Gurlal Singh vs State Of Punjab

CRM-M-50354-2026 (O&M) -:1:-
IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA
AT CHANDIGARH
( 117 )
CRM-M-50354-2026 (O&M)
Date of Decision: 07.09.2026
GURLAL SINGH
… Petitioner
Versus
STATE OF PUNJAB
... Respondent
-.-
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VIRINDER AGGARWAL
Present:- Mr. Harpreet S. Rakhra, Advocate and
Mr. Gurvinder Kaur Jaura, Advocate
for the petitioner.
Mr. Jasjit Singh Rattu, DAG, Punjab.
-.-
VIRINDER AGGARWAL , J . (Oral)
1. The present is the first petition under Section 482 of the
BNSS, 2023 (corresponding to Section 438 Cr.P.C.), seeking the
extraordinary discretionary relief of anticipatory bail to the petitioner in
FIR No.148 dated 03.06.2026, registered under Sections 308(4), 305(5),
308(7), 127(2), 351(2), 351(3) and 61(2) of the BNS, corresponding to
Sections 387, 380, 383 to 389, 363, 506, 504 and 120-B IPC, at Police
Station City Tarn Taran, District Tarn Taran.
2. The brief facts of the case, as emerging from the FIR, are that
the complainant, Harjinder Singh, an Assistant Lineman with Punjab State
Power Corporation Limited, was allegedly contacted on 27.05.2026 by
Rajwinder Kaur, who represented that her daughter was seriously ill and
required blood. She met the complainant near Sri Darbar Sahib, Tarn
GAURAV SOROT
2026.09.08 10:06
I attest to the accuracy and
integrity of this document

CRM-M-50354-2026 (O&M)
( 2 )
Taran, and allegedly took him to her residence on his motorcycle on the
pretext of introducing him to her daughter. Upon reaching the house, she
allegedly took him into a room, where three unidentified youths entered,
forcibly took his mobile phone and purse, threatened him with a sickle and
allegedly took objectionable photographs of him and Rajwinder Kaur.
2.1. The complainant alleged that the said persons thereafter
threatened to implicate him in a rape case and circulate the photographs on
social media unless he paid 1 lakh. Under fear and coercion, he allegedly
₹
transferred various amounts through Google Pay, obtained further funds
from his acquaintances and also availed a credit-card loan, ultimately
paying an aggregate amount of approximately 72,400/-. The accused ₹
allegedly retained the original registration certificate and documents of his
motorcycle and demanded a further 30,000/- for their return. On ₹
28.05.2026, upon receiving another threatening call demanding the
balance amount, the complainant narrated the incident to his friend Upkar
Singh and thereafter approached the police. During their own inquiry, they
allegedly identified Rajwinder Kaur alias Rajji, Gurlal Singh, Pratap Singh
Bath and Sahil Arora as the persons involved in the alleged extortion and
confinement. The FIR was consequently registered and investigation
commenced.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is
not named in the FIR and no specific overt act is attributed to him therein.
It is contended that the principal allegations are directed against Rajwinder
Kaur, whereas the petitioner is subsequently alleged to be one of the
persons who entered the room where the complainant and Rajwinder Kaur
GAURAV SOROT
2026.09.08 10:06
I attest to the accuracy and
integrity of this document

CRM-M-50354-2026 (O&M)
( 3 )
were present. The petitioner is stated to have threatened the complainant
with a datar; however, the specific allegations regarding snatching of the
mobile phone and purse and taking of the objectionable photographs have
been attributed to the other members of the group. It is further submitted
that no amount is alleged to have been received in the petitioner’s account.
Learned counsel accordingly prays for grant of the concession of
anticipatory bail.
4. Notice of motion.
5. Upon advance notice, Mr. Jasjit Singh Rattu, DAG, accepts
notice on behalf of the State of Punjab and vehemently opposes the prayer
for pre-arrest bail. Learned State counsel submits that, having regard to the
nature, gravity and seriousness of the allegations and the manner in which
the offence is alleged to have been perpetrated, the petitioner does not
deserve the extraordinary discretionary protection of anticipatory bail at
this stage. Dismissal of the present petition is accordingly prayed for.
6. Having considered the rival submissions and upon perusal of
the record, this Court finds that the allegations against the petitioner are of
a serious nature. The prosecution case prima facie projects the petitioner
as a member of a group allegedly engaged in an organised extortion
racket, whereby the complainant was lured into a room, induced to disrobe
and thereafter photographed in a compromising and objectionable
position. The petitioner is specifically alleged to have entered the room
along with the co-accused, participated in the intimidation of the
complainant while armed with a datar, and threatened him with death
unless an amount of 1 lakh was paid, coupled with the threat of falsely ₹
GAURAV SOROT
2026.09.08 10:06
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integrity of this document

CRM-M-50354-2026 (O&M)
( 4 )
implicating him in a rape case and circulating the objectionable
photographs on social media. The prosecution further alleges that,
pursuant to such coercion, an aggregate amount of 72,400/- was ₹
transferred, including amounts arranged through the accounts of the
complainant’s friend Gurbax Singh and cousin Sukhpal Singh.
6.1. The mere fact that the petitioner was not named in the initial
FIR cannot, in the peculiar factual matrix of the present case, by itself
constitute a ground for extending the extraordinary relief of anticipatory
bail, particularly when the complainant had allegedly been confronted by
multiple persons during the occurrence and could not reasonably have
been expected to know their individual identities at that stage. The
subsequent identification of the petitioner and the specific role attributed
to him require effective investigation.
6.2. The allegations also necessitate custodial interrogation for the
purpose of unraveling the complete modus operandi of the alleged racket,
identifying the other persons involved, tracing the flow and destination of
the extorted amount, ascertaining the source and whereabouts of the
objectionable photographs and determining the respective roles of the
petitioner and his co-accused. Grant of pre-arrest protection at this stage
may impede such investigation and frustrate the endeavour of the
investigating agency to unearth the larger conspiracy, if any.
6.3. Having regard to the nature and gravity of the allegations, the
specific role attributed to the petitioner, the alleged extortion of a
substantial amount through threats and compromising photographs, and
the necessity of custodial interrogation for an effective investigation, this
GAURAV SOROT
2026.09.08 10:06
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integrity of this document

CRM-M-50354-2026 (O&M)
( 5 )
Court is not persuaded to exercise its extraordinary jurisdiction in favour
of the petitioner.
6.4. Accordingly, the present petition is dismissed . The
observations made herein are confined to the adjudication of the present
petition and shall not prejudice the petitioner or either side during
investigation or trial.
7. Consequent upon the final adjudication of the principal matter,
all pending miscellaneous, interlocutory and consequential applications, if
any, stand disposed of accordingly. In view of the final determination of
the substantive proceedings, the reliefs sought in such ancillary
applications have been rendered infructuous, and no separate or further
orders are warranted.

( VIRINDER AGGARWAL )
07.09.2026 JUDGE
Gaurav Sorot
Whether reasoned / speaking? Yes / No
Whether reportable? Yes / No
GAURAV SOROT
2026.09.08 10:06
I attest to the accuracy and
integrity of this document