Harsimarpreet Singh Bajwa v. State of Punjab and Anr

o o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHo o 106o o o o o o ooooooCRM-M-49657-2024o o HarsimarpreetoSinghoBajwao o o o o o ....Petitionero V/so StateoofoPunjaboandoanotheroo o o ....Respondentso o Dateoofodecision:10.03.2026o DateoofoUploadingo:o11.03.2026o o CORAM:oo HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSUMEEToGOELo Present:oo Mr.oH.S.oMander,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioner.o o o Mr.oAdhirajoSinghoThind,oAAGoPunjab.oo o o o Mr.oVeeroVikramoSinghoMann,oAdvocateofororespondentoNo.2.o *****o SUMEEToGOEL,oJ.o(Oral)o

1.o o Presento petitiono haso beeno filedo undero Sectiono 528o reado witho Sectiono483(3)oofoBNSS,o2023,oseekingocancellationooforegularobailograntedo too respondento No.2video ordero 17.02.2024o passedo byo learnedo Additionalo Sessionso Judge,o SASo Nagaro (Mohali),ino FIRo No.147o datedo 30.12.2023o registeredoforooffencesopunishableounderoSectionso406,o420ando120-BoofoIPCo atoPoliceoStationoMullanpur,oSASoNagaro(Mohali).o

2.o o TheogravamenoofotheoFIRoinoquestionoreflectsothatotheosameohaso beeno registeredo ono theo basiso ofo ao complainto madeo byo theo complainant― Harsimarpreeto Singho Bajwao (petitionero herein),o whoo iso runningo companyo namelyoSVASoResidency,oagainstorespondentoNo.2onamelyoTalwinderoSingho KahlonoandootheroaccusedopersonsonamelyoDr.oKawanljitoSingh,oAjitoVatas,o CharanjitoSingh,oRameshoKumar,oSurinderoLala,oRanjitoSinghoandoGurmito Singh.oInohisocomplaintomadeotootheopolice,otheocomplainantohasostatedothato hisofirmoisoinvolvedoinosaleoandopurchaseoofopropertyoandowantedotoostartoao o o CRM-M-49657-2024o o o o o o 2o o projecto ino Newo Chandigarh.o Theo accusedo Ajito Vataso alongwitho hiso companionsoassuredotheocomplainantofirmotoogetotheopropertyoandomadeohimo introduceo too othero accusedo Talwindero Singho Kahlono (respondento No.2o herein),o Dr.o Kanwaljito Singh,o Ranjito Singho ando Gurmito Singh.o Ao memorandumoofounderstandingodatedo21.06.2023owasoexecutedobetweenotheo parties,oaccordingotoowhichotheoaccusedopersonsowereotoocollect/provideo52o acresoofolandotootheocomplainantofirm.oTheomemorandumowasonotosignedobyo Dr.o Kanwaljito Singho beingo governmento officialo ando witho ano intentiono too cheatotheocomplainant.oRespondentoNo.2-TalwinderoSinghoKahlonoalongwitho hisocompanionsointroducedotheocomplainantowithoSarpanchoCharanjitoSingho atohisohouseoandotheyoreceivedoRs.21olacsoasotokenomoneyoinowritingoonotheo pretexto ofo dealo ofo 6½o acreso lando ofo Charanjito Singho ando hiso family.o Thereafter,o ono 12.07.2023o Talwindero Singho Kahlono (respondento No.2o herein),o Charanjito Singho sarpanch,o RajpalKaur,o Surindero Lala,o Ramesho Kumar,o Ajito Vataso receivedo Rs.1,05,00,000/ando Dr.o Kanwaljito Singho receivedoRs.85olacsoinocashoono15.07.2023.oSubsequently,orespondentoNo.2-TalwinderoSinghoKahlonoalongwithoothersoassuredotheocomplainantotoogeto theosaleodeedoofotheoland.oTheocomplainantoohadotransferredoRs.39olacsoinotheo accountoofoCharanjitoSinghoandoRs.29olacsoinotheoaccountoofoRajpaloKauro throughoRTGS.oAfterocompletionoofopayment,otheocomplainantodemandedo consento lettero fromo Talwindero Singho Kahlono (respondento No.2o herein),o howeveroheoassuredohimotoogetotheosaleodeedoofo3-4oacreoofoland.oThenoono

18.07.2023o ono theo askingo ofo Talwindero Singho Kahlon,o complainanto paido Rs.1oCroreomoreotooCharanjitoSinghoandoRajpaloKauroandowritingowasoalsoo doneo ino thiso regard,o whicho waso witnessedo byo Talwindero Singho Kahlono (respondento No.2o herein),o Dr.o Kanwaljito Singh,o Ramesho Kumaro ando o o CRM-M-49657-2024o o o o o o 3o o SurinderoLala.oOno21.07.2023otheyoalsooexecutedoanotheromemorandumoando receivedo Rs.10o lacso ando Rs.20o lacso waso transferredo ino theo accounto ofo companyo ofo M/so Solitareo Estateo Developerso througho RTGS.o Despiteo receivingohugeoamountofromotheocomplainantoapplicantoandohisocompanionso haveonotoarrangedoanyolandotootheocomplainantoforoexecutionoofosaleodeedo andocheatedohimoforocroresooforupees.Onotheseosetoofoallegations,otheoinstanto FIRocameotoobeoregisteredoandoinvestigationoensued.oo

