SUKHBIR SINGH BADAL Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This order shall dispose of six petitions, i.e., CRM-M-14308, 14326, 14915, 14921, 14926, and 16991 of 2023, wherein similar facts are involved, and common prayer has been made. However, for brevity, facts are being taken from CRM-M-143262023.

(2.) The petitioners, apprehending arrest for hatching a conspiracy for unprovoked firing upon peaceful protesters at Katkapura and Behbal Kalan and further, on issuance of notice by the Judicial Magistrate Ist Class, Faridkot, after the police had filed report under Sec. 173 CrPC before the said Judicial Magistrate, launching prosecution against all the accused including Prakash Singh Badal, former Chief Minister, Punjab, who expired on 25/4/2023, and the concerned DySP had undertaken to procure the service of all the accused persons in compliance of Sec. 170 CrPC, in the FIR captioned above, have come up before this Court under Sec. 438 CrPC seeking anticipatory bail.

(3.) Before filing the present petition, the petitioners, along with co-accused Prakash Singh Badal (since deceased), had filed applications for anticipatory bails before the Sessions Court, Faridkot, which was dismissed qua petitioner Sukhbir Singh Badal; however, co-accused Prakash Singh Badal (since deceased) was granted bail, vide order dtd. 16/3/2023 passed by Additional Sessions Judge, Faridkot. Even the petitions filed by other petitioners, whose case numbers are mentioned above, were also dismissed.