Authority: High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh

Order Date: 10 July 2026

Case Overview

  • Parties: Petitioner – Mayank Kumar; Respondent – State of Punjab; Complainant – M/s Vishal Sales (Vizcol) represented by its proprietor Sanjay Palsiana; Third‑party buyer – Krishan Lal Sunaar.
  • FIR Details: FIR No.96 dated 10‑04‑2026 lodged at Police Station Patran, District Patiala under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 for alleged offences under Sections 303(1), 316(4), 351(3) and 3(5).
  • Allegations: The complainant alleged that Mayank Kumar, employed as Manager (Operations & Quality) since 2024, was responsible for a day‑bitumen hot‑mixture plant. An internal stock audit on 01‑04‑2026 revealed a deficit of 1,525 bags of polymer valued at approximately Rs.80,00,000. It was further alleged that Kumar forged bills and related documents and sold the missing polymer to Krishan Lal Sunaar in Delhi.
  • Procedural History:
  • 03‑06‑2026: The Court granted interim anticipatory bail to the petitioner, directing him to furnish bond and cooperate with investigation.
  • The State counsel, on instruction from SI Jaspal Singh, informed the Court that the petitioner had joined the investigation and custodial interrogation was not required.
  • 10‑07‑2026: The Court converted the interim order into an absolute anticipatory bail order, subject to conditions under Section 482(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
  • Factors Considered: Offence triable by Judicial Magistrate, maximum punishment up to seven years, petitioner’s clean antecedents, stolen bags already sold to a third party, unlikely benefit from custodial interrogation, no risk of tampering with evidence or influencing witnesses, and ongoing investigation.

Final Outcome

  • The petition for anticipatory bail was allowed; the interim bail order of 03‑06‑2026 was made absolute on 10‑07‑2026.
  • The petitioner must join the investigation when called, furnish bond as satisfactory to the arresting officer, and comply with all conditions specified under Section 482(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
  • The order is limited strictly to FIR No.96 and does not provide blanket protection for any other alleged offences.
  • The State retains the right to move for cancellation or recall of the bail order if the petitioner violates any stipulated condition or if sufficient cause is shown.

Topics: Anticipatory Bail, Criminal Procedure