Cr.Misc. NO. M 34002 of 2008 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Cr.Misc. NO. M 34002 of 2008 DATE OF DECISION 22.4.2009 Tulsi Ram Dholia ......PETITIONER VERSUS State of Punjab ......RESPONDENTS PRESENT: Mr. CM Munjal, Advocate Mr. PS Sidhu, Addl.A.G>Punjab M.M.S.BEDI,J. The petitioner in the capacity as a President of the municipal Council, Abohar is alleged to have misappropriated the funds of the council by distributing unreasonable amount in favour of Abohar Azad Cooperative Society for the purpose of repair of fire brigade vehicles. The FIR has been registered, on the basis of the investigation conducted by the Vigilance Wing of the Local Government Department, Punjab. It is pertinent to observe that, on the basis of a similar investigation regarding misappropriation of the funds of the Municipal Council, an FIR No. 166 dated 25.5.2008 was registered at P.S. City Abohar. The petitioner had been arrested in the said case and was subsequently released on bail. The earlier FIR had been registered on the basis of the inquiry conducted by Additional Deputy Commissioner, Ferozepur. Without expression of any opinion on merits of the case, taking into consideration the above said circumstances, this petition can be allowed as the nature of the allegations regarding the embezzlement of the funds of the Municipal Council are similar in both the FIRs. The Cr.Misc. NO. M 34002 of 2008 2 petitioner has already joined the investigation. Records have already been taken into possession. It does not appear to be a case of custodial interrogation. Accordingly, the petition is allowed and it is ordered that in case of arrest of the petitioner, he will be admitted to bail to the satisfaction of the arresting officer subject to the condition that he will appear before the investigating officer as and when required by the police and will not tamper with evidence or hamper the investigation at any stage. April 22 ,2009 ( M.M.S.BEDI ) TSM JUDGE