PRITAM SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) By an order passed on April 8, 1980, the petitioner was granted interim bail under section 438(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The petitioner's case in the petition was that First Information Report No. 95 had been registered on March 1, 1980, at Police Station Kotwali, Ludbiana. against him for offences under Sections 420, 406 and 411, Indian Penal Code, on a complaint made by Shri Kapur Singh, I.C.S. (Retired), to the Inspector General of Police, Punjab.

(2.) It is stated by the counsel for the State of Punjab that after April 8, 1980, the Investigating Officer has not contacted or arrested the petitioner. It is further stated that prior to the filing of the present petition 480 books of 'Sachi Sakhi', alleged to have been printed and published clandestinely by the petitioner, had been recovered from his business premises at Delhi.

(3.) Mr. Sodhi, learned counsel for the respondent, has taken a preliminary objection to the maintainability of this petition. According to him, the First Information Report having been registered at Ludhiana in the State of Punjab, this Court can only grant interim bail to the petitioner with a direction that he should "appear or approach the Court concerned or the High Court of Punjab for seeking bail."