3.o o Video ordero datedo 17.02.2024o passedo byo theo concernedo trialo Court,orespondentoNo.2ohasobeenograntedotheoconcessionooforegularobail.ooTheo relevantoofotheosaidoorderoreadsothus:o o "10.oTheoallegationsoandocounteroassertionsomadeobyotheoapplicantoareo matteroofoevidence.oWithoutocommentingofurtheroonomeritsoofotheocase,otheo applicantoisoinocustodyosinceo20.01.2024owhileoco-accusedohaveoalreadyo beeno grantedo anticipatoryo bailo byo theo Hon'bleo Higho Court.o Theo presentationoofochallanoandoconclusionoofotheotrialowillotakeolongotimeoando noousefulopurposeowouldobeoservedobyokeepingotheoaccusedoisoinocustody.o Inoviewoofomyoaboveodiscussion,oapplicantoTalwinderoSinghoisoorderedotoo beoreleasedoonobailosubjectotoohisofurnishingopersonalobondsoinotheosumoofo Rs.50,000/-o witho oneo suretyo ino theo likeo amounto too theo satisfactiono ofo learnedo Illaqao Magistrate/Dutyo Magistrateo subjecto too theo followingo conditions.oooooooo(i)oThatoaccused/applicantoshallonotodirectlyooroindirectlyo makeoanyoinducement,othreatooropromiseotooanyopersonoacquaintedowitho theofactsoofotheocaseosooasotoodissuadeothemofromodisclosingosuchofactsotoo theoCourtoorotooanyopoliceoofficer.o o (ii)o Thato accused/applicanto shallo noto leaveo theo countryo withouto prioro permissionoofotheocourt.oo o (iii)oThatoaccused/applicantoshalloappearoinotheoCourtoonoeachoandoeveryo dateoofohearing.oo o o FileobeoconsignedotootheoRecordoRoom."o

4.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionero (FIR-complainant)o haso iteratedo thato theo regularo bailo grantedo too respondento No.2o deserveso too beo cancelledoasotheosaidorespondentohasogrosslyomisusedotheoconcessionoofobailo 2026.03.11 17:42 grantedotoohim.oLearnedocounselohasofurtherocontendedothatotheoorderopassedo o o CRM-M-49657-2024o o o o o o 4o o byo theo learnedo Additionalo Sessionso Judgeo iso contraryo too theo factso ando circumstancesoofotheopresentocaseoandosuffersofromopatentoillegality.oItoiso submittedo thato respondento No.2o iso theo maino accusedo ando theo principalo architecto ofo theo allegedo fraud,o whoo haso cheatedo theo petitionero (FIR-complainant)o too theo tuneo ofo approximatelyo Rs.4,09,00,000/-.o Learnedo counseloappearingoforotheopetitionerohasofurtheroarguedothatorespondentoNo.2o hasobeenograntedotheoconcessionooforegularobailobyotheoconcernedotrialoCourto primarilyoonotheopremiseothatocertainoco-accusedooforespondentoNo.2ohado earlierobeenograntedotheoconcessionoofoanticipatoryobailobyothisoCourt.oItoiso contendedothatotheosaidocircumstanceohasobeenoerroneouslyoreliedouponobyo theo learnedo Courto below,o aso theo caseo ofo respondento No.2o standso ono ao completelyo differento footing,o beingo theo maino accusedo ando theo principalo beneficiaryoofotheoallegedofraudulentotransaction,owhereasotheootheroaccusedo personso haveo beeno attributedo ao comparativelyo lessero oro peripheralo role.o Therefore,oparityowithotheoco-accused,oinotheopresentocircumstances,ocouldo notohaveobeenoinvokedobyotheolearnedoCourtobelowowhileograntingobailotoo respondentoNo.2.oLearnedocounseloforotheopetitionerohasofurtherosubmittedo thatotheoinstantoFIRocameotoobeoregisteredoonlyoafteroaodetailedoandothorougho inquiryo conductedo byo theo officeo ofo theo Senioro Superintendento ofo Policeo (Investigation),o SASo Nagar,o Mohali,o whicho primao facieo revealedo theo involvementooforespondentoNo.2oalongowithotheootheroaccusedopersonsoinotheo commissiono ofo theo allegedo offence.o Ito haso beeno furthero contendedo thato respondentoNo.2,oinoconnivanceowithotheootheroaccusedopersons,ohatchedoao well-plannedoconspiracyoandodishonestlyoinducedotheopetitionerotoopartowitho aohugeoamountoexceedingoRs.4ocrores,otherebyocausingograveofinancialolosso tootheopetitioner.oItohasoalsoobeenovehementlyoarguedothatotheomagnitudeoofo o o CRM-M-49657-2024o o o o o o 5o o theo fraud,o theo activeo roleo attributedo too respondento No.2o ando theo seriouso natureoofotheoallegationsoclearlyodisentitleohimofromotheoconcessionoofobail,o andotheolearnedoCourtobelowofailedotooappreciateotheseomaterialoaspectsowhileo grantingobail.oOnotheostrengthoofotheoaforesaidosubmissions,olearnedocounselo hasoprayedothatotheoregularobailograntedotoorespondentoNo.2obeosetoasideoando theosaidorespondentobeotakenointoocustodyoinoaccordanceowitholaw.o

