SITAL Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This order will dispose of the present petition alongwith CRM-M Nos.44739, 44751, 45730, 45737, 45951, 45269, 45272, 45287, 45288, 45297, 45445, 45466 of 2017 (O&M), CRM-M Nos.4204, 2767, 2776, 2793, 2861, 3070, 3097, 3256, 3331 and 3497 of 2018 (O&M), as all these petitions arise out of a common FIR and the facts have been noted from CRM-M No.43609 of 2017 with consent of both the parties for convenience.

(2.) Heard both sides and perused the paper book.

(3.) The allegations against the petitioners in the FIR registered on the basis of statement of one Madan Lal, who is residing opposite to Income Tax Office, Mansa are that on 25.8.2017 at about 3/3.15 PM, he was standing at the gate of his house, then three unidentified persons on their Apache motorcycle, colour yellow alongwith 10/12 unknown young persons came on their vehicles and were having petrol bottles in a jute bag, baseball bats and deadly weapons. They were raising slogans "Dhan Dhan Satguru Tera Hi Aasra" and were shouting that their father Sant Gurmeet Ram Rahim has been convicted and lesson is to be taught for his conviction. They were having covered faces and exhorted that Income Tax Office and other articles be put on fire and all these unknown persons entered into the Income Tax office to put on fire the building and set on fire the vehicle Swift Dzire No.PB-31R-0124 standing there and another car Alto Vehicle DL-4CH-7329 belonging to employee Omkar Meena and broke window panes of the car with baseballs and they also poured petrol on both the vehicles which were set on fire. He, alongwith employees of the Income Tax Department raised noise and said persons had a scuffle with them, but because of their hue & cry all these unknown persons went away from the spot on their respective vehicles leaving behind empty bottles of petrol, match stick and one baseball. He alongwith Omkar Meena were going to inform the police, then the police met them at Thikriwala Chowk near Bus Stand and recorded his statement.