IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Crl. Misc No. M-6712 of 2009 Date of decision : 07.05.2009 Joginder Kaur Sandhu ....Petitioner V/s State of Punjab ....Respondent. BEFORE : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJAN GUPTA Present: Mr. Hardip Singh, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. Shailesh Gupta, DAG Punjab. RAJAN GUPTA J. (ORAL) Prayer in this petition is for grant of regular bail to the petitioner in a case FIR No. 239 dated 11.11.2006 registered under Sections 406/420/120-B IPC at Police Station Sadar, Ludhiana. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that petitioner is more than 63 years old lady and is in custody since 15.01.2009. According to the counsel, there are no chances of the petitioner influencing the witnesses or absconding from the justice. Learned counsel for the State has however, opposed the bail application of the petitioner on the ground that allegations against the petitioner are serious in nature. However, he affirms the fact that petitioner is a local resident. Under the circumstances, I am of the considered view that no useful purpose would be served by detaining the petitioner in custody during the pendency of the trial. Moreover, trial is at its initial stage at the moment. This apart, petitioner being a local resident, the chances of her Crl. Misc No. M-6712 of 2009 -2- escaping from the process of law appear to be remote. Accordingly, the petition is allowed and the petitioner is directed to be released on bail to the satisfaction of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ludhiana. 07.05.2009 (RAJAN GUPTA) Ajay JUDGE