Chandan@Chandu and Another v. State of Punjab

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1o o o o o 104o(2ocases)o o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHo o o o o o o 1.o CRM-M-37124-2024o ChandanoaliasoChanduoandoanothero ….Petitionerso versuso StateoofoPunjaboo ….Respondento o o o o o o 2.o CRM-M-43204-2025o VishaloGilloaliasoAaloooo ….Petitionero versuso StateoofoPunjaboo ….Respondento o Dateoofodecision:oMarcho10,o2026o DateoofoUploading:oMarcho11,o2026o o CORAM:o HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSUMEEToGOELoCORAM: HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSUMEEToGOEL o Present:-o Ms.oRenuoArora,oAdvocateoforotheopetitionerso o o (inoCRM-M-37124-2024)o o o (presenceomarkedothroughovideo-conferencing).oo o o o Mr.oJ.S.oThakur,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioneroo o o (inoCRM-M-43204-2025)o o o (presenceomarkedothroughovideo-conferencing).ooo o o o Mr.oAdhirajoSinghoThind,oAAGoPunjab.o o o o Mr.oIvanoSinghoKhosa,oAdvocateoforotheocomplainant.oo o *****o SUMEEToGOEL,oJ.o(ORAL)oo o

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2o o o o o o Byowayoofotheopresentocommonojudgment,othisoCourtoproceedso toodecideoaforesaidotwoopetitionsoinohand,osinceothereoisocommonalityoando congruityoofolegaloissuesotherein,oasoconcededobyotheolearnedorivalocounsel.oo o o Foro theo causeo ofo convenience,o theo factso areo drawno outo fromo CRM-M-37124-2024o titledo aso Chandano aliaso Chanduo ando anothero versusoCRM 37124 202 Chandano aliaso Chanduo ando another versus StateoofoPunjab.oo

2.o o PresentopetitionohasobeenofiledounderoSectiono439oofotheoCodeoofo CriminaloProcedure,o1973o(foroshorto'Cr.oP.C.')oseekingograntooforegularobailo tootheopetitioners,oinocaseobearingoFIRoNo.62odatedo01.04.2024,oregisteredo underoSectionso307,o324,o326,o506,o120-B,o148oando149oofotheoIndianoPenalo Code,o1860o(foroshorto'IPC')o(Sectionso25/o54/o59oofotheoArmsoActoaddedo lateroon),oatoPoliceoStationoSadar,oDistrictoJalandhar.oo

3.o o Theo gravameno ofo allegationso againsto theo petitionerso iso thato complainant,oallegedothatohisosono(RajdeepoSingh)oisoaddictedotoodrugsoandoao fewodaysopriorotootheoincident,oAnthonyoaliasoKandioandohisowifeoGamaohado threatenedohim,ostatingothatosinceoheohadonotopaidotheomoneyoforotheodrugso allegedlyopurchasedofromothem,otheyowouldoeliminateohim.oTheocomplainanto alsoo statedo thato earliero hiso sono hado disputeso witho Anthonyo aliaso Kandi,o MunishoaliasoManni,oVishaloGilloaliasoAalooo(petitioneroherein),oChandano aliasoChanduo(petitioneroherein),oandoDanialoaliasoDanny.oTheocomplainanto allegedo thato dueo too theo saido enmity,o theo above-mentionedo persons,o ino furtheranceoofoaocriminaloconspiracy,oattackedohisosonowithotheointentionotoo

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3o o o o commitohisomurderoand,oafteroinflictingoinjuries,othrewohimoawayobelievingo thatoheohadodied.oHowever,obyotheograceoofotheoAlmighty,ohisosonosurvived.oo

4.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionerso haveo iteratedo thato ao bareo perusaloofotheoFIRoitselfoshowsothatoallegationsoleveledoagainstotheopetitionerso areoconcocted,oimprobableoandodevoidoofoanyomerit.oLearnedocounselohaso furtheroiteratedothatotheopetitionersohaveobeenofalselyoimplicatedobasedoono speculationsoofotheocomplainant.oLearnedocounselohasoarguedothatonoospecifico injuryooroweaponohasobeenoattributedotootheopetitioners.oo

