IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA, CHANDIGARH Criminal Miscellaneous No. M-4633 of 2010 Date of Decision: May 04, 2010 Rajinder Singh .....PETITIONER(S) VERSUS State of Punjab & Another .....RESPONDENT(S) . . . CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AJAI LAMBA PRESENT: - Mr. G.P.S. Bal, Advocate, for the petitioner. Ms. Rajni Gupta, Additional Advocate General, Punjab. . . . AJAI LAMBA, J (Oral) This petition has been filed under Section 438 Cr.P.C. for grant of bail to the petitioner in case FIR No.3 dated 13.1.2010 under Section 135 of the Electricity Act, registered with Police Station, Anti-Power Theft, Punjab State Electricity Board, The Mall, Patiala. In response to Order dated 25.2.2010, affidavit has been filed in court which is taken on record. Learned counsel for the petitioner Crl. Misc. No. M-4633 of 2010 [2] has pointed out that the petitioner had approached the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Patiala, by way of filing a complaint against the action of the department that alleges theft of energy. Disconnection of the petitioner has been stayed. Learned counsel for the respondent- State contends that conduct of the petitioner has not been above board in so much as the meter could not be checked in the Measurement & Engineering Lab for a considerable time. Repeated reminders had to be sent to the petitioner. It is only in November 2009, the meter could be checked after procuring the presence of the petitioner. The meter has been found to be tampered with. Learned counsel for the State, on instructions from Harjinder Singh, Head Constable, states that the petitioner is not required for any effective investigation. Considering the totality of facts and circumstances of the case, the petition is allowed. It is directed that in the event of arrest, the petitioner shall be enlarged on bail on furnishing of bail bonds to the satisfaction of the Arresting/Investigating Officer, subject to the following conditions:- Crl. Misc. No. M-4633 of 2010 [3] “(i) The petitioner shall make himself available for in- terrogation as and when required; (ii) The petitioner shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person ac- quainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him from disclosing such facts to the Court or to any police officer; and (iii) The petitioner shall not leave India without the pre- vious permission of the Court.” This order shall enure till 15 days after the filing of final report under Section 173 Cr.P.C. within which period, the petitioner shall be re- quired to seek regular bail. (AJAI LAMBA) May 04, 2010 JUDGE avin 1. To be referred to the Reporters or not? 2. Whether the judgment should be reported in the Digest?