In the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh ...... Criminal Misc. No.M-11706 of 2010 ..... Date of decision:23.4.2010 Kuldeep Singh and others .....Petitioners v. State of Punjab .....Respondent .... Present: Mr. L.S. Sidhu, Advocate for the petitioners. ..... S.S. Saron, J. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner. The petitioners seek pre-arrest bail in a case registered against them for the offences under Sections 419 and 420 IPC. The FIR (Annexure-P.1) in the case has been registered on an application submitted by Darshan Singh, Centre Superintendent No.3. It is alleged by the complainant that during the Matriculation examination in Centre No.3, G.G.S.S. Khem Karan Block-II during the Science subject examination in the presence of the Centre Controller and Centre Superintendent, some other candidates/students were taking examination i.e. 12+1=13 examination. They were apprehended and handed over to the Police officials Mukhtiar Singh and his companions. The allegations against the petitioners are that they made other persons impersonate on their behalf for taking the examination. The learned Additional Sessions Judge, Tarn Taran in his order dated 17.4.2010 (Annexure-P.4) while declining bail of petitioners No.1 to Cr. Misc. No.M-11706 of 2010 [2] 3 and in his order dated 20.4.2010 (Annexure-P.5) while declining the bail to petitioner No.4, has considered the record that was produced. In terms of order dated 17.4.2010 (Annexure-P.4) it has been observed that one Gursewak Singh appeared in the examination on 30.3.2010 in place of Kuldeep Singh (petitioner No.1). Similarly, one Ranjit Singh appeared in place of Jagjit Singh (petitioner No.2). Besides, one Sanjeev Kumar appeared in place of Gurtej Singh (petitioner No.3). In terms of order dated 20.4.2010 (Annexure-P.5) it has been observed that as per record one Balkrishan had impersonated in place of Baljinder Chaudhary (petitioner No.4). In this manner, there are allegations of impersonation during examinations and on the basis of record it has been found that persons other than the petitioners had appeared on their behalf in the examination. There are others also who are involved in the case. The mere fact that they have joined the investigation is not a circumstance to grant them the concession of pre-arrest bail. The Police is to investigate into the matter and also ascertain the other facts and circumstances. In the circumstances, no ground for pre-arrest bail is made out. However, in case the petitioners surrender before the Police within three days from the receipt of copy of the order their application for regular bail shall be considered by the concerned Court as expeditiously as possible and preferably by the next date from the date it is filed. April 23, 2010. (S.S. Saron) Judge *hsp*