CHHAVI SHARMA Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Prayer in the instant petition filed under Sec. 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 is for grant of regular bail to the petitioner in case FIR No.247 dtd. 25/12/2023, registered under Ss. 406, 420 IPC and Sec. 24 of the Immigration Act (Ss. 465, 467, 468 IPC added lateron), at Police Station Mataur, SAS Nagar.

(2.) Brief facts, as per the prosecution case, are that the petitioner alongwith co-accused duped the complainant Jagpal Singh for a sum of Rs.11,00,000.00 on the pretext of sending his son abroad.

(3.) Learned counsel for the petitioner contends that the petitioner is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the present case. He further contends that the petitioner has no concern with the said offence and nothing is to be recovered from her. Learned counsel contends that the petitioner has a minor son who needs her support. He further submits that the offence is triable by Magistrate and maximum punishment prescribed for the offence is upto 07 years. The petitioner is in custody since 17/5/2024. The investigation in this case is complete; challan stands presented; charges have been framed and out of 11 prosecution witnesses, only five have been examined till date. Learned counsel submits that the trial will take a long time to conclude and no useful purpose would be served by keeping the petitioner behind bars. Therefore, it is urged that the instant petition deserves to be allowed.