CRM-M/48264/2026 of JUGNU KUMAR Vs STATE OF PUNJAB on 2 September 2026

232

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

CRM-M No.48264 of 2026 Date of Decision:-02.09.2026

Jugnu Kumar …..Petitioner. Versus State of Punjab .....Respondent.

CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE VIKRAM AGGARWAL ***** Present:- Mr. Himanshu Bansal, Advocate

for the petitioner.

Mr. Jasjit Singh, DAG, Punjab.

VIKRAM AGGARWAL, J. (ORAL)

This is the second petition preferred under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for short, ‘the BNSS’) for the grant of regular bail to the petitioner in case FIR No.65, dated 16.04.2025 registered at Police Station Civil Lines, District Bathinda, under Sections 111 and 304 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for short, ‘the BNS’), the first bail application having been dismissed as not pressed on 02.09.2025 (Annexure P-3).

2. Custody certificate dated 01.09.2026 filed in Court today is taken on record. The Registry is directed to tag the same at an appropriate place on the case file. YAG DUTT

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3. A police party, while on patrol, got a secret information on 16.04.2025 that two persons namely Jugnu Kumar (present petitioner) and Arjan Kumar, armed with deadly weapons and with the intention of committing snatching, had tried to stop a motorcycle rider. As per the information, they were standing with the intention of committing the offence of snatching and that a number of cases already stood registered against them. Accordingly, a raid was conducted and the said Arjan Kumar and the petitioner were arrested. Certain odyssey weapons were recovered from them. The petitioner was found to be involved in four previous cases as well. During investigation, it was also found that a sum of Rs.400/- had previously been snatched by the accused from one Vishal.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner was arrested on 16.04.2025 and is in custody since then. He further submits that co-accused Arjan Kumar @ Arjun has been granted regular bail by this Court vide order dated 22.07.2026 passed in CRM-M No.28817 of 2026 and the case of the petitioner is at par with that of the said co-accused. Learned counsel further submits that final report has been submitted, but evidence of the prosecution has not commenced and, therefore, trial will take a sufficiently long time, no useful purpose would be served by keeping the petitioner in custody any longer.

5. Per contra, learned counsel representing the State has opposed the bail petition.

6. I have considered the submissions made by learned counsel for the parties. YAG DUTT

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7. Concededly, the petitioner is in custody for the last more than 01 year and 04 months, he having been arrested on 16.04.2025. Notably, he was arrested on the basis of a secret information stating that the petitioner and his co-accused were standing with an intention of committing the offence of snatching. No offence had, however, been committed at that point of time. Co-accused Arjan Kumar @ Arjun was granted regular bail by this Court vide order dated 22.07.2026 passed in CRM-M No.28817 of 2026 and the case of the petitioner is at par with that of the said co-accused. Investigation has concluded and final report has been submitted though evidence of the prosecution is yet to commence. The trial will, therefore, take a sufficiently long time to conclude and no useful purpose would be served by keeping the petitioner in custody any longer.

8. In view of the aforementioned facts and circumstances, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, the present petition is allowed. The petitioner is ordered to be released on regular bail on his furnishing bail/surety bonds to the satisfaction of the concerned trial Court/Chief Judicial Magistrate/Duty Magistrate.

(VIKRAM AGGARWAL) September 02, 2026

JUDGE Yag Dutt

Whether speaking/reasoned: Yes/No

Whether Reportable: Yes/No YAG DUTT