5.o o Learnedo Stateo counselo haso submittedo thato theo concessiono ofo regularo bailo haso beeno grantedo too respondento No.2o byo theo concernedo trialo Courtoafterodueoconsiderationoofotheonatureoandogravityoofotheoallegations,otheo stageoofoinvestigation,oandotheooverallofactsoandocircumstancesoofotheocase.o LearnedoStateocounselohasofurtherocontendedothatotheolearnedotrialoCourtoalsoo tookointooaccountotheofactothatoaocompromiseohadobeenoenteredointoobetweeno theoparties,owhichowasodulyoplacedoonorecordobeforeotheoCourt.oAccordingotoo learnedo Stateo counsel,o noo materialo haso beeno broughto ono recordo byo theo petitionerotoodemonstrateothatorespondentoNo.2ohas,oatoanyopointoofotime,o attemptedotootamperowithotheoprosecutionoevidence,oinfluenceoorointimidateo theo witnesses,o threateno theo complainant,o evadeo theo processo ofo law,o oro otherwiseomisuseotheoconcessionoofobailograntedotoohim.oItohasofurtherobeeno submittedothatotheoparametersogoverningocancellationoofobailoareodistinctoando muchostricterothanothoseoapplicableoforograntoofobail,oandoinotheoabsenceoofo anyo superveningo circumstanceso oro misuseo ofo theo concessiono ofo bail,o theo ordero grantingo bailo oughto noto too beo interferedo with.o Ito haso alsoo beeno submittedothatotheoinvestigationoinotheopresentocaseohasobeenocarriedooutoino accordanceowitholaw,oandotheofinaloreportounderoSectiono193oofotheoBNSSo alreadyostandsopresentedobeforeotheoCourtoofocompetentojurisdiction.oo o o CRM-M-49657-2024o o o o o o 6o o

6.o o LearnedocounseloappearingofororespondentoNo.o2ohasoiteratedo thatotheopresentopetitionoisomisconceivedoandoanoabuseoofotheoprocessoofolaw.oo Learnedocounselohasofurtheroiteratedothatotheoparametersoforograntoofobailoando cancellationoofobailoareoentirelyodistinctoandounlessothereoisocogentomaterialo tooshowomisuseoofoliberty,ointerferenceowithoinvestigation,otamperingowitho evidence,oinfluencingoofowitnessesoorolikelihoodoofoabsconding,otheobailoonceo grantedooughtonototoobeocancelled.oItohasobeenofurtherocontendedothatotheo respondentoNo.2ohasofullyocooperatedowithotheoinvestigationoandothereoisonoo allegation,o mucho lesso anyo material,o too suggesto thato respondento No.2o haso attemptedotoothreatenotheocomplainant,oinfluenceowitnessesoorohamperotheo trialo ino anyo manner.o Furthermore,o theo disputeso betweeno theo partieso areo essentiallyociviloinonatureoarisingooutoofoallegedoco-ownershipoandosaleoofo jointolandoandotheocriminaloproceedingsohaveobeenoinitiatedotoogiveoaocolouro ofocriminalityotoowhatoisoessentiallyoaopropertyodispute.oLearnedocounselohaso emphasizedo thato theo seriousnesso ofo theo allegationso haso alreadyo beeno consideredobyothisoCourtoatotheotimeoofograntoofobailoandotheosameocannotobeo re-agitatedoatotheostageoofocancellation.oMoreover,oonceotheoregularobailohaso beenograntedobyotheoCourt,otheosameowilloonlyobeocancelledouponoshowingo cogento ando overwhelmingo circumstances.o o Thus,o dismissalo ofo theo instanto petitionoisoentreatedofor.oo

7.oo o Io haveo heardo learnedo counselo foro theo partieso ando haveo goneo throughotheoavailableorecordsoofotheocase.o

8.o o Itowouldobeoappositeotooreferohereinotooaojudgmentopassedobyo thiso Courto titledasoDinesho Madano vs.o Stateoofo Haryanaoando anothero ino CRM-M-9029-2023,o decidedo ono 17.05.2024;o relevanto whereofo readso aso under:-o o o CRM-M-49657-2024o o o o o o 7o o "12.o Theoconceptoofo"cancellationoofobail"oisostatutorilyomanifestedoino termsoofoSectiono439o(2)oofo1973oCode.ooThisoconceptowasoembodiedoinotheo earlierostatuteoi.e.o1898oCodeoasowelloalbeitowithodifference(s).ooTheoratioo decidendioofojudgmentoinocaseoofoGurcharanoSingho(supra)omakesoitoclearo that,oinotheo1898oCode,otheobailograntedobyotheoHighoCourtocouldobeocancelledo onlyobyoito&obailograntedobyoaoSessionsoCourtocouldobeocancelledobyosucho Sessionso Courto only.o o However,o Sectiono 439(2)o ofo 1973o Codeo haso vestedo powerotoocancelobailowhichohasobeenograntedo"underothisochapter"ouponobotho theoHighoCourtoasoalsootheoSessionsoCourt.ooTheowordso"underothisoChapter"o relatesotooChapteroXXXIIIoofoCr.P.C.oofo1973o&ohenceotheounequivocaloresulto thereofo iso thato theo Higho Courto aso alsoo theo Sessionso Courto haveo requisiteo powerso too cancelo "anyo bail"o grantedo byo "anyo Court"o byo wayo ofo powerso vestedo undero thiso Chapter.o o Ino othero words;o theo Higho Courto iso wello empoweredotoocanceloaobailograntedobyoitselfoorobyoaoSessionsoCourtoorobyotheo CourtoofoaoMagistrateowhileotheoSessionsoCourtoisoempoweredotoocanceloaobailo grantedobyoHighoCourtoorobyoitselfoorobyoaoMagistrate.ooHowever,oaoSessionso Courto cano cancelo bailo grantedo byo Higho Courto onlyo ono accounto ofo supervening/newocircumstancesooroonoaccountoofomisconductoofosuchoaccusedo oroonoaccountoofoviolationoofoanyocondition(s)oimposedobyotheoHighoCourto whileograntingobail.ooTheoMagistrateocan,oofocourse,ocancelobailograntedobyo himobutoheocannotocanceloaobailograntedobyoHighoCourtooroSessionsoCourto excepto wheno sucho accusedo haso violated/contravenedo anyo condition(s)o imposedouponobyosuchoHighoCourtooroSessionsoCourtowhileograntingobailotoo suchoaccused.ooThisoposition,oisoindubitable,oasoaoMagistrateohasobeenovestedo withopowersoforocancellationoofobailoonlyoinotermsoofoSectiono437(5)oofo1973o CodeowhereasotheoHighoCourtoandoSessionsoCourtohaveobeenovestedowitho powersounderoSectiono439oofoCr.P.C.,oofo1973otoocancelo"anyobailograntedo underoChapteroXXXIIIoofo1973oCode".o

