Anupam Mehndiratta v. State of HP

IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA Cr.MP(M) No. :

2815

of 2025 Reserved on  :    24.12.2025 Decided on    :    31.12.2025 Anupam Mehndiratta …Applicant Versus State of Himachal Pradesh …Respondent Coram The Hon'ble Mr. Justice Virender Singh, Judge. Whether approved for reporting?1 For the applicant     :  Mr. Atul Jhingan, Advocate. For the respondent : Mr. H.S. Rawat and Mr. Mohinder Zharaick,   Additional   Advocates General   with   Ms.   Avni   Kochhar Mehta,   Deputy   Advocate   General, assisted   by   HC   Narender   Singh, No.38,   Police   Station   East   Shimla, H.P., for the respondent. Mr. Deepak Nayar, Ms. Shruti Nayar and   Ms.   Rameshwari   Sharma, Advocates for the complainant. Virender Singh, Judge Applicant–Anupam   Mehndiratta,   apprehending his arrest,  in case arising out of  FIR No.103 of 2025, dated 01.11.2025, registered, under Sections 420, 465, 1 Whether Reporters of local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? Yes. 468   and   471   of   the   Indian   Penal   Code   (hereinafter referred   to   as   the   IPC'),   with   Police   Station,   East Shimla,   District   Shimla,   H.P.,  has   filed   the   present application,  under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (hereinafter referred to as 'BNSS').

¶2By way of the present application, indulgence of this   Court   has   been   sought  to   direct   the   Police/ Investigating Officer of Police Station East Shimla, District Shimla, H.P., to release him on bail, in the event of his arrest, in the above noted case.

¶3The relief, as claimed, in the application has been sought on the ground that the applicant is innocent and has falsely been implicated, in this case, by the Police, at the instance of his brother, Ravi Shankar Mehndiratta, who is NRI and residing in Australia.

¶4According to the applicant, he is having civil litigation with his brother.  Elaborating his stand, he has pleaded that the present FIR is nothing, but, the counter blast to the said civil litigation.

¶5It is the further case of the applicant that he is permanent resident of the address, as mentioned, in the application and having movable and immovable property in Shimla.  All these facts have been pleaded to show that in case,   any   relief   is   given   to   the   applicant,   he   would   be available for the trial and may not flee from justice.

¶6Apart from this, the applicant, has given certain undertakings, for which, the applicant is ready to abide by, in case, any direction is issued to the I.O./Police, under Section 482 BNSS.

¶7The applicant has also tried his luck by moving similar application before the Court of learned Additional Sessions  Judge  (CBI),  Shimla,  District Shimla, however, his application was dismissed on 29.11.2025. On   the   basis   of   the   above   facts,   Mr.   Atul Jhingan, learned counsel appearing for the applicant, has given certain undertakings, on behalf of the applicant, for which, the applicant is ready to abide by, in case, any direction is issued to the I.O./Police, under Section 482 BNSS   and   prayed   that   the   application     may   kindly   be allowed.

¶9When   put   to   notice,   the   police   has   filed   the status report, on 01.12.2025, disclosing therein, that on

31.10.2025,   complainant   Ravi   Shankar   Mehndiratta, appeared before the police of Police Station East Shimla, disclosing therein the following facts:­ To,   The   SHO   Police   Station   Chotta   Shimla, Shimla East, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh­171002 Date: October 31, 2025 Subject: Complaint for immediate FIR against Anupam Mehndiratta for fraudulent   affidavits   and   property   fraud. Respected   Madam/Sir,   I,   Ravi   Shankar Mehndiratta,   aged   57   years,   S/O   Shri   R.P. Mehndiratta, presently residing at Myra Avenue, Ryde,   Australia,   and   permanent   address   at House No. 304, Ward No. 15, Distt. Fatehgarh Sahib,   Humayunpur,   Sirhind,   Punjab­140406 Contact: +91­8284800745, +61­425298745), do hereby lodge this complaint against my younger brother

