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Punjab-Haryana High Court
Manpreet Singh Alias Mani vs State Of Punjab on 19 March, 2026
127
IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA
AT CHANDIGARH
CRM-M-66168-2025 (O&M)
DECIDED ON: 19.03.2026
MANPREET SINGH ALIAS MANI .....PETITIONER
VERSUS
STATE OF PUNJAB .....RESPONDENT
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY VASHISTH.
Present: Mr. Himanshu Bansal, Advocate,
for the petitioner.
Mr. Vinay Malhotra, DAG, Punjab.
SANJAY VASHISTH, J (ORAL)
1. Present 3rd petition has been filed by the petitioner, seeking
grant of regular bail, in case, FIR No.135, dated 22.06.2021, under
Sections 307, 304, 148, 149 and 120-B of IPC, and sections 25, 27, 54
and 59 of Arms Act, read with DDR No.71 dated 23.06.2021, registered
at Police Station City Kotkapura, District Faridkot.
2. Case of the prosecution reads as under:-
"As per the allegations, local police of Police
Station City Kotkapura, received information on
22.06.2021 about a cross firing having taken place at
around 11 a.m. at Jalaleana Road, Rishi Colony,
Kotkapura between Ravel Singh travelling in his Innova
Car bearing registration No. PB-05W-1893 on one side;
and some unknown persons in their car bearing
registration No. DL-7CG-1918 on the other side and
that one person was lying injured at the spot, having
suffered bullet injury. FIR under Sections 307/34 IPC
and Sections 25/27 of the Arms Act was registered and
investigation commenced. Spot of the crime was visited.
Empty cartridges of different weapons lying at the spot,
besides vehicle and blood smeared earth showing
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number of rounds fired at the spot, were seized.
Intimation was received that one of the injured, namely,
Deepak (name as mentioned on the driving licence
recovered from pocket of his pant) had been brought
dead at Civil Hospital, Kotkapura. Accordingly, Section
302 IPC was added vide DDR No.2, dated 23.06.2021.
During inspection of the dead body, 07 live cartridges of
9 mm were seized from the pants of the deceased. Later
on, brother of the deceased disclosed the real name of
the deceased as Krishan Pal.
During the course of investigation, as
involvement of Ravel Singh was found in the
occurrence, he was apprehended on 23.06.2021 and on
interrogation, he suffered disclosure statement, as per
which on 22.06.2021 as he was returning in his car from
the place of his friend in Rishi Nagar, Kotkapura to
Jalaleana Road, when a Corolla car came from the
opposite side, besides a motorcycle, upon which
Krishan Pal S/o Ram Krishan, Nitesh @ Pardhan were
riding. Golu, Bachi, ManpreetSingh@
Mani(presentpetitioner), besides 3-4 unknown persons
emerged from the car and all of them started firing
indiscriminately towards him with an intention to kill
him. He (Ravel Singh) stopped his car and fired two
shots upon them with his .32 bore illegal weapon in
defence. He also disclosed that magazine of his weapon
had fallen down at the spot. Cross version under
Sections 307, 148, 149, 120-B read with Section 25/27
of the Arms Act, 1959 was registered vide DDR No.71
dated 23.06.2021 against Krishan Pal, Nitish @
Pardhan, Golu, Bachi, petitioner Manpreet Singh @
Mani, Gurwinder Pal @ Goru and Goldy Brar, besides
3-4 unknown persons.
Further prosecution case is that Corolla car used
in the crime was recovered from a deserted area on
24.06.2021. Other accused were also nominated, as per
the disclosure statements of the accused. Petitioner
Manpreet Singh @ Mani was produced before the Illaqa
Magistrate on 23.07.2021, in compliance of the
production warrants. It was disclosed by said petitioner
that he had been engaged by accused Goldy Brar and
that he had started reiki of the place of occurrence
before executing the plan to kill Ravel Singh and for
that purpose, he was paid Rs.25,000/- by Harpeet Singh
@ Bhau. In view of the said statement of petitioner
Manpreet Singh @ Mani, Harpreet Singh @ Bhau was
nominated as accused in the case, who was arrested and
who disclosed modus operandi to commit the offence at
the instance of Goldy Brar."
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3. 1st bail petition filed by the petitioner, i.e. CRM-M-58907-
2022 was dismissed by the co-ordinate Bench of this Court, vide order
dated 31.08.2023 (Annexure P-3).
4. 2nd bail petition filed by the petitioner, i.e. CRM-M-33892-
2024 was dismissed, as having been withdrawn, vide order dated
21.01.2025 (Annexure P-6).
Hence, present petition is the 3rd petition for grant of bail
filed by the petitioner.
5. There are serious allegations against the petitioner.
Although, petitioner is in custody for a period of 4 years and 7 months,
but out of total 38 prosecution witnesses, only 3 have been examined, till
date. However, there being serious allegations against the petitioner, this
Court deems it appropriate to dispose of the present petition, with a
direction to the trial court to conclude the trial within a period of six
months. Thereupon, if trial is not concluded, petitioner is at liberty to file
appropriate petition for seeking bail, again.
6. Hence, present petition stands disposed of.
7. Copy of this order be forwarded to the trial Court for
information and necessary compliance.
(SANJAY VASHISTH)
19.03.2026 JUDGE
Lavisha
Whether speaking/reasoned Yes/No
Whether reportable Yes/No
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