12.1o Sectiono439(2)oofoCr.P.C.,o1973odealsowitho"anyopersonowhoohaso beenoreleasedoonobailounderothisoChapter"oi.e.oChapteroXXXIIIoofo1973oCode,o whicho engirthso ino itself,o Sectiono 438o ofo theo Codeo (provisiono envisagingo anticipatoryo bail/pre-arresto bail)o aso well.o Henceo sucho powero operateso ino realmoofoallokindsoofobails,owhetheroregularobailooroanticipatoryobail.ooErgo,o thereoisonooconceptualodifferenceobetweenocancellationooforegularobailoando cancellationo ofo anticipatoryo bailo excepto thato ao Magistrateo willo noto haveo statutoryopowerotoocanceloanoanticipatoryobailograntedobyoHighoCourtooro SessionsoCourt.oo

12.2.o Atothisojuncture,oitowouldobeoprofitableotooconsideroanoissueoofteno springingoupobeforeoCourts.ooPetition(s)olabelledoasoplea(s)oforo"cancellationo ofobail"oareofiledoinoCourt(s),omoreooftenothanonot,owhetherosuchoapplicantoiso 2026.03.11 17:42 actuallyoseekingo"cancellationoofobail"oonoaccountoofotheoaccusedomisusingo o o CRM-M-49657-2024o o o o o o 8o o theograntoofobailooroonoaccountoofoanyosuperveningodevelopmentsodisentitlingo suchoaccusedotooremainoonobailoORowhereotheopleaoraisedoisothat,otheobailo oughtonototoohaveobeenograntedoatoallovideotheoimpugnedoorder,oinotheofactualo conspectuso ofo sucho case.o Theo 1973o Codeo neithero stipulateso theo wordso "cancellationoofobail"onoro"setting-asideoofoaobailoorder"obutoonlyostipulateso theo wordso "anyo persono whoo haso beeno releasedo ono bailo beo arrestedo ando committedotoocustody".ooThereoisonoogainsayingothatothereoisoaofoundationalo differenceo betweeno "cancellationo ofo bail"o ando "setting-asideo ofo ao bailo order";oaodifferenceowhich,obyowayoofosimile,ocanobeosaidotoobeoasostarkoaso betweenochalkoandocheese.ooTheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinocasesoofoRanjito Singho(supra)andoNeeruoYadavo(supra)ohasoincontestablyoarticulatedothato "cancellationo ofo bail"iso soughto foro ono accounto ofo superveningo circumstances/subsequentodevelopments/misconductoofoaccusedoetc.owhereaso "setting-asideoofoaobailoorder"oisosoughtoforobyolayingochallengeotootheosaido bailoorderoonogroundoofoitobeingoperverseoorobasedoonoirrelevantomaterial(s).o Theoparametersoforoconsiderationoofotheotwooare,oaccordingly,odifferentoando contrastive.ooo

13.o Theonextoaspectothatocravesoattentionoisoasotoowhatoareotheofactorso relevantoforoconsideringoofoaopleaoforo"cancellationoofobail"ooro"setting-asideo ofoaobailoorder."Atotheoveryooutset;oitodeservesotoobeonotedothat,oitoisotooofaro wello settledo ao principleotoo beo ratiocinatedo upon,o thato consideration(s)o foro granto ofo bailo vis.-a-vis.o cancellation/setting-asideo thereofo areo entirelyo different.oo

14.o Inoaopleaoseekingo"cancellationoofobail";osuchoapplicantooughtotoo show,o primarily,o subsequento superveningo circumstanceso sucho aso accusedo havingo endeavoredo too influence/intimidateo witness(s)o oro accusedo havingo violatedobailocondition(s)ooroaccusedohavingocommittedoanotherooffence(s)ooro accusedohavingosecuredobailobyomisrepresenting/concealingomaterialofact(s)o orobailohavingobeenograntedoinoignorance/violationoofostatutoryoprovisionso ando factorso ofo akino nature.o Theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino theo caseo ofo Himanshuo Sharmao (supra)o haso delineatedo theo natureo ando kindo ofo sucho factorsoasohaveobeenostatedobyothisoCourtohereinabove.oo

14.1.o Further,otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseoofoSanjayoGandhio (supra)ohasoenouncedoregardingotheonatureoandodegreeoofoburdenouponotheo applicanto(seekingocancellationoofobail).oTheopleaoofosuchoanoapplicantohasotoo beotestedoonotheoanviloofopreponderanceoofoprobabilities&osuchoanoapplicanto isonotorequiredotooprove,obeyondoreasonableodoubt,otheofactsopleadedobyohimo inosupportoofosuchoaoplea.o

