P&H HC Grants Bail To 3 Accused In Nestlé Factory President’s Murder, Citing Months In Custody And A Lengthy Trial Ahead

The three petitioners sought regular bail under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, in FIR No. 04 dated 3 January 2026, registered at Police Station Dharamkot, District Moga, for offences under Sections 103, 61(2) and 324(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the Arms Act.

The FIR alleged that armed assailants shot and killed Umarsher Singh; the petitioners were not named in the FIR, and their alleged connections to the crime arose from matters including a car recovery, an alleged extrajudicial confession, and disclosure or other investigative material.

At the time of the decision, Onkar Singh had been in custody since 11 January 2026, Gurleen Kaur since 21 March 2026, and Sarabjit Singh since 27 March 2026.

Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, provides the statutory basis invoked for the petitions seeking regular bail.

The Court’s stated considerations were the petitioners’ periods in custody and the likelihood that the trial would take considerable time.

The Court considered the circumstances recorded in the judgment, including the petitioners’ respective periods in custody, and concluded that the trial would consume considerable time.

On those grounds, it found the petitions suitable for allowance and ordered release on bail. It expressly stated that its discussion was not an opinion on the merits and directed the trial court to decide the case independently on the evidence.

It left the merits for independent determination at trial and stated that the prosecution could seek cancellation of bail if the petitioners were later found directly involved in similar activities.

The petitions and any pending applications were disposed of accordingly.