PAPPU SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The hearing of this petition has been taken up through video conferencing on account of outbreak of corona virus (Covid-19) pandemic.

(2.) Instant petition has been filed under Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 seeking grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioner, Pappu Singh son of Bodh Singh in FIR No.206 dated 24.08.2019 (Annexure P-1) registered under Sections 302, 148 and 149 of Indian Penal Code, 1860 at P.S. Sadar Fazilka, District Fazilka.

(3.) As per the version of the prosecution, the FIR was registered on the statement of Kuldeep Kumar wherein he stated that his younger brother Sandeep Kumar was friends with Lekh Raj, who befriended Priyanka Rani, daughter of Gopal Ram. The relatives and family members of Priyanka Rani opposed the relationship between them. On 23.08.2019, when the complainant alongwith his younger brother were going on a motorcycle, they saw Gautam, Rakesh and Manpreet Singh alongwith 8-10 other persons hitting Lekh Raj with sticks. They stopped there. In the meantime, Ram Kumar who was passing by, also stopped on seeing them. Gautam raised a lalkara and said that Sandeep Kumar deserves to be taught a lesson for being friends with Lekh Raj. Then the said three accused started beating Sandeep Kumar and Rakesh Kumar gave a kirch stab in the stomach of Sandeep Kumar as a result of which Sandeep Kumar fell on the ground. The complainant and Ram Kumar raised an alarm and the accused ran away from the spot. They took Sandeep Kumar to a hospital where he was declared brought dead. On 28.08.2019, the complainant recorded a supplementary statement (Annexure P-3) wherein besides the aforesaid three accused, he named Pardeep Singh alias Pappu, son of Bhag Singh, Gurjit Singh, son of Gurmej Singh, Gurdatta Singh @ Babbu, son of Raj Singh and Pawan Kumar @ Madu, son of Kalu Ram, as the other accused, who were present alongwith Gautam etc. and physically assaulted Sandeep Kumar and Lekh Raj.