4.1.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionero (ino CRM-M-37124-2024),o aparto fromo aforesaido submissions,o haso arguedo thato theo petitionerso wereo nominatedobyotheopoliceosolelyoonotheospeculationsoandoassumptionsoofotheo complainantoandothatotoootwoodaysoafterotheoincidentoinoquestion,owithouto thereo beingo anyo CCTVo footageo oro anyo eyeo witnesso ando furthero withouto recordingotheostatementoofoinjured/ovictim.oo

4.2.o o Learnedocounseloforotheopetitionero(inoCRM-M-43204-2025),oino additionotooaforesaidosubmissions,ohasoiteratedothatothereoisoanounexplainedo delayoofo01odayoinolodgingotheoFIRoinoquestion.oLearnedocounselohasoarguedo thatotheocaseoinohandoisonotoofoanoeye-witnessoaccountoandotheoprosecutiono caseoisobasedoonlyoonohearsayoevidence.ooLearnedocounselohasoarguedothatonoo specificoroleooroinjuryohasobeenoattributedotootheopetitioner.oo

4.3.o o Learnedo counselo haveo alsoo arguedo thato co-accusedo ofo theo petitioners,onamely,oDanielo@oDainiohasobeenoaccordedoconcessionoofobail,o videoorderodatedo31.07.2025opassedoinoCRM-M-39879-2025.oo

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4.4.o o Learnedocounselohaveoarguedothatonothingoisotoobeorecoveredo fromo theo petitioners.o Learnedo counselo haveo furthero statedo thato aftero completionoofoinvestigation,otheochallanostandsopresentedoono11.06.2024,oando outo ofo totalo 16o prosecutiono witnesses,o 04o haveo beeno examinedo tillo date.o Learnedo counselo haveo furthero arguedo thato theo petitionerso haveo sufferedo incarcerationoforomoreothano02oyears,oand,othus,onoousefulopurposeowouldobeo servedobyokeepingothemobehindobarsofurther.oThus,oregularobailoisoprayedofor.oo

5.o o Perocontra,olearnedoStateocounsel,owhileoraisingosubmissionsoino tandemo witho statuso reporto byo wayo ofo ano affidavito datedo 18.09.2024o ando further,osupplementaryostatusoreportobyowayoofoanoaffidavitodatedo17.12.2024,o whichoareoalreadyoonorecord,ohasoopposedotheograntooforegularobailotootheo petitionerso byo arguingo thato thereo areo grave/seriouso allegationso againsto theo petitioners.oLearnedoStateocounselohasoarguedothatotheopetitionersoalongowitho co-accusedohadoassaultedoRajdeepoSinghoaliasoLallyo(sonoofotheocomplainant)o withotheirorespectiveoweaponsobyostrikingoonohisohead,oandoafterocommissiono ofo offence,o theyo fledo ono theiro motorcycleso alongo witho theiro respectiveo weapons.oo

5.1.o o Further,olearnedoStateocounselohasosubmittedothatoafterograntoofo bailotootheoco-accused,onamelyoDanielo@oDaini,oexamination-in-chiefoofotheo injuredowasorecordedoono17.01.2026oandohisocross-examinationowasodoneoono

17.02.2026.oLearnedoStateocounselohasoarguedothatotheoinjuredohasostoodobyo hisotestimonyoandotheoprosecutionoversion.oo

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5.2.o o LearnedoStateocounselohasoarguedothat,oinocase,otheopetitionerso areograntedoconcessionooforegularobail,othereoisoallolikelihoodothatotheyomayo abscondofromotheoprocessoofojusticeoasoalsoointerfereowithotheoprosecutiono evidence/witnesses.oOnotheostrengthoofotheseosubmissions,odismissaloofotheo petitionsoinohandoisoentreatedofor.oo

