-M-48656-2024 5. 6. The State’s counsel opposes bail and refers to the status report. It would be appropriate to refer to the following portions of the status report, which read as follows:- “7. During the course of investigation, it was found that co- accused in connivance with petitioner-accused Jaipal Jangra fraudulently obtained Rs.80,50,000/- from the complainant and his family members. It is pertinent to mention here that the petitioner-accused along-with co-accused cheated with hundreds of innocent persons. In furtherance of this petitioner-accused and co-accused fraudulently obtained crores of rupees from the complainant and other persons in the name of Crypto Currency and Elite Coin. It was also found that petitioner-accused is a real culprit who committed the offence to earn huge money by cheating with the innocent persons. It is submitted that other friends of the petitioner-accused were not arrested yet, which were also involved in the commission of the offence. If the bail of the petitioner-accused is allowed then he misleads the facts along-with other co-accused, whose arrest is pending. It is specifically mentioned here that no other case has been registered against the present petitioner except the same case.” 7. There is sufficient primafacie evidence connecting the petitioner with the alleged crime. However, pre-trial incarceration should not be a replica of post-conviction sentencing. Per paragraph 8 of the bail petition, the petitioner has been in custody since 13.12.2022. Per the custody certificate dated 15.01.2025, the petitioner’s total custody in this FIR is 02 years and 01 month. Given the penal provisions invoked viz-a-viz pre-trial custody, coupled with the primafacie analysis of the nature of allegations, and the other factors peculiar to this case, there would be no justifiability for further pre-trial incarceration at this stage. 8. The petitioner's bail shall not be treated as a precedent for granting bail to the other co-accused with a higher role. 9. Without commenting on the case's merits, in the facts and circumstances peculiar to this case, and for the reasons mentioned above, the petitioner makes a case for bail. This order shall come into force from the time it is uploaded on this Court's official webpage. 10. Given above, provided the petitioner is not required in any other case, the petitioner shall be released on bail in the FIR captioned above subject to furnishing bonds to the satisfaction of the concerned Court and due to unavailability before any nearest Ilaqa Magistrate/duty Magistrate. Before accepting the surety, the concerned Court must be satisfied that if the accused fails to appear, such surety can produce the accused. 11. While furnishing a personal bond, the petitioner shall mention the following personal identification details: Jyoti Sharma 2025.01.21 16:43 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment High Court, Sector 1, Chandigarh 3 CRM-M-48656-2024 1. AADHAR number 2. Passport number (If available) and when the attesting officer/court considers it appropriate or considers the accused a flight risk. 3. Mobile number (If available) 4. E-Mail id (If available) 12. This order is subject to the petitioner’s complying with the following terms. 13. The petitioner shall abide by all statutory bond conditions and appear before the concerned Court(s) on all dates. The petitioner shall not tamper with the evidence, influence, browbeat, pressurize, induce, threaten, or promise, directly or indirectly, any witnesses, Police officials, or any other person acquainted with the facts and circumstances of the case or dissuade them from disclosing such facts to the Police or the Court. 14. This bail is conditional, and the foundational condition is that if the petitioner indulges in any non-bailable offense, the State shall file an application for cancellation of this bail before the Sessions Court, which shall be at liberty to cancel this bail. 15. Any observation made hereinabove is neither an expression of opinion on the case's merits nor shall the trial Court advert to these comments. 16. A certified copy of this order would not be needed for furnishing bonds, and any Advocate for the Petitioner can download this order along with case status from the official web page of this Court and attest it to be a true copy. If the attesting officer wants to verify its authenticity, such an officer can also verify its authenticity and may download and use the downloaded copy for attesting bonds. 17. Petition allowed in terms mentioned above. All pending applications, if any,
Decision
stand disposed of. 21.01.2025 Jyoti Sharma Whether speaking/reasoned: Yes No. Whether reportable: (ANOOP CHITKARA) JUDGE Jyoti Sharma 2025.01.21 16:43 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment High Court, Sector 1, Chandigarh 4