Cr.Misc. M 20295 of 2011 -1- IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATES OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH. Cr.Misc. M 20295 of 2011 Date of decision: 1.9.2011 Sukhraj Singh petitioner vs State of Punjab respondent Present:- Mr. GS kaura, Advocate. Mr. Kirat Singh,DAG, Pb M.M.S.BEDI, J. The petitioner seeks the concession of pre-arrest bail in a case of arrest of Balbir Singh and Rajinder Singh with Methamphetamine weighing 3.220 kgms, which is cotnrolled substance along with a .32 bore revolver with 8 live cartridges. So far as the petitioner is concerned, the allegation against him is that though he is a resident of Vancouver, Canada but he allegedly used to smuggle heavy quantity of contraband from Punjab to Canada via Ludhiana with the help of Rajinder Singh and Randhir Singh. The said persons were apprehending while travelling in a car with the above said contraband. Learned counsel for the petitioner has submitted that there is absolutely no evidence collected by the investigating agency to connect the petitioner with the crime. The FIR was registered against the petitioner while he was in Canada. An interim direction was issued to the petitioner to join the investigation. The petitioner has joined the investigation on 20.8.2011, as per the information supplied to the State counsel by HC Cr.Misc. M 20295 of 2011 -2- Rajinder Kumar. I have gone through the police file and the supplementary challan presented against the petitioner and Navjot Singh. Prima facie, it appears that it will be debatable whether the evidence gathered is sufficient enough and relevant as per the provisions of Section 10 of the Evidence Act to connect the petitioner with the crime alleged. Taking into consideration the fact that the petitioner has come all the way from Canada to join the investigation and to face trial, he can be granted the concession of pre-arrest bail. The petition is allowed and it is ordered that the petitioner will be released on bail to the satisfaction of the trial court as the challan has been presented, on furnishing bail bonds/ surety bonds to the satisfaction of the said court with a condition that the petitioner will be entitled to retain his passport but he will not leave India without the permission of the trial court. It is observed that in view of the peculiar circumstances of the case, the trial court will expeditiously dispose of the trial, preferably within a period of six months September 1 , 2011 (M.M.S.BEDI ) TSM JUDGE