5.3.o o Learnedocounseloforotheocomplainantohasoopposedotheograntoofo petitionsoinohandobyoarguingothatothereoareodirect/oseriousoallegationsoagainsto theopetitioners.oLearnedocounselohasoarguedothatotheopetitionersoandotheiroco-accusedo hado giveno seriouso heado injurieso too theo injured,o and,o hence,o theyo oughtonototoobeograntedotheoconcessionooforegularobail.oLearnedocounselohaso arguedo that,o ino case,o theo concessiono ofo regularo bailo iso affordedo too theo petitioners,othereoisoallolikelihoodothatotheyomayoabscondofromotheoprocessoofo justiceoandoalsoointerfere/intimidateotheoprosecutionowitnesses/oevidence.oOno theo strengtho ofo theseo submissions,o dismissalo ofo theo petitionso ino hando iso entreatedofor.oo

6.oo o Io haveo heardo learnedo counselo foro theo rivalo partieso ando haveo perusedotheopaper-book.oo

7.o o Atotheooutset,oitowouldobeopertinentotoomentionohereothatotheobailo pleao ofotheo petitionero –o Vishalo Gillo aliaso Aalooo iso theosecondo attemptotoo secureoregularobail.oAoperusaloofotheoorderodatedo01.08.2025opassedobyotheo co-ordinateoBenchoshowsothatoCRM-M-37124-2024ostandsowithdrawnoquao petitionero–oVishaloGillo@oAaloo.oo

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8.o o Asoperoprosecutionocase,oitoisoborneooutothatotheocomplainant,o namely,o Sukhwindero Singh,o (fathero ofo theo injuredo Rajdeepo Singh),o haso clearlyostatedothatotheoinjuredowasoearlierothreatenedobyooneoAnthonyoaliaso Kandio ando hiso wifeo Gamao foro noto payingo theo moneyo allegedlyo dueo foro narcoticosubstancesopurchasedobyohim.oTheyohadoalsoothreatenedotooeliminateo him.oItohasobeenospecificallyoallegedothatothereafter,oAnthonyoaliasoKandi,o MunishoaliasoManni,oVishaloGilloaliasoAalooo(petitioneroherein),oChandano aliasoChanduo(petitioneroherein)oandoDanialoaliasoDanny,oinofurtheranceoofoao pre-plannedocriminaloconspiracy,oformedoanounlawfuloassemblyoandoattackedo theoinjuredoRajdeepoSinghowithodeadlyoweaponsowithotheoclearointentionotoo commitohisomurder.oAfteroinflictingobrutaloinjuries,otheoaccusedopersonsolefto theoinjuredoatotheospotopresumingohimotoobeodead.oo

8.1.o o Ao perusalo ofo theo Medico-Legalo Reporto datedo 16.10.2024o appendedowithotheosupplementaryostatusoreportobyowayoofoanoaffidavitodatedo

17.12.2024orevealsotheofollowingoinjuriesotootheoinjured:o Sr.o Injurieso Markedo InjuryoSr.o Injuries Marked Injuryo No.o Numbero 1o Incisedo woundo measureo approxo 6cmx2cmo OVERo THEo LEFTo Yeso 1o FRONTALo REGIONo OFo SKULLo BONEo DEEPo FRESHo BLEEDINGo PRESENTo FROMo THEo WOUNDo ADVISEo NEUROSURGERYoOPINIONoCToSCANoHEADo 2o INCISEDoWOUNDoMEASUREoAPPROXo5oCMX3CMoONoLEFTo Yeso 2o TEMPORALo REGIONo OFo SKULLo JUSTo ABOVEo THEo LEFTo PINNAoBONEoDEEPoFRESHoBLEEDINGoPRESENToFROMoTHEo WOUNDoo ADVISEoCToSCANoHEADoNEUROSURGERYoOPINIONo 3o INCISEDoWOUNDoMEASUREoAPPROXo7CMX3CMoONoLEFTo Yeso 3o PARIETALo REGIONo OFo SKULLo JUSTo ABOVEo THEo LEFTo PINNAoBONEoDEEPoFRESHoBLEEDINGoPRESENToFROMoTHEo WOUNDo ADVISEoCToSCANoHEADoNEUROSURGERYoOPINIONoo 4o INCISEDo WOUNDo MEASUREo APPROXo 5CMo ONERo THEo Yeso 4o UPPERoPINNAoOFoLEFToEARoWHICHoWASoONLYoATTACEDo TOoSKULLoAToONEoSIDEoFRESHoBLEEDINGoPRESENToFROMo THEoWOUNDo

