VEENA AGGARWAL AND ANOTHER Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The contour of the facts, which needs a necessary mention for the limited purpose of deciding the instant petition for the grant of anticipatory bail and emanating from the record is that, petitionersaccused Smt.Veena Aggarwal & Sanjay Aggarwal were partners of the firm M/s G.T.General Mills, Roopnagar, at the relevant time. The paddy weighing 21154 quintals, contained in 60440 bags, each containing 35 kgs., was entrusted to the accused for custom milling/shelling. Instead of returning the entire rice in lieu of paddy, the petitioners have only returned 8080.29 quintals, misappropriated the remaining paddy, cheated the complainant-Punjab Agro Food Grains Corporation Limited, Roopnagar(for brevity "the complainant-Corporation") and thus, caused a huge loss of Rs. 1 crore 59 lacs. In the background of these allegations and in the wake of complaint of District Manager of the complainant- Corporation, the present criminal case was registered against the petitioners-accused, vide FIR No.94 dated 19.06.2013, on accusation of having committed an offence punishable under Section 406 IPC, by the police of Police Station City Roopnagar, in the manner depicted here-inabove.

(2.) Having exercised their right and remained unsuccessful before the Court of Additional Sessions Judge, now the petitioners have preferred the present petition for the grant of anticipatory bail in the indicated case, invoking the provisions of Section 438 Cr.P.C.

(3.) After hearing the learned counsel for the parties, going through the record with their valuable help and after deep consideration of the entire matter, to my mind, there is no merit in the instant petition in this context.