CRM-M/33597/2026 of GURPREET SINGH ALIAS GOPI Vs STATE OF PUNJAB on 10 September 2026

CRM-M-33597-2026 -1- 224 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CRM-M-33597-2026 Date of Decision: 10.09.2026 GURPREET SINGH ALIAS GOPI ... Petitioner Versus STATE OF PUNJAB ...Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JASJIT SINGH BEDI Present: Ms. G.K. Mann, Senior Advocate with Mr. Anmol Jeevan Singh Gill, Advocate, Mr. Arshjot Singh Mohi, Advocate and Ms. Kirti Garg, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. Roshandeep Singh, AAG, Punjab. **** JASJIT SINGH BEDI, J. The prayer in the present petition under Section 483 BNSS, 2023 is for the grant of regular bail in case bearing FIR No.0044 dated 24.02.2021 registered under Sections 103, 238, 303 and 3(5) of BNS (Section 302, 201, 379 r/w 34 of IPC) at Police Station Jandiala, District Amritsar Rural.

2. The FIR came to be registered at the instance of Vattandeep Singh and reads as under:- “Today I SI/SHO present in the police station that one application no. 83-AP dated 18.01.2021 alongwith papers received from Hon'ble DSP Sahib Jandiala in the police Station, content of which is as follows: To the SSP sahib, Amritsar Rural. Subject: Regarding registration of FIR against the accused in the case where dead body of my brother namely Sharandeep Singh, was found in KUSUM

CRM-M-33597-2026 -2- suspicious circumstances on 09.11.2020. Sir, it is requested that I Vattandeep Singh son of Dilbag Singh, resident of village Usma and is doing work of agriculture. My brother Sharandeep Singh, about 30 years of age, on 28.10.2020, had gone to meet his friend Dilpreet Singh resident of Ghasitpura by telling that he alongwith Dilpreet Singh and other friends were going to Chandigarh to meet an agent to go abroad and while going he had taken his clothes, his licensed revolver 32 bore along with his documents from home, and on 01.11.2020 at around 8:00 pm, my brother Sharandeep Singh had a conversation with my mother Sukhwinder Kaur on phone, after which my brother's phone was not reachable and we kept trying to call him but his phone was unreachable, so I along with my brother-in-law (Jija) Sukhbir Singh son of Rattan Singh resident of Goindwal Bypass, Tarn Taran, uncle Rachpal Singh and other relatives started searching for my brother Sharandeep Singh, when we could not find him, then on 06.11.20, his missing report was lodged at police post Naushera Pannua and the in-charge police post Naushihra Pannua wrote an application to the SHO of Police Station Sirhali to get the call details of my brother Sharandeep Singh's mobile numbers 700092-94193, 98038-48400 and the suspicious numbers 9781730819 and 70875-43380 which I had given verbally and again on suspicion I gave another number 78892-60613 to the in-charge police post on phone, but no action was taken by the police. I kept searching for my brother Sharandeep Singh along with my relatives and also went to the house of the said Dilpreet Singh alias Tita resicient of Ghasitpura and contacted him KUSUM

CRM-M-33597-2026 -3- who told me that on 31.10.2020 Sharandeep Singh had left him with Gurjit Singh resident of Devidaspur whose mobile number is 70875- 43380 and after that I contacted Gurjit Singh resident of Devidaspur on his mobile number 70875- 43380 from my phone who said that Sharandeep had stayed with me in Amritsar for 2 nights and after that I had got down at Manawale while coming to Tarn Taran and after that I do not know where Sharandeep Singh has gone. There is a CD containing call recording regarding my conversation with the said Gurjit Singh is attached with the application. When my brother Sharandeep Singh was not found then again on 09.11.2020, I along with my relatives were going from Dharad to Link head Shokhchhata near Vairowal head Canal bridge Jandiala Guru in search of my brother. When we reached about 200 yards ahead of the bridge canal, there was a very bad smell coming from the drain built along the canal. When I looked ahead, I saw a swollen body. I identified the body of my brother Ramandeep Singh from the silver bracelet worn on his left hand and the clothes he was wearing. There was a very foul smell coming from him. His body had turned black and swollen and was also covered in worms. Since I did not suspect anyone at that time, I went to the Police post Town Police Station Jandiala Guru to inform, after leaving my brother-in-law (Jija) Sukhbir Singh and uncle Rachpal Singh with the dead body of my brother Sharandeep Singh. Then the in-charge Police post ASI Tarseın Singh came to the spot and checked the body thoroughly. After a while, he came to us. He told that he found a medicine bottle, a syringe and a needle near the body of my brother Sharandeep Singh. He said that he KUSUM