15.o Ino ao pleao seekingo "setting-asideo ofo ao bailo order";o theo factorso requiredo too beo consideredo areo aso too whethero bailo haso beeno grantedo ono 2026.03.11 17:42 relevantoconsideration(s);ogroundsorequiredotoobeoevaluatedoforograntoofobailo o o CRM-M-49657-2024o o o o o o 9o o haveobeenodulyofactoredointootheoorderograntingobailoandootherofactorsoofoakino nature.ooTheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseoofoJagjitoSingho(supra)ohaso heldothatotheoHighoCourtooroSessionsoCourtocanoset-asideoanoorderograntingo bailo passedo byo ano inferioro Courto ifo sucho ordero iso basedo ono irrelevanto considerations,oorderograntingobailohasoresultedoinomiscarriageoofojusticeoetc.o ItogoesowithoutosayingothatotheoHighoCourtooroSessionsoCourt;owhileodealingoao pleaoforosetting-asideoaobailoorder;ositsoinoaojurisdiction,owhichoisoakinotoo appellateojurisdictiono&ohenceoitocanolookointootheoveracityoandoproprietyoofo theoordero(grantingobail)ofromoallotheoperspectives.oHowever,oaoCourtowhileo dealingowithosuchoaoplea,ooughtonototoosubstituteoitsoownoopinionowithotheooneo expressedoinotheoimpugnedoorder.oo

16.o Itowouldonotobeopragmaticotooevenoattemptotoolay-downoexhaustiveo parametersoinothisoregardoasoeveryocase,oespeciallyoaocriminalocase,oisosuio generis.o Sucho ao quixotico attempto oughto too beo avoidedo aso noo inexorableo formulaeocanobeolaidodownoinothisoregard.oo

17.o Aso ano epilogueo too aboveo discussion,o theo followingo principleso emerge:o I.o (i)oThereoisoaoconceptualodistinction,obetweeno"cancellationoofobail"&o "setting-asideoofoaobailoorder".ooInoaopleaoseekingo"cancellationoofobail";o theo factorso requiredo too beo consideredo areo akino too superveningo circumstances/eventso oro mis-conducto ofo accusedo whereaso ino ao pleao seeking"setting-asideo ofo ao bailo order";o theo factorso requiredo too beo consideredoareoakinotootheoorderoinoquestionobeingounjustifiedooroillegalooro noto basedo ono relevanto consideration(s).o Ino othero words,o ao pleao seekingo "settingoasideoofoaobailoorder"oisomoreoinotheonatureoofolayingochallengeotooano orderograntingobailobeforeoaosuperioroCourtouponomeritsothereof.o

(ii)o Itowouldobeopragmaticoasoalsoodesirable,oforotheocauseoofoeaseoando clarity,othatoaopleaofiledounderoSectiono439oofoCr.P.C.,o1973oclearlyostatesoaso toowhetherotheopleaoisofor"cancellationoofobail"ooroforo"settingoasideoofoaobailo order."ooroonobothoaccounts.oooo II.ooPleaoseekingocancellationoofoRegularoBail.oo

(i)oo AoHighoCourtohasopowerotoocanceloregularobailograntedobyoitselfooro byoaoSessionsoCourtoorobyoaoMagistrate'soCourt.o

(ii)o AoSessionsoCourtohasoaopowerotoocanceloregularobailograntedobyo HighoCourtoorobyoitselfoorobyoaoMagistrate'soCourt.oHowever,otheoSessionso CourtocanocanceloregularobailograntedobyoHighoCourtoonlyowhereotheoaccusedo hasoviolatedoanyocondition(s)oimposedobyotheoHighoCourto(whileograntingo bail)ooroonoaccountoofosuchoaccusedohavingomisusedolibertyograntedotoohimobyo tryingo too influenceo witness(s)o oro havingo triedo too delayo trialo byo absentingo himselfo oro havingo committedo anothero offence(s)o whileo ono bailo ando othero I attest to the accuracy and factorsoofoakinonature.ooInootherowords,oaoSessionsoCourtocanocancelobailo o o CRM-M-49657-2024o o o o o o 10o o grantedo too ano accusedo byo Higho Courto onlyo ono accounto ofo sucho likeo supervening/subsequentoeventsobutocannotoadjudicateouponoveracityoofotheo HighoCourtoordero(wherebyobailowasograntedotoosuchoaccused.)oo

(iii)o AoMagistrateodoesohaveotheopowerotoocanceloaoregularobailograntedo byohimoinotermsoofoSectiono437(5)oofoCr.P.C.o1973.ooHowever,oaoMagistrateo doesonotohaveotheopowerotoocanceloregularobailograntedobyotheoHighoCourtooro SessionsoCourtoexceptoinoaosituationowhereinotheoaccusedohasoviolatedoanyo condition(s)oimposedouponohimowhenograntedosuchobailobyotheoHighoCourtooro theoSessionsoCourt.oo

(iv)o Ino caseo cancellationo ofo ao regularo bailo grantedo byo theo Sessionso Courtoisosoughtofor;osuchopleaooughtotoobeoordinarilyofiledobeforeotheoSessionso Courtoitself.ooHowever,osinceothereoisoconcurrentojurisdictionoofotheoHigho CourtoasoalsooSessionsoCourtoinotermsoofoSectiono439(2)oofoCr.P.C.o1973,otheo filingoofosuchoaopleaostraightoawayobeforeotheoHighoCourtoisonotoipsoofactoo barred.o o Ato theo sameo time,o ito wouldo beo expediento thato sucho ao pleao (filedo straightoawayobeforeotheoHighoCourt)omustoshowocogentoreason(s)oforonoto approachingotheoSessionsoCourtoinotheofirstoinstance.ooo

