LAWS(P&H)-2019-9-87

GURDEEP SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB AND ANOTHER

Decided On September 27, 2019
GURDEEP SINGH Appellant
V/S
State of Punjab and Another Respondents

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Present petition under Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure is for grant of anticipatory bail in case bearing FIR No. 09 dated 15.04.2019 (Annexure P/1) under Sections 13(1)(b) read with Section 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (for short, "the Act") registered at Police Station Vigilance Bureau, Range Amritsar, District Amritsar.

(2.) Learned counsel for the petitioner contended that the petitioner has been falsely implicated in this case. In an earlier FIR No. 32 dated 26.09.2016, he was arrayed as an accused for commission of offence punishable under Sections 7 and 13 of the Act registered at Police Station Vigilance Bureau, District Amritsar. The allegations therein were with regard to demand of bribe money from one restaurant owner at Bus Stand, Amritsar, but later on he was released on regular bail in the said FIR No. 32. If the prosecution wanted to recover anything from the petitioner, it could have been done there and then. Subsequent registration of present FIR against the petitioner is complete misuse of the process of law, which is strictly prohibited as per provisions of Section 300 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Still, the petitioner is ready to join the investigation.

(3.) Learned State counsel while opposing the bail application contended that earlier case bearing FIR No. 32 was registered with regard to demand of bribe money and that case was registered in 2016. Thereafter, present FIR was registered on the allegations of disproportionate assets of the petitioner as his known income from all the sources was Rs.84,26,761/- and he had spent Rs.2,07,92,005/- i.e., 146.73% more than his income and the petitioner is a public servant. The petitioner is required for effective investigation of the said allegations and as such, the present petition for grant of anticipatory bail be dismissed.