Crl. Misc. No. M-12455 of 2010 IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATES OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH. Crl. Misc. No. M-12455 of 2010 (O&M) Date of decision: 29.7.2010 Gurtej Singh ...Petitioner Versus State of Punjab ...Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJAN GUPTA Present: Mr. KBS Mann, Advocate, for the petitioner. Mr. K.S. Sidhu, Deputy Advocate General, Punjab. Rajan Gupta, J. (oral) This is a petition under Section 439 Cr.P.C. seeking regular bail in a case registered against the petitioner under Section 61/1/14 of the Punjab Excise Act, 1914 at Police Station Boha, District Mansa, vide FIR No.116 dated 24th July, 2005. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner surrendered before the trial court on 23rd January, 2009 and has been in custody since then. According to learned counsel, the allegation against the petitioner is of recovery of illicit liquor. He submits that trial of the case is likely to take long time and thus, no useful purpose will be served by detaining the petitioner in custody any longer. Learned State counsel has opposed the prayer for bail. He, however, submits that since petitioner remained a proclaimed offender, Crl. Misc. No. M-12455 of 2010 bail, if granted to the petitioner, should be subject to heavy surety. Keeping in view the facts and circumstances of the case and the period of incarceration already undergone by the petitioner, I am of the considered view that no useful purpose will be served by detaining the petitioner in custody during the pendency of the trial as the trial may take long time to conclude. Thus, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, this petition is allowed and the petitioner is directed to be released on bail to the satisfaction of Chief Judicial Magistrate/ Duty Magistrate, Mansa. This, however, will be subject to heavy surety. (RAJAN GUPTA) JUDGE 29.7.2010 'rajpal'