Punjab-Haryana High Court
Major Singh vs State Of Punjab on 28 April, 2026
Author: Jasjit Singh Bedi
Bench: Jasjit Singh Bedi
CRM-M-11590-2026 1
IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT
CHANDIGARH
206 CRM-M-11590-2026 (O&M)
Date of Decision:-28.04.2026
MAJOR SINGH ......PETITIONER
VS.
STATE OF PUNJAB .....RESPONDENT
CORAM:-HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JASJIT SINGH BEDI
Present: Mr. Vivek Dahiya, Legal Aid Counsel
for the petitioner.
Mr. M.S. Toor, AAG Punjab.
****
JASJIT SINGH BEDI, J.(ORAL)
The prayer in this fourth petition under Section 483 of the BNSS, 2023 is for the grant of regular bail in case FIR No.87 dated 20.10.2022 under Sections 406, 302, 396, 506, 342, 120-B, 201, 148 and 149 IPC and Section 25/54/59 of the Arms Act registered at Police Station Harike, District Tarn Taran, Punjab.
2. The present FIR came to be registered at the instance of Simranjit Kaur daughter of Sukhdev Singh and reads as under:
"Statement of Simranjit Kaur D/o Sukhdev Singh son of Bhajan Singh, resident of Bhagat Ravi Dass Colony, Harike, aged about 20 years, Mob. 8968217686, made a statement that I am the resident of abovementioned address and I am 10+2 and we are two brothers and sisters. My elder brother Karanjit Singh is married to Baljinder Kaur daughter of Jasvir Singh, resident of Pakhoke and was married in January 2022. My brother Karanjit Singh had gone to Malesiya approximately 15 days before, on last night my father Sukhdev Singh, who is retired KUSUM from Army and who is having 12 bore licensed rifle, we have 2026.04.29 16:51 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document PHHC Chandigarh CRM-M-11590-2026 2 main gate of our house and we and my sister-in-law after eating dinner went to sleep. My father Sukhdev Singh, who is found of watching TV and he watches TV till late night. That on the last night on 20.10.2022 at about 1:30/2:00 AM at night, three unidentified persons, who had covered their faces with cloths, who entered our house by scaling the main gate. Who walk me up and pointed pistol on me and they took me and my sister-in law Baljinder Kaur in the store and who after threatening us with the pistol, told us that give us whatever is lying in the house otherwise they will kill us. We got very scared and who opened the box lying in the store and took away 12 bore rifle, which was lying there alongwith two gold rings and they bolted us in the store. After one hour, we broke the bold of store and came out and we saw that my mother Rajbir Kaur, aged about 42 years, who was lying on the cot in verandah and my father Sukhdev Singh who was watching TV in the lobby who was sitting on the chair, they both were killed with sharp edge weapons and both the hands of my father were tied with cloths and his neck was tied with cloths with the chair and I checked the almirah and found that Rs.30,000/- and three gold rings, in total five gold rings, Rs.30,000/- cash and 12 bore rifle was stolen after committing murder of my mother Rajbir Kaur and father Sukhdev Singh. Then I called my uncle Angrej Singh @ Geji son of Sital Ram resident of Harike on phone and after listening to our hue and cry, our neighbours also came and after leaving my sister in law Baljinder Kaur and neighbors on the spot with the dead bodies, I alongwith my uncle Salwinder Singh son of Bhajan Singh came to report the matter and you met me. I have given the statement and I am aggrieved. Legal action be taken against three unknown persons, who were carrying weapons and who entered our house and killed both my mother and father and committed the 74 loot. Sd/- Simranjit Kaur"KUSUM 2026.04.29 16:51 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document PHHC Chandigarh CRM-M-11590-2026 3
2. During the course of investigation, 31.10.2022, the statement of Salwinder Singh son of Bhajan Singh was recorded to the effect that the murder of his brother Sukhdev Singh and sister-in-law Rajbir Kaur was committed by their daughter-in-law/Baljinder Kaur wife of Karanjit Singh and daughter of Jasvir Singh, Mukhtiar Singh @ Mukha son of Major Singh, Gurpartap Singh son of Darbara Singh, Jagroop Singh @ Rupa son of Mahal Singh and Major Singh (petitioner) son of Ajit Singh. On the basis of the said statement, Section 120-B IPC was added and all the persons were nominated as accused.
On the same day, the statement of Major Singh son of Mangal Singh was recorded to the effect that on 29.10.2022, after the Bhog ceremony of the victims, Baljinder Kaur-daughter-in-law of the victims had come to his house and confessed about the murder of her in-laws stating that the other accused had committed the act at her instance.
On the same day, the statement of Daljit Singh @ Rinku was recorded to the effect that on the intervening night of 19/20.10.2022, he had seen Jagroop Singh @ Rupa, Mukhtiar Singh @ Mukha, Gurpartap Singh coming on foot and on being asked, Mukhtiar Singh @ Mukha had disclosed that his niece Baljinder Kaur was being harassed and tortured by her in-laws because of which they had taught a lesson to her in-laws.
On 31.10.2022, the accused were arrested. Gurpartap Singh and Major Singh got recovered a 12 bore gun alongwith cartridge roll, Jagroop Singh and Mukhtiar Singh got recovered one kirch type khanjar (dagger) which was stained with blood, an iron hook used for picking socks/jute bags alongwith two pairs of anklets, one ladies watch and one gents watch. KUSUM 2026.04.29 16:51 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document PHHC Chandigarh CRM-M-11590-2026 4
3. The learned counsel for the petitioner contends that the petitioner has been falsely implicated in the present case. There was no admissible evidence inculpating the petitioner. As per the confessional statement, the petitioner did not accompany the other accused when they went to the house of the complainant and committed the murder of her in- laws. The recovery of the weapon was shown from the petitioner to shore up the prosecution case, though, the said fire-arm allegedly recovered was not used in the commission of the offence. As the petitioner is in custody since 31.10.2022 but only 05 out of the 28 prosecution witnesses have been examined so far, and the Trial of the present case was not likely to be concluded anytime soon, therefore, he is entitled to the concession of bail.
4. The learned counsel for the State, on the other hand, contends that it is a case of double murder wherein the parents of the complainant have been brutally done to death at the instance of the accused. There is sufficient circumstantial evidence by way of extra-judicial confessions, last seen evidence and recoveries of weapons/stolen articles. The present bail application of the petitioner is his fourth without any change in circumstances. Merely because the petitioner has been in custody since 31.10.2022 does not entitle him to the concession of bail looking at the serious nature of the allegations. He, however, concedes that only 05 out of the 28 prosecution witnesses have been examined so far.
5. I have heard the learned counsel for the parties.
6. As per the case of the prosecution all the accused persons brutally committed the murder of both the deceased at the instance of their daughter-in-law, Baljinder Kaur. Pursuant to the arrest of the accused, KUSUM 2026.04.29 16:51 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document PHHC Chandigarh CRM-M-11590-2026 5 recoveries of weapons and stolen articles have been effected. There are statements of witnesses before whom the accused made extra-judicial confessions and there is evidence of motive as well. Therefore, keeping in view the serious nature of the allegations, the petitioner is not entitled to the concession of bail.
7. In view of the above discussion, I find no merit in the present petition and the same stands dismissed.
(JASJIT SINGH BEDI)
28.04.2026 JUDGE
Kusum
Whether speaking/reasoned Yes/No
Whether Reportable Yes/No
KUSUM
2026.04.29 16:51
I attest to the accuracy and
integrity of this document
PHHC Chandigarh