Authority: High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh
Order Date: 10 July 2026
Case Overview
- Petitioner: Rohtash; Respondent: State of Haryana.
- FIR No.225 dated 19 December 2024 registered at Police Station Nangal Chaudhri, District Mahendergarh under Sections 309(4), 351(2) of the BNS Act and Section 25 of the Arms Act. Subsequent investigation added Sections 317(2), 311, 238(a), 351(3) of BNS and Sections 25(1)(a), 27, 29 of the Arms Act; earlier Sections 309(4), 351(2) BNS and Section 25 Arms Act were deleted.
- Incident: On the day of the FIR, at approximately 4:30 p.m., four individuals (including Anup, Mukut, Lakshminarayan, and an unnamed fourth) entered the salesroom of Sundaram Kisan Seva Kendra petrol pump, brandishing a pistol‑like weapon, demanded cash, and extracted Rs 56,000. They also collected an empty fired shell before fleeing.
- Allegations against petitioner: Disclosure statements of co‑accused indicate Rohtash supplied a country‑made pistol, fifteen live cartridges, and Rs 35,000 to co‑accused Ajit @ Kalu, which were allegedly used in this and other incidents.
- Legal proceedings: The Additional Sessions Judge, Narnaul, charge‑sheeted Rohtash only under Section 29 of the Arms Act (maximum three‑year imprisonment). He has been in custody since 5 July 2025; charges were framed on 12 December 2025. The petitioner previously sought regular bail, which was dismissed as “not pressed” on 20 February 2026. The state’s affidavit (by Bharat Bhushan, HPS Deputy Superintendent of Police) opposes bail, citing involvement in fifteen serious cases, with four acquittals and eleven pending trials.
Final Outcome
- The Court, applying the principle that bail is the rule and jail an exception, orders the release of Rohtash on regular bail, subject to furnishing adequate bail and surety bonds satisfactory to the trial Court or Duty Magistrate. All pending miscellaneous applications, if any, are disposed of.
Topics: Bail, Arms Act, Criminal Procedure