CRM No. M-23424 of 2009 1 IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATES OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH. CRM No. M-23424 of 2009 (O&M) Date of decision: 25.8.2009 Satwinder Singh and others ...Petitioners Versus State of Punjab ...Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJAN GUPTA Present: Ms. G.K. Mann, Advocate, for the petitioners. Rajan Gupta, J. This is a petition for anticipatory bail in a case registered against the petitioners under Sections 223, 224, 225 read with Section 34 IPC at Police Station Civil Lines, Amritsar, vide FIR No.305 dated 31st July, 2009. The petitioners, who are stated to be warders, are allegedly responsible for escape of a convict Manga Masih from custody. Manga Masih had been convicted in a case bearing FIR No.130 dated 9th July, 2005, under Section 395 IPC and Section 25 of the Arms Act and sentenced to seven years imprisonment. Learned counsel for the petitioners has argued that all the offences except the offence under Section 222 IPC are bailable. The petitioners have already been suspended by the department. Thus, they be granted the concession of pre-arrest bail. After hearing the counsel, I am of the considered view that CRM No. M-23424 of 2009 2 allegations against the petitioners are serious in nature. If a convict, who is sentenced to seven years imprisonment, escaped from custody, it was the responsibility of the petitioners to guard and prevent him from escaping. The investigating agency may require the petitioners for custodial interrogation in order to unravel the conspiracy. The petition is thus devoid of merit. The same is hereby dismissed. (RAJAN GUPTA) JUDGE August 25, 2009 'rajpal'