Anupam

Mehndiratta

(aged approximately 54 years), residing at House No. 34, Sector­21­A, Chandigarh and Vikas Nagar, Shimla­9, Himachal Pradesh.I am an NRI and the lawful owner of Shop No. 10, S.D.A Shopping Complex,   Vikas   Nagar,   Shimla­9,   Himachal Pradesh which was allotted to me by H.P. Nagar Pradhikaran, Kasumpti, Shimla. The Lease Deed was   executed   on   29­12­1995.   I   possess   all original documents and regularly pay property taxes. My brother Anupam Mehndiratta, who is habitual   of   such   crimes,   has   fraudulently executed   two   affidavits   to   illegally   grab   my property. The first fraudulent affidavit dated 21­ 02­2019 was made in my name falsely claiming I intend to transfer the shop to him and was notarized at  Shimla on 21­02­2019  containing forged   signatures.   The   second   fraudulent affidavit   dated   21­02­2019   was   made   by Anupam   Mehndiratta   himself   falsely   claiming the   ownership   of   the   shop   was   notarized   at Shimla   on   21­02­2019.1   was   NOT   present   in India   during   this   period,   when   both   these affidavits were executed as I was residing in Australia during this entire period. My passport, visa   records,   and   immigration   stamps conclusively prove my absence from India. The accused fraudulently executed these affidavits himself,

forged

my

signatures,

and misrepresented   facts   with   criminal   intent   to dispossess   me   of   my   lawful   property.   The accused   has   committed   serious   offences including   Cheating,   Criminal   Breach   of   Trust, Fabricating False Evidence and other applicable provisions.I   request   you   to   kindly   lodge   an immediate   FIR   against   Anupam   Mehndiratta and conduct investigation Into these fraudulent affidavits.   I   am   ready   to   provide   all   original documents   including   lease   deed,   property   tax receipts, and passport with travel records, and copies   of   fraudulent   affidavits   as   evidence.I have

also

enclosed

a

statutory declaration/affidavit   from   our   mother   (Mrs. Savitri Devi Mehndiratta) who has stated under oath   the   criminal   activities   conducted   by Anupam Mehndiratta. Sd/­ Ravi Shankar.

¶10On   the   basis   of   the   above   facts,   the   police registered   the   case   and   criminal   machinery   swung   into motion.

¶11As per the status report filed on 01.12.2025, the investigation is at the initial stage, as, the requisite correspondences   have   been   made   with   the   Executive Officer   and   Secretary   HIMUDA   to   obtain   the   requisite documents.

¶12Considering   the   said   status   report,   interim protection was granted to the applicant and the matter was adjourned to 08.12.2025.

¶13On   08.12.2025,   the   police   has   filed supplementary status  report, disclosing therein, that on

30.11.2025,   complainant   submitted   the   requisite documents   before   the   police,   which   were   taken   into possession.   As per those documents, on the passport of complainant Ravi Shankar Mehndiratta, stamps of arrival and departure of the complainant, have been found.

¶14In   addition   to   this,   the   complainant   has produced the Air travel tickets. During investigation, the passport was found of the complainant and passport type­ P,   issued   by   Australian   Government   and   on   the   said passport, the date of birth of the applicant was found to be

02.11.1967.

¶15The said passport is valid upto 10.10.2026.  As per   those   documents,   complainant   had   left   India   on

07.01.2019 for Australia and returned back to India on

17.01.2020,   whereas,   on   21.02.2019   and   30.07.2019, forged documents, by putting his forged signatures over the affidavit, were got prepared, with regard to his shop No.10,   SDA   Complex,   Vikasnagar,   Shimla   and   those documents   were   submitted   to   HIMUDA.     During   that period, the applicant was not in India.

¶16It   is   the   further   case   of   the   police   that   on

04.12.2025,   requisite   documents   were   obtained   from HIMUDA Office.  As per those documents on 21.02.2019, three   affidavits,   allegedly   executed   by   the   complainant, were submitted in the department, whereas, the Aadhar number and phone number mentioned in those documents were found to be of applicant Anupam Mehndiratta.  Those documents were allegedly signed by Anupam Mehndiratta and   those   documents   were   attested   by   Surender   Singh Deshta, Advocate and identified by Shri Narender Singh, Advocate.

