Crl. Misc No. M-21132 of 2009 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Crl. Misc No. M-21132 of 2009 Date of decision : 17.11.2009 Lachhman Singh ....Petitioner V/s State of Punjab ....Respondent BEFORE : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJAN GUPTA Present: Mr. PKS Phoolka, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. Shailesh Gupta, DAG Punjab. RAJAN GUPTA J. (ORAL) This is a petition under Section 439 Cr.P.C. seeking regular bail to the petitioner in a case registered vide FIR No. 298 dated 02.05.2009 under Sections 419, 420, 467, 468, 471, 148, 149 & 120-B at Police Station Kotwali District Bathinda. Learned counsel for the petitioner has argued that the petitioner has been in custody since 12.06.2009 and the case is triable by the Magistrate. According to the counsel, petitioner is more than 70 years of age. Learned counsel submits that investigation of the case has already been completed and trial of the case is in progress and, thus, no useful purpose would be served by detaining the petitioner in custody during the pendency of the trial. Learned counsel for the State has, however, opposed the prayer for bail on the ground that allegations against the petitioner are serious in Crl. Misc No. M-21132 of 2009 2 nature. However, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case at this stage and taking into consideration the period of incarceration already suffered by him and the fact that trial may take some time to conclude, I deem it appropriate to grant regular bail to the petitioner. Accordingly, the petition is allowed and he is ordered to be enlarged on bail to the satisfaction Chief Judicial Magistrate/Duty Magistrate, Bathinda. 17.11.2009 (RAJAN GUPTA) Ajay JUDGE