PARAMJIT SINGH BEDI Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS is a third petition for bail, one having been withdrawn and another having been dismissed taking into consideration the merits.

(2.) Counsel for the Petitioner has vehemently submitted that the Petitioner has been in custody since June, 2009 and that there is sufficient material brought on the record establishing that the prosecutrix was major at the time of commission of the alleged crime and that she had voluntarily travelled with the Petitioner to different places. Besides this, a few letters have been placed on record indicating the relationship between the prosecutrix and the Petitioner. It has been vehemently urged that the prosecutrix has been examined and there are no chances of tempering with the evidence. The medical evidence has also been produced. Taking into consideration the totality of the circumstances and the period of detention suffered by the Petitioner, it is deemed appropriate, in the interest of justice, to dispose of this petition with a direction to the trial court to complete the trial within a period of six months after the next date of hearing fixed before it i.e. 10.5.2011. The trial court will give short adjournments and make earnest endeavour to conclude the trial expeditiously by giving fair opportunity to the Petitioner to produce the defence evidence. In case the trial is not concluded with the above said period, it will be open to the Petitioner to approach this Court again.

(3.) DISPOSED of.