¶17During   investigation,   it   has   been   found   that complainant got recorded his statement to the police that Anupam  Mehndiratta (applicant), has got prepared false application form and affidavit, for grabbing Shop No.10, in SDA   Shopping   Complex   and   those   documents   were submitted on 21.02.2019 and 30.07.2019 with HIMUDA, as, during that period the complainant was not in India.

¶18During   investigation,   Notary   Public   Shri Surender   Singh   Deshta,   Advocate,   Narender   Singh Advocate and Ms. Versha Gupta, were associated.   They have   also   disclosed   that   the   documents,   which   were allegedly prepared on 21.02.2019 and 30.07.2019, those were   allegedly   got   prepared   by   Anupam   Mehndiratta (applicant).  Even, he has allegedly signed on the Aadhar Card also.

¶19In this case, the complainant has also filed the objections   and   placed   on   record   the   documents.   Those documents were ordered to be taken on record.   As per those documents, there is history of litigation between the complainant and accused, who are not strangers, but real brothers.

¶20Apart   from   the   criminal   litigation,   the complainant has filed under Section 138 NI Act against the applicant before the Court of learned Judicial Magistrate Chandigarh. Not only this, applicant Anupam Mehndiratta has filed the suit for declaration against complainant Ravi Shankar Mehndiratta and others.

¶21In the status report filed on 24.12.2025, similar stand   has   been   taken   by   alleging   that   some   of   the witnesses   are   yet   to   be   inquired   and   specimen signatures/hand   writing   of   the   applicant   is   yet   to   be obtained.

¶22On the basis of the above facts, a prayer has been made to dismiss the application.

¶23At the time of deciding the bail application, this Court is not supposed to dwell into the allegations/counter allegations   to   determine   the   guilt/innocence   of   the applicant.  At this stage, only the prima facie case, as well as, the evidence, so collected, by the prosecution is to be considered.

¶24At   the   time   of   deciding   the   bail   application, seriousness   of   the   allegations   and   availability   of   the applicant for trial are to be seen.   The applicant is not stranger  to the complainant, but, his real brother, who were having civil/criminal litigation.

¶25The   allegations   are   mainly   based   upon   the documentary   evidence,   which   is   admittedly,   in   the possession of the investigating agency. As such, denial of the   relief   to   the   applicant,   is   nothing,   but,   pre­trial punishment, which is prohibited under the law, as, the punishment can only be inflicted, after the conclusion of trial.

¶26The role, allegedly attributed by the applicant, in the commission of alleged crime, will be proved after completion of trial.

¶27Considering   all  these  facts,  the  interim  order dated  01.12.2025, passed by this Court, is hereby made absolute.   Therefore, it is ordered that the applicant be released on bail, in the event of his arrest, in case arising out   of  FIR   No.103   of   2025,   dated   01.11.2025, registered, under Sections 420, 465, 468, and 471 of the   IPC,   with   Police   Station,   East   Shimla,   District Shimla, H.P., on his furnishing personal bond, in the sum of   5 ₹ 0,000/­, with one  surety of  the like amount, to the satisfaction of the Investigating Officer.

¶28This   order,   however,   shall   be   subject   to   the following conditions : a)  That the applicant shall join the investigation of the   case,   as   and   when,   called   for,   by   the Investigating Officer, in accordance with law; b)  That the applicant shall not leave India, without prior permission of the Court; c) That the applicant 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 Investigating Officer or the Court; and d) That the applicant shall regularly attend the trial Court on each and every date of hearing and if prevented by any reason to do so seek exemption from appearance by filing appropriate application.

¶23Any   of   the   observations,   made   hereinabove, shall not be taken as an expression of opinion, on the merits of the case,  as these observations, are confined, only, to the disposal of the present application.

¶24It is made clear that the respondent­State is at liberty to move an appropriate application, in case, any of the bail conditions, is found violated by the applicant. Record be sent back to the quarter concerned.

( Virender Singh ) December 31, 2025 (ps) Judge