Crl. Misc. No. M-20394 of 2011 [1] IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH. Date of Decision: November 26, 2011 1. Crl. Misc. No. M-20394 of 2011 Partap Singh …..Petitioner Vs. State of Punjab …..Respondent 2. Crl. Misc. No. M-21338 of 2011 Jujhar Singh …..Petitioner Vs. State of Punjab …..Respondent 3. Crl. Misc. No. M-22219 of 2011 Yadwinder Singh …..Petitioner Vs. State of Punjab …..Respondent CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE M.M.S. BEDI. -.- Crl. Misc. No. M-20394 of 2011 [2] Present:- Mr.A.S. Gagrha, Advocate for the petitioner in (Crl. Misc. No. M-20394 of 2011) Mr. A.R. Sidhu, Sr. Advocate with Mr. Sudip Sihag, Advocate for the petitioner in (Crl. Misc. No. M-22219 of 2011) Mr.Vikram Chaudhari, Advocate for the petitioner in (Crl. Misc. No. M-21338 of 2011) Mr. P.S. Bajwa, DAG, Punjab. -.- M.M.S. BEDI, J. (ORAL) This order will dispose of three petitions bearing Crl. Misc. Nos.M-20394, M-21338 and M-22219 of 2011 for grant of pre-arrest bail in a case registered on the complainant of District Education Officer (S.S.), Amritsar, alleging that a huge amount has been withdrawn by Principle, G.S.S.S., Chajjalwari, in connivance with the petitioners through 154 vouchers out of G.P. Fund accounts of different employees during the period from April 1, 2005 to October 31, 2010 as per the record of District Treasury Office. The challan has already been presented. The petitioners have been in custody w.e.f. March/ April, 2011. Though the allegations against the petitioners prima facie are of serious nature causing loss to the State exchequer but taking into consideration the fact that in a Magisterial trial the petitioners cannot be kept in custody as a measure of penalty especially when the chances of absconding are meager. The petitions are allowed and petitioners are ordered to be released on bail on their furnishing personal bonds for a sum of Rs.2 lacs each with one surety of the like amount to the satisfaction of the trial Court Crl. Misc. No. M-20394 of 2011 [3] subject to the additional conditions that the petitioners will not leave India without the permission of the Court and that they would be required to surrender their passports, if any, held by them in the trial Court. In case it is claimed by the petitioners that they do not hold any passport, an affidavit to that effect may be furnished on behalf of the petitioners. The prosecution agency will be at liberty to seize the accounts or attach the properties of the petitioners in accordance with the procedure of law. November 26, 2011 (M.M.S.BEDI) sanjay JUDGE