CRM-M-33597-2026 -4- suspected that he died due to drug injection. On this, I told the police post in-charge ASI Tarsem Singh that my brother is not addicted to drugs, but the said police officer said that he can only take action under 174 Cr.PC. Since I was in shock and did not have any legal knowledge, I told him that sir, I do not know what action to take. The post in-charge told me that if you have any suspicions or become sure that someone has killed your brother, then you should submit a written application accordingly, action will be taken accordingly. And after writing my statement, I sent my brother's body to Civil Hospital Amritsar under ASI Malkit Singh for postmortem and the next day on 10.11.2020, the postmortem of my brother Sharandeep Singh was conducted at Medical College, Amritsar. The colored photo of the body of my brother Sharandeep Singh is attached. After a few days, I received the certified copy of the postmortem report of my brother Sharandeep Singh, in which the doctor has mentioned that neck bones of my brother Sharandeep Singh were broken and there was a lot of blood and other substances accumulated in his body and head. Photocopy of the postmortem report is attached. Then later I saw the photo of my brother's body and after looking at the photo, I saw that my brother's feet were bare at that time. Then I got suspicious and I thought that whenever a person goes somewhere, there must be some shoes or slippers on his feet, no one ever goes barefoot. When I saw my brother's body, he was barefoot and there were no shoes or slippers on his feet, nor was there any shoe lying nearby. On which my suspicion turned into certainty, I am completely convinced that my brother Sharandeep Singh did not die KUSUM

CRM-M-33597-2026 -5- due to drug abuse, but rather Gurjit Singh, a resident of Devidaspura, District Amritsar, in a planned conspiracy with some other unknown persons, killed him with the intention of destroying Sharandeep Singh's licensed revolver, mobile phone and cash, and with the intention of deliberately misleading him, a bottle of narcotics, a syringe and a needle were thrown near his body so that no one would have any doubt that someone had killed him deliberately. Gurjit Singh On 18.12.2020, written applications have been given to the Incharge Police post Town, Police Station Jandiala Guru and a few days later to the SHO Jandiala Guru to take legal action against the above mentioned Gurjit Singh, but no action has been taken by them yet. I request you to arrest the above mentioned Gurjit Singh and take appropriate legal action against him. Your kindness will be greatly appreciated. Applicant SD/-Vattandeep Singh.”

3. The learned Senior counsel for the petitioner contends that Gurbhej Singh @ Bheja, Sher Singh @ Shamsher Singh @ Shera and Gurjeet Singh @ Vailey have been granted the concession of bail by this Court vide orders dated 13.09.2022, 18.07.2023 and 28.02.2024 respectively. The case of the petitioner is on a similar footing. As he is in custody since 29.04.2021 but only 08 of the 23 prosecution witnesses have been examined so far, the trial of the present case is not likely to be concluded anytime soon and therefore, he is entitled to the concession of bail. KUSUM

CRM-M-33597-2026 -6-

3. The learned State counsel, on the other hand, has filed a reply dated 09.09.2026 by way of an affidavit of Baljit Singh, PPS, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Sub Division Jandiala, Amritsar (Rural), which is taken on record. While referring to the said reply, he contends that initially, Gurjit Singh was apprehended and disclosed the names of Gurbhej Singh @ Bheja, Gurpreet Singh @ Gopi (petitioner) and Sher Singh @ Shamsher Singh @ Shera. Thereafter, all the accused made their individual confessions that they had committed the murder of Sharandeep Singh by giving him an injection of intoxicating tablets and thereafter strangulating him. The nature of the allegations levelled against the petitioner and his co-accused does not entitle him to the concession of bail. He, however, concedes that the petitioner is in custody since 29.04.2021, that only 08 of the 23 prosecution witnesses have been examined so far, and that all the co-accused, namely Gurbhej Singh @ Bheja, Sher Singh @ Shamsher Singh @ Shera and Gurjeet Singh @ Vailey, have been granted the concession of bail, vide orders dated 13.09.2022, 18.07.2023 and 28.02.2024 respectively.

4. I have heard the learned counsel for the parties.

5. The veracity of the prosecution case against the petitioner and his co-accused shall be adjudicated upon during the course of the Trial. Admittedly, the petitioner is stated to be in custody since 29.04.2021 but only 08 of the 23 prosecution witnesses have been examined so far. Therefore, the Trial of the present case is not likely to be concluded anytime soon. In this situation the further incarceration of the petitioner is not required. KUSUM

CRM-M-33597-2026 -7-

6. Thus without commenting on the merits of the case, the present petition is allowed and petitioner-Gurpreet Singh @ Gopi S/o Jagtar Singh is ordered to be released on bail subject to his furnishing bail bonds and surety bonds to the satisfaction of learned CJM/Duty Magistrate, concerned.

8. The petition stands disposed of. (JASJIT SINGH BEDI) 10.09.2026 JUDGE Kusum Whether speaking/reasoned:- Yes/No Whether reportable:- Yes/No KUSUM