(v)oTheofactorsoforoconsiderationoinoaopleaoforocancellationoofoaoregularobailo areowhetherotheoaccusedohasomisusedolibertyograntedotoohimobyotryingotoo influenceo witness(s)o oro haso triedo too delayo trialo oro haso committedo anothero offence(s)owhileoonobail,owhetherotheoaccusedohasofloutedotheocancellationoofo bail,owhetherobailowasoprocuredobyomisrepresentationoorofraudooroconcealingo relevantomaterialoandosimilarofactorsoofoakinonature.ooThereoisonoogainsayingo thatoaboveofactorsoareoonlyoillustrativeoinonatureoasoitoisonotoaxiomaticotoo exhaustivelyoenumerateothem.ooo

(vi)o Whereosuchopleaoraisesoground(s)othatobailohasobeenograntedoono accountoofomisrepresentationoofofactsooroaofraudohavingobeenoplayedoonoCourto whichohasograntedobailooroconcealmentoofomaterial/relevantofacts;oitowouldobeo expedientothatosuchopleaobeofiled,oinotheofirstoinstanceoitself,obeforeotheoCourto whichohadograntedobailoinoquestion.o

(vii)ooTheodegreeoandonatureoofoprooforequiredotoobeoshownobyoanoapplicanto (seekingo cancellationo ofo regularo bail)o iso thato ofo preponderanceo ofo probabilitiesoandonotooneoofobeingobeyondoreasonableodoubt.oo III.oo Pleaoseekingosetting-asideooforegularobailoorder.oo o (i)o Ao pleao seeking"setting-asideo ofo ao bailo order"o haso too beo essentiallyofiledoinotheoCourt,osuperiorotootheooneowhichohasograntedobail.o o (ii)o Inocaseosetting-asideoofoaobailoorderograntedobyotheoMagistrate'so Courtoisosoughtofor,osuchopleaooughtotoobeoordinarilyofiledobeforeotheoSessionso Court.ooHowever,osinceothereoisoconcurrentojurisdictionoofotheoHighoCourtoaso alsooSessionsoCourtoinotermsoofoSectiono439(2)oofoCr.P.C.o1973,otheofilingoofo 2026.03.11 17:42 suchoaopleaostraightoawayobeforeotheoHighoCourtoisonotoipsoofactoobarred.ooAto o o CRM-M-49657-2024o o o o o o 11o o theosameotime,oitowouldobeoexpedientothatosuchoaopleao(filedostraightoawayo beforeotheoHighoCourt)omustoshowocogentoreason(s)oforonotoapproachingotheo SessionsoCourtoinotheofirstoinstance.oo o (iii)o Forosetting-asideoaobailoorderopassedobyoaoSessionsoCourt;osucho plea,obutoof-course,owillohaveotoobeofiledobeforeotheoHighoCourt.oo IV.oo Pleaoseekingocancellationoofoanticipatoryobail/pre-arrestoordero

(i)lo AoHighoCourtohasopowerotoocanceloanoanticipatoryobailograntedobyo itoorobyoaoSessionsoCourt.oo

(ii)lo AoSessionsoCourtohasopowerotoocanceloanoanticipatoryobailograntedo byoHighoCourtooroearlierograntedobyoit.oHowever,otheoSessionsoCourtocano canceloanticipatoryobailograntedobyoHighoCourtoonlyowhereotheoaccusedohaso violatedoanyocondition(s)oimposedobyotheoHighoCourto(whileograntingosucho bail)ooroonoaccountoofosuchoaccusedohavingomisusedolibertyograntedotoohimobyo tryingo too influenceo witness(s)o oro havingo triedo too delayo trialo byo absentingo himselfo oro havingo committedo anothero offence(s)o whileo ono bailo ando othero factorso ofo akino nature.o o Ino othero words,o ao Sessionso Courto cano cancelo anticipatoryobailograntedotooanoaccusedobyoHighoCourtoonlyoonoaccountoofo sucho likeso supervening/subsequento eventso buto cannoto adjudicateo upono veracityoofotheoHighoCourtoordero(wherebyosuchobailowasograntedotoosucho accused.)o

(iii)l InocaseocancellationoofoanoanticipatoryobailograntedobyoSessionso Courtoisosoughtofor;osuchopleaooughtotoobeofiledoordinarilyobeforeoSessionso Courtoitself.ooHowever,osinceothereoisoconcurrentojurisdictionoofotheoHigho CourtoasoalsooSessionsoCourtoinotermsoofoSectiono439(2)oofoCr.P.C.oofo1973,o theofilingoofosuchoaopleaostraightoawayobeforeotheoHighoCourtoisonotobarred.oo Atotheosameotime,oitowouldobeoexpedientothatosuchoaopleao(straightoawayofiledo beforeo Higho Court)o musto showo cogento reasonso foro noto approachingo theo SessionsoCourtoinofirstoinstance.oo

(iv)l Theo factorso foro considerationo ino ao pleao foro cancellationo ofo ano anticipatoryobailoareowhetherotheoaccusedohasomisusedolibertyograntedotoohimo byotryingotooinfluenceowitness(s)oorohasotriedotoodelayotrialoorohasocommittedo anothero offence(s)o whileo ono bail,o whethero accusedo haso floutedo theo cancellationo ofo bail,o whethero bailo waso procuredo byo misrepresentationo oro fraudooroconcealingorelevantomaterial,oandosimilarofactorsoofoakinonature.oo Thereoisonoogainsayingothatoaboveofactorsoareoonlyoillustrativeoinonatureoasoito isonotoaxiomaticotooexhaustivelyoenumerateothem.ooo

