IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.357 OF 2022
(Arising out of SLP (Crl.) No.11379 of 2019)
JARNAIL SINGH Appellant
VERSUS
STATE OF PUNJAB & ANR.
Respondents
ORDER
Leave granted.
This appeal challenges the judgment and order dated 05.12.2019 passed by the High Court of Punjab & Haryana at Chandigarh in CRM-M No.51755 of 2019 (O&M).
Apprehending arrest in connection with crime registered pursuant to First Information Report No.271/2019 dated 18.09.2019 lodged with Police Station City Kapurthala, District Kapurthala, Punjab, for the offences punishable under Sections 420, 465, 468, 471, 120-B, 467 IPC, the appellant preferred an application for anticipatory bail in terms of Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. The application having been rejected by the High Court, the present appeal has been preferred.
While issuing notice vide order dated 06.01.2020, this Court granted interim relief and directed that no coercive steps be taken against the appellant.
Ms. Jaspreet Gogia, learned Advocate appearing for the State submits that the investigation into the crime otherwise is complete but the appellant did not cooperate with the investigation.
Considering the entirety of the situation, in our view, the appellant is entitled to the relief of anticipatory bail.
We, therefore, allow this appeal, set-aside the order passed by the High Court, and direct as under:
a) In case the appellant is arrested in connection
with the aforesaid crime, the Arresting Officer shall release the appellant on bail subject to his furnishing cash security in the sum of Rs.50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Thousand Only) with two like sureties.
b) The appellant shall extend complete co-operation
in the ensuing investigation and give a sample signature and handwriting as demanded by the Investigating Officer.
c) In order to facilitate the investigation, the
appellant shall present himself before the Investigating Officer on 14.03.2022 at 11.00 a.m. and shall continue to remain present from
11.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. during the entire week. With these observations, the appeal is allowed.
........................J. (UDAY UMESH LALIT) ........................J. (S. RAVINDRA BHAT)
New Delhi,
March 07, 2022.