Crl.M.No.M-36201 of 2009 (O&M) -1- IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH. Crl.M.No.M-36201 of 2009 (O&M) Date of Decision: March 31, 2010 Mesha alias Ramesh Lal .....Petitioner v. State of Punjab ......Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE RAM CHAND GUPTA Present: Mr.J.S.Chahal, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr.Gaurav Garg Dhuriwala, AAG, Punjab. ...... RAM CHAND GUPTA, J.(Oral) The present petition filed under Section 439 Cr.P.C. is for grant of bail to the petitioner in case FIR No.15, dated 27.3.2009, under Sections 363, 366 and 376 IPC, registered at Police Station Narot Jaimal Singh, District Gurdaspur. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and have gone through the whole record carefully. It has been contended by learned counsel for the petitioner that prosecutrix was more than 18 years of age and that petitioner is in continuing custody since 25.6.2009. It is further contended that as the entire prosecution evidence has been recorded, petitioner is not likely to pressurise any witness and hence he may be released on bail. Bail application has been vehemently opposed by learned State counsel, on instructions from Prabhjot Singh, ASI, on the plea that there are serious allegations against the petitioner-accused as he enticed away a minor girl on the pretext of marrying her and later on committed rape upon her. It is further contended that the case is at the stage of defence and arguments and that two witnesses have already been examined and, hence, case is likely to be decided shortly and the case is fixed for 18.4.2010. Crl.M.No.M-36201 of 2009 (O&M) -2- I have considered all the facts of the case. Allegations against the petitioner-accused are very serious in nature. He enticed away minor daughter of the complainant on the pretext of marrying her. He had taken her to Jammu and kept her at different places and committed rape upon her. Case is likely to be decided shortly as the same is fixed for defence and arguments. Hence, in view of these facts and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, the present petition filed by petitioner- Mesha alias Ramesh Lal for grant of regular bail is, hereby, dismissed being devoid of any merit. 31.3.2010 (Ram Chand Gupta) meenu Judge