(v)lo Whereosuchopleaoraisesoground(s)othatobailohasobeenograntedoono accountoofomisrepresentationoofofactsooroaofraudohavingobeenoplayedoonoCourto whichohasograntedobailooroconcealmentoofomaterial/relevantofacts;oitowouldobeo expedientothatosuchopleaobeofiled,oinotheofirstoinstanceoitself,obeforeotheoCourto 2026.03.11 17:42 whichohadograntedobailoinoquestion.o o o CRM-M-49657-2024o o o o o o 12o o

(vi)l Theo degreeo ando natureo ofo proofo requiredo too beo showno byo ano applicanto (seekingo cancellationo ofo ano anticipatoryo bail)o iso thato ofo preponderanceo ofo probabilitieso ando noto oneo ofo beingo beyondo reasonableo doubt.o V.ooPleaoseekingosettingoasideoofoanoanticipatoryobail/pre-arrestobailoordero

(i)lo Aopleaoseekingosettingoasideoofoanoanticipatoryobail/pre-arrestobailo orderobyoaoSessionsoCourtohasotoobeoessentiallyofiledobeforeoHighoCourt.oo

(ii)lo Theofactor,orequiredotoobeoconsideredoinoaopleaoseekingosettingo asideoofoanoanticipatory/pre-arrestobailoorder;oisoasotoowhetherotheoimpugnedo ordero(grantingoanticipatoryobail/pre-arrestobail)ohasoobjectivelyodealtowitho natureoandogravityoofoallegationsoagainstoaccused,oroleoofoaccusedoinotheo crime(s)o alleged,o needo foro custodialo interrogation,o likelihoodo ofo accusedo influencingotheoinvestigation/witnesses,olikelihoodoofotheoaccusedoabscondingo fromoprocessoofojusticeoetc.oo VI.oo o WhereoaopleaomadeounderoSectiono439(2)oofoCr.P.C.o1973o raisesogroundsoregardingo"cancellationoofobail"oasoalsooforo"settingoasideoofo bailoorder",osuchopleaohasotoobeoessentiallyomadeobeforeotheosuperioroCourt.oooo o

9.o o Theofactualomatrix,oasoemergingofromotheorecord,oisothatotheoFIRo inoquestionohasobeenoregisteredoatotheoinstanceoofotheopetitioner,owhooclaimso too beo runningo ao residency/realo estateo firm.o Theo petitionero firmo (FIR-complainant)ointendedotoostartoaorealoestateoprojectoinoNewoChandigarh.oItoiso allegedothatoaccusedoAjitoVatas,oalongowithohisocompanions,oapproachedotheo complainantoandoassuredohimothatotheyowouldoarrangeosuitableolandoforotheo saidoproject.oInothisoregard,otheocomplainantowasointroducedotooTalwindero SinghoKahlono(respondentoNo.2oherein),oDr.oKanwaljitoSingh,oRanjitoSingho ando Gurmito Singh.o Ito haso beeno allegedo thato ao Memorandumo ofo Understandingodatedo21.06.2023owasoexecutedobetweenotheoparties,owherebyo theoaccusedopersonsoundertookotooarrange/collectoapproximatelyo52oacresoofo lando foro theo complainanto firm.o However,o theo saido Memorandumo ofo UnderstandingowasoallegedlyonotosignedobyoDr.oKanwaljitoSingh,owhooiso statedotoobeoaogovernmentoofficial,oallegedlyowithoanointentionotooconcealohiso NAVEEN NAGPAL involvementoandotoofacilitateotheoallegedofraudulentotransaction.oItoisofurthero o o CRM-M-49657-2024o o o o o o 13o o allegedo thato respondento No.2o Talwindero Singho Kahlon,o alongo witho hiso associates,ointroducedotheocomplainantotoooneoCharanjitoSingh,oSarpanch,oato hiso residence,o whereupono ano amounto ofo Rs.21,00,000/-o waso allegedlyo receivedoasotokenomoney,owithorespectotooaoproposedotransactionoconcerningo 6½oacresoofolandobelongingotooCharanjitoSinghoandohisofamilyomembers.o Thereafter,o ono 12.07.2023,o ito iso allegedo thato Talwindero Singho Kahlono (respondento No.2o herein),o Charanjito Singho (Sarpanch),o Rajpalo Kaur,o Surindero Lala,o Ramesho Kumaro ando Ajito Vataso collectivelyo receivedo ano amounto ofo Rs.1,05,00,000/-o fromo theo complainant.o Ito haso furthero beeno allegedo thato Dr.o Kanwaljito Singho receivedo ano additionalo amounto ofo Rs.85,00,000/-o ino casho ono 15.07.2023.o Subsequently,o respondento No.2o TalwinderoSinghoKahlon,oalongowithotheootheroaccusedopersons,ocontinuedotoo assureo theo complainanto thato theo saleo deedo ofo theo lando wouldo shortlyo beo executedo ino hiso favour.o Ino furtheranceo ofo theo saido assurances,o theo complainanto transferredo Rs.39,00,000/-o too theo banko accounto ofo Charanjito Singho ando Rs.29,00,000/-o too theo accounto ofo Rajpalo Kauro througho RTGSo transactions.oItoisofurtheroallegedothatoafteromakingotheoaforesaidopayments,o theocomplainantodemandedoaoconsentoletterofromorespondentoNo.2oTalwindero SinghoKahlon,ohowever,otheolatterocontinuedotooassureotheocomplainantothato theosaleodeedowithorespectotoo3–4oacresoofolandowouldosoonobeoexecuted.o Thereafter,o ono 18.07.2023,o ono theo askingo ofo Talwindero Singho Kahlono (respondento No.2o herein),o theo complainanto allegedlyo paido ano additionalo amountoofoRs.1,00,00,000/-otooCharanjitoSinghoandoRajpaloKaur,oforowhichoao writteno acknowledgmento waso alsoo executed,o ando theo saido documento waso witnessedo byo Talwindero Singho Kahlono (respondento No.2o herein),o Dr.o KanwaljitoSingh,oRameshoKumaroandoSurinderoLala.oItoisofurtherotheocaseoofo o o CRM-M-49657-2024o o o o o o 14o o theo prosecutiono thato ono 21.07.2023,o anothero memorandum/documento waso executedo betweeno theo parties,o pursuanto too whicho ano amounto ofo Rs.10,00,000/-owasopaidoinocash,owhileoaofurtherosumoofoRs.20,00,000/-owaso transferredothroughoRTGSotootheoaccountoofoM/soSolitaireoEstateoDevelopers.o Despiteoreceivingohugeoamountsoofomoneyofromotheocomplainant,orunningo intooseveralocroresooforupees,otheoaccusedopersonsoallegedlyofailedotooarrangeo theo lando oro executeo theo saleo deedo ino favouro ofo theo complainant,o therebyo cheatingotheocomplainantoandocausingohimosubstantialofinancialoloss.o

