IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Crl.Misc.No.M-179 of 2011 DATE OF DECISION: January 13, 2011 Jasmail Singh …..Petitioner versus State of Punjab ....Respondent CORAM:- HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJAN GUPTA Present: Mr.L.S. Sidhu, Advocate for the petitioner Dr.Uttam Singh Dhaliwal, Addl. A.G., Punjab Mr.Harbir Sandhu, Advocate for the complainant .. RAJAN GUPTA, J.: (Oral) This is a petition under section 438 Cr.P.C. seeking pre-arrest bail in a case registered against the petitioner under sections 420/465/467/468/471 IPC vide FIR No.149 dated 4.12.2010 at police station Ghall Khurd, District Ferozepur. Learned counsel for the petitioner has argued that the entire dispute is civil in nature and thus, petitioner is entitled to concession of pre-arrest bail. Learned State counsel has, however, vehemently opposed the prayer. He submits that in view of nature of allegations, custodial interrogation of the petitioner may be required. Heard. The complaint was lodged by Buta Singh. He alleged that the petitioner assured him that his son would be sent to Canada and took a cheque for Rs.1,30,000/- for Crl.Misc.No.M-179 of 2011 - 2 - this purpose on 17.9.2008. Thereafter, on 25.8.2009, he took certain other documents, such as, stamp-papers, blank cheques and 4-5 passports of complainant’s family for completing visa formalities. However, he neither applied for visa nor returned the passports. In my considered view, in view of nature of allegations contained in the FIR, custodial interrogation of the petitioner may be necessary. The present petition for pre-arrest bail is thus, devoid of merit and is hereby dismissed. January 13, 2011 ( RAJAN GUPTA ) pc JUDGE 2