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7o o o o o NatureoofoInjurieso(Simple,oGrievous,oDangerousooropendingoforoobservation)o 1,o2,o3,oOBSERVATIONo4oGRIEVOUSo ProbableoDurationoofoInjuryo 2HRSo KindoofoWeaponoUsedo(Sharp,oBlunt,oFirearm,oFire,oPositionoetc.)o SHARPoFORoALLo o

8.2.o o Aforesaidomedicalorecordoclearlyoestablishesotheogravityoofotheo offence,oasotheoinjuredosustainedomultipleoinjuriesoonohisohead.oDueotootheo saido brutalo assault,o theo conditiono ofo theo injuredo becameo criticalo ando heo remainedo admittedo ino theo hospitalo foro nearlyo oneo month.o Theo mannero ino whicho theo accusedo persons,o includingo theo presento petitioners,o jointlyo participatedo ino theo occurrenceo ando inflictedo grievouso ando life-threateningo injurieso clearlyo showso theiro commono objecto ando activeo roleo ino theo commissionoofotheooffence.oo

8.3.o o Further,oitohasobeenostatedobyotheoStateothatoafterotheograntoofobailo tootheoco-accused,onamelyoDanielo@oDaini,otheoexamination-in-chiefoofotheo injuredowitnessowasorecordedoono17.01.2026,oandohisocross-examinationowaso conductedoono17.02.2026.oDuringotheocourseoofohisotestimony,otheoinjuredo witnessofullyosupportedotheoprosecutionocaseoandoremainedoconsistentowitho theoversionoputoforthoinotheoFIR.oDespiteolengthyocross-examination,onothingo materialocouldobeoelicitedotoodiscreditohisotestimony,oandoheofirmlyostoodobyo hisoearlierostatementoandotheoprosecutionoversion.oo

9.o o Theograntoofobailofallsowithinotheodiscretionaryodomainoofotheo court;o however,o sucho discretiono musto beo exercisedo ino ao judiciouso ando principledomanner,oensuringoitoalignsowithoestablishedolegaloprecedentsoando theointerestsoofojustice.oWhileoconsideringoaobailoapplication,otheoCourtomusto

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8o o o o evaluateofactorsosuchoasotheoexistenceoofoprimaofacieoevidenceoimplicatingotheo accused,otheonatureoandogravityoofotheoallegedooffence,oandotheoseverityoofotheo likelyosentenceouponoconviction.oTheoCourtomustoalsooassessotheolikelihoodo ofotheoaccusedoabscondingooroevadingotheodueoprocessoofolaw,otheoprobabilityo ofo theo offenceo beingo repeatedo ando anyo reasonableo apprehensiono ofo theo accusedotamperingowithoevidenceooroinfluencingowitnesses.oAdditionally,otheo character,o antecedents,o financialo means,o societalo standingo ando overallo conducto ofo theo accusedo playo ao crucialo role.o Furthermore,o theo Courto musto weighotheopotentialodangeroofobailounderminingotheoadministrationoofojusticeo orothwartingoitsodueocourse.oAoprofitableoreferenceoinothisoregardoisomadeotoo theojudgmentopassedobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtotitledoasoStateothrougho C.B.I.ovs.oAmaramanioTripathi,o2005oAIRoSupremeoCourto3490,o relevanto whereoforeadsoasounder:o "14.oo Itoisowellosettledothatotheomattersotoobeoconsideredoinoano applicationoforobailoareo(i)owhetherothereoisoanyoprimaofacieoororeasonableo groundotoobelieveothatotheoaccusedohadocommittedotheooffence;o(ii)onatureo andogravityoofotheocharge;o(iii)oseverityoofotheopunishmentoinotheoeventoofo conviction;o(iv)odangeroofoaccusedoabscondingoorofleeingoiforeleasedoono bail;o (v)o character,o behaviour,o means,o positiono ando standingo ofo theo accused;(vi)o likelihoodo ofo theo offenceo beingo repeated;o (vii)o reasonableo apprehensionoofotheowitnessesobeingotamperedowith;oando(viii)odanger,oofo course,oofojusticeobeingothwartedobyograntoofobailo(seeoPrahladoSinghoBhatio v.oNCT,oDelhi,o2001(2)oRCRo(Criminal)o377o(SC)o:2001(4)oSCCo280oando Gurcharano Singho v.o Stateo (Delhio Administration),o AIRo 1978o Supremeo Courto179).oWhileoaovagueoallegationothatoaccusedomayotamperowithotheoCourto179 evidenceoorowitnessesomayonotobeoaogroundotoorefuseobail,oifotheoaccusedoiso ofo sucho charactero thato hiso mereo presenceo ato largeo wouldo intimidateo theo witnessesooroifothereoisomaterialotooshowothatoheowillouseohisolibertyotoo subvertojusticeoorotamperowithotheoevidence,othenobailowillobeorefused.oWeo mayoalsooreferotootheofollowingoprinciplesorelatingotoograntoororefusaloofo bailo statedo ino Kalyano Chandrao Sarkaro v.o Rajesho Ranjan,o 2004(2)o RCRo (Criminal)o254o(SC)o:2004(7)oSCCo528o:"Theolawoinoregardotoograntooro refusaloofobailoisoveryowellosettled.oTheocourtograntingobailoshouldoexerciseo itsodiscretionoinoaojudiciousomanneroandonotoasoaomatteroofocourse.oThougho ato theo stageo ofo grantingo bailo ao detailedo examinationo ofo evidenceo ando elaborateodocumentationoofotheomeritoofotheocaseoneedonotobeoundertaken,o

