IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Criminal Misc. No. M-5009 of 2009 Date of decision: 16th March, 2009 Jeewan lal … Petitioner Versus State of Punjab … Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE KANWALJIT SINGH AHLUWALIA Present: Mr. Amit Aggarwal, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. Mehardeep Singh, Assistant Advocate General Punjab for the State. KANWALJIT SINGH AHLUWALIA, J. (ORAL) Present petition has been filed under Section 439 Cr.P.C. seeking grant of regular bail to the petitioner in case FIR No. 355 dated 06.08.2008 registered at Police Station Ratia under Sections 420, 465, 467, 468, 471, 120-B and 201 IPC. Petitioner is an official of District Transport Office, Mansa. It is stated that petitioner used to facilitate issuance of registration certificates in case of stolen vehicles. Petitioner is facing trial in three cases, including the present case. In one FIR bearing No.103 dated 21.07.2008 registered at Police Station Tapa, petitioner has been granted regular bail by a Coordinate Bench of this Court on December 2, 2008 vide Criminal Misc. No. M-31072 of 2008. Counsel for the petitioner has stated that in case FIR No. 388 dated 31.08.2008 registered at Police Station Ratia, he has to apply for bail. In the present case, petitioner is in custody since 30th October, 2008. Present case is triable by the Court of Magistrate. Criminal Misc. No. M-5009 of 2009 Counsel for the State, on instructions from ASI Krishan Kumar, has submitted that report under Section 173 Cr.P.C. has been submitted. Charge was framed against the petitioner. It is stated that on 5th February, 2009, evidence of one witness was recorded. Next date is fixed for recording of evidence as 24th March, 2009. Prosecution has cited 16 witnesses. Petitioner is entitled to get regular bail under the provisions of Section 437 (6) Cr.P.C. Trial will take long time to conclude. Further detention of the petitioner is not warranted. Accordingly, he is ordered to be released on bail, to the satisfaction of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Fatehabad. Present petition stands disposed off. [KANWALJIT SINGH AHLUWALIA] JUDGE March 16, 2009 rps 2