9.1.o o Inotheopresentocase,olearnedocounseloforotheopetitionerohasonoto beenoableotoopointooutoanyomaterialoonorecordotoodemonstrateothatorespondento No.2–accused,oafterobeingograntedotheoconcessionoofobail,ohasomisusedotheo saido libertyo byo tamperingo witho theo prosecutiono evidence,o influencingo oro intimidatingowitnesses,oevadingotheoprocessoofolaw,oorootherwiseointerferingo witho theo courseo ofo investigationo oro trial.o Itoisopertinento toonoteo thato itoiso neitherotheostandoofotheoStateonorothatoofotheopetitionerohereinothatorespondento No.2o haso misusedo theo concessiono ofo regularo bailo byo threateningo oro intimidatingotheowitnessesoorobyoattemptingotooinfluenceotheoinvestigationooro theopendingotrial.oItoisowellosettledothatotheoparametersogoverningocancellationo ofobailoareodistinctoandofaromoreostringentothanothoseoapplicableoatotheostageo ofograntoofobail.oCancellationoofobailoisonototoobeoorderedomerelyobecauseotheo complainantoorotheoprosecutionoisodissatisfiedowithotheoorderograntingobail,o butoonlyowhenothereoareosuperveningocircumstancesoindicatingomisuseoofotheo libertyograntedotootheoaccused.oInotheopresentocase,onoomaterialohasobeeno placedoonorecordowhichomayoprimaofacieoestablishothatorespondentoNo.2ohaso influencedo anyo witness,o tamperedo witho theo prosecutiono evidence,o oro otherwiseoobstructedotheocourseoofojusticeoinotheopendingotrial.oInotheoabsenceo o o CRM-M-49657-2024o o o o o o 15o o ofoanyoclear,ocogentoandoconvincingomaterialodemonstratingoviolationoofotheo conditionsoofobailooromisuseoofotheolibertyosoogranted,othisoCourtodoesonoto findo anyo justifiableo groundo too invokeo theo extraordinaryo jurisdictiono foro cancellationoofobail.oMoreover,othereoisonothingoonorecordotoosuggestothato respondentoNo.2ohas,oinoanyomanner,oabusedotheoconcessionoofobailograntedo toohim.oItoisotriteolawothatobailoonceograntedocannotobeocancelledomerelyoono re-appreciationo ofo theo factso ando circumstanceso whicho wereo alreadyo consideredoatotheotimeoofograntoofobail,ounlessothereoisoaoclearocaseoofoabuseo ofolibertyooroviolationoofotheoconditionsoimposedobyotheoCourt.o

11.o o Inotheoabsenceoofoanyocogentomaterialotooshowothatorespondento No.2o haso misusedo theo concessiono ofo regularo bail,o noo caseo iso madeo foro cancellationo ofo regularo bail.o o Theo ordero passedo byo thiso Courto iso ao well-reasonedospeakingoorderoandocannotobeosaidotoobeosufferingofromoviceoofo non-applicationoofojudicialomind.oThisoCourt,okeepingoinoviewotheoentiretyoofo theofactsoandocircumstancesoofotheocase(s)oinohand,odoesonotofindoanyogoodo groundo too holdo thato thiso Court,o whileo passingo theo impugnedo ordero haso oversteppedo itso jurisdictiono oro haso noto exercisedo theo sameo ino righto perspective.ooTherefore,otheopetitionoinohandodeservesorejection.ooo

12.o o Keepingoinoviewotheoentiretyoofotheofactsoandocircumstancesoofo theocaseoinohand,onoogroundoisomadeooutotooset-asideotheoregularobailoearliero grantedotoorespondentoNo.2ovideotheoimpugnedoorder.ooTherefore,otheopetitiono inohandodeservesorejection.oo

13.o o Aso ao sequelo too theo aboveo discussion,o theo presento petition,o seekingocancellationooforegularobailopassedobyothisoCourt,oisodismissed.oo o o CRM-M-49657-2024o o o o o o 16o o

14.o o It,o indubitably,o goeso withouto sayingo thato nothingo saido hereinaboveoshallobeoconstruedoasoanoexpressionoofoopinionoonotheomeritsoofo theocase.oo

15.o o Pendingoapplication(s),oifoany,oshalloalsoostandodisposedooff.ooo o o o o o o o o o oooooo(SUMEEToGOEL)o o o o JUDGEo o Marcho10,o2026o Naveeno o o o o Whetherospeaking/reasoned:o o Yes/Noo o Whetheroreportable:o o Yes/Noo o