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9o o o o thereo iso ao needo too indicateo ino sucho orderso reasonso foro primao facieo concludingowhyobailowasobeingograntedoparticularlyowhereotheoaccusedoiso chargedoofohavingocommittedoaoseriousooffence.oAnyoorderodevoidoofosucho reasonsowouldosufferofromonon-applicationoofomind.oItoisoalsoonecessaryoforo theo courto grantingo bailo too considero amongo othero circumstances,o theo followingofactorsoalsoobeforeograntingobail;otheyoare:oo a.oTheonatureoofoaccusationoandotheoseverityoofopunishmentoinocaseo ofoconvictionoandotheonatureoofosupportingoevidence.o b.o Reasonableo apprehensiono ofo tamperingo witho theo witnesso oro apprehensionoofothreatotootheocomplainant.o c.oPrimaofacieosatisfactionoofotheocourtoinosupportoofotheocharge.o (seeoRamoGovindUpadhyayov.oSudarshanoSingh,o2002(2)oRCRo(Criminal)o 250o (SC)o :o 2002(3)o SCCo 598o andPurano v.o Ramo Bilas,o 2001(2)o RCRo (Criminal)o801o(SC)o:o2001(6)oSCCo338."o o ThisoCourtoalsooinospecificotermsoheldothato:o "theoconditionolaidodownounderosectiono437(1)(i)oisosineoquaonono forograntingobailoevenounderosectiono439oofotheoCode.oInotheoimpugnedo orderoitoisonoticedothatotheoHighoCourtohasogivenotheoperiodoofoincarcerationo alreadyoundergoneobyotheoaccusedoandotheounlikelihoodoofotrialoconcludingo inotheonearofutureoasogroundsosufficientotooenlargeotheoaccusedoonobail,oino spiteoofotheofactothatotheoaccusedostandsochargedoofooffencesopunishableo witho lifeo imprisonmento oro eveno deatho penalty.o Ino sucho cases,o ino ouro opinion,otheomereofactothatotheoaccusedohasoundergoneocertainoperiodoofo incarcerationo (threeo yearso ino thiso case)o byo itselfo wouldo noto entitleo theo accusedotoobeingoenlargedoonobail,onorotheofactothatotheotrialoisonotolikelyotoo beoconcludedoinotheonearofutureoeitherobyoitselfoorocoupledowithotheoperiodo ofoincarcerationowouldobeosufficientoforoenlargingotheoappellantoonobailo whenotheogravityoofotheooffenceoallegedoisosevereoandothereoareoallegationso ofotamperingowithotheowitnessesobyotheoaccusedoduringotheoperiodoheowaso onobail."o o

10.o o Theopleaoregardingofalseoimplicationoofotheopetitionersoshallobeo ratiocinatedouponoduringotrial.oAsoperoprosecutionocase,ototalo16oprosecutiono witnesseso haveo beeno citedo ando outoofo which,o 04o areo statedotoo haveo beeno examined,oincludingotheoinjuredodulyosupportingotheoprosecutionoversion.oo

11.o o Theo allegationso leveledo againsto theo petitionerso areo specific,o graveoandowellodefined,owhichoprimaofacieoindicateotheiroactiveoparticipationo inotheocommissionoofotheooffence.oInotheoconsideredoopinionoofothisoCourt,otheo veryomagnitude,obrutalityoandoseriousnessoofotheocrimeoclearlyodisentitleotheo

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10o o o o petitionersotootheodiscretionaryoreliefoofobail.oInotheoconsideredoopinionoofothiso Court,oatothisostage,onooaccentuatingocircumstancesohaveobeenomadeowhicho may,oprimaofacie,oconstituteoaocompellingogroundoforotheograntooforegularobailo tootheopetitioners,oespeciallyoinolightoofotheogravityoofotheoallegations,onatureo ofoassault/oinjuriesoandotheoevidenceoonorecord.oItoalsoodeservesoemphasisothato offencesoofothisonatureostrikeoatotheoveryorootoofopublicoorderoruleoofolawoando societaloconscience.oGrantoofobailoinosuchocasesomayosendoaowrongosignalotoo societyoandoundermineopublicoconfidenceoinotheoadministrationoofocriminalo justice.oFurthermore,othereoexistsoaorealoandotangibleoapprehensionothatoifo enlargedoonobail,otheopetitionersomayoabscondotooevadeotrialooroattemptotoo influence,o threaten,o oro intimidateo prosecutiono witnesseso especiallyo wheno severalo materialo witnesseso areo yeto too beo examinedo ando theo prosecutiono evidenceoisostillotoounfold.oo

12.o o Consideringotheoaforesaidofactsoandocircumstances,otheonatureo andogravityoofotheoallegations,otheospecificoroleoattributedotootheopetitioners,o andotheoseriousoinjuriesosustainedobyotheovictimoonovitalopartsoofohisobody,o thisoCourtofindsonoogroundotooextendotheoconcessionooforegularobailotootheo petitioners.oTheomedicaloevidenceoonorecordoclearlyoreflectsothatotheoinjuredo sufferedo multipleo incisedo woundso ono theo heado causedo byo sharp-edgedo weapons,o whicho renderedo hiso conditiono criticalo ando requiredo prolongedo hospitalization.o Furthermore,o theo injuredo witnesso haso fullyo supportedo theo prosecutionocase,oandoevenoafterothoroughocross-examination,onothingohaso emergedo too discredito hiso testimony.o Ato thiso stage,o wheno theo prosecutiono

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11o o o o evidence,oparticularlyothatoofotheoinjuredowitness,oprimaofacieosubstantiateso theoallegationsoagainstotheopetitioners,ograntingoregularobailomayoadverselyo affectotheofairocourseoofotheotrial.oAccordingly,othisoCourtoisoofotheoconsideredo opinionothatotheopetitionersodoonotodeserveotheoconcessionooforegularobail.o Accordingly,o theo petitionso are,o thus,o devoido ofo meritso ando areo herebyo dismissed.oo

13.o o Anyoobservationsomadeoand/orosubmissionsonotedohereinaboveo shallonotohaveoanyoeffectoonomeritsoofotheocaseoandotheoinvestigatingoagencyo asoalsootheotrialoCourtoshalloproceedofurther,oinoaccordanceowitholaw,owithouto beingoinfluencedowithothisoorder.oo

14.oo o Nothingosaidohereinaboveoshallobeoconstruedoasoanoexpressionoofo opinionoonotheomeritsoofotheocase.oo

15.oo o Pendingoapplication(s),oifoany,oshalloalsoostandodisposedooff.oo o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o ooo o oooooooo(SUMEEToGOEL)o o o o o ooooooJUDGEo Marcho10,o2026oo mahavirooo o o Whetherospeaking/reasoned:o o Yes/Noo o Whetheroreportable:o o o Yes/Noo

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