Supreme Court – Daily Orders
Pardeep Kumar @ Banu vs State Of Punjab on 13 March, 2026
Author: Dipankar Datta
Bench: Dipankar Datta
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CRIMINAL APPEAL No. /2026
[Arising out of SLP (Crl.) No.18775/2025]
PARDEEP KUMAR @ BANU APPELLANT
VERSUS
STATE OF PUNJAB RESPONDENT
ORDER
1. Leave granted.
2. The High Court of Punjab and Haryana at
Chandigarh, by the impugned judgment and
order dated 11th July, 2025, has rejected the
appellant’s prayer for bail.
3. Appellant, figuring as an accused in FIR
No.17 dated 11th February, 2024 registered at
Police Station Mahilpur, District Hoshiarpur,
Punjab under Sections 386, 307, 506 and 120-B
of the Indian Penal Code 1, 1860 and Sections 25
and 27 of the Arms Act, 1959 (Sections 482 and
411 of IPC added later on), was arrested on 13 th
Signature Not Verified
1 IPC
Digitally signed by
MANIK KUMAR
Date: 2026.03.13
17:13:28 IST
Reason: Crl. Appeal @ SLP (Crl.) No.18775/2025 1
April, 2024.
4. We have heard learned counsel for the
parties.
5. Prosecution proposes to examine 23
witnesses to drive home the charges against the
appellant, but none has been examined. Thus,
the trial is likely to take some time to conclude.
6. Almost two years have passed since the
appellant was arrested without trial having
commenced and conclusion thereof nowhere
being in sight. Incarceration without trial
amounts to punishment.
7. Taking an overall view of the matter, we are
of the considered opinion that further detention
of the appellant pending trial is not necessary;
and, since the appeal deserves acceptance, the
appellant may be admitted to an order for grant
of bail.
8. Accordingly, we set aside the impugned
judgment and order.
Crl. Appeal @ SLP (Crl.) No.18775/2025 2
9. Appellant shall be released on bail, subject
to furnishing of bail bonds to the satisfaction of
the trial court and subject to such other terms
and conditions as may be imposed by it.
10. Needless to observe, the appellant shall not,
directly or indirectly, by making inducement,
threat or promise, dissuade any person
acquainted with the facts of the case from
disclosing such facts to the court.
11. In the event there is any breach of the
terms and conditions for grant of bail, the trial
court shall be at liberty to cancel the bail of the
appellant.
12. It is also ordered that the appellant shall
diligently attend proceedings of the trial, unless
exempted. If he abstains from attending the
proceedings without justifiable cause, that could
also be seen as breach of the conditions for
grant of bail and the trial court will be free to
pass appropriate orders.
Crl. Appeal @ SLP (Crl.) No.18775/2025 3
13. We clarify that the observations made in
this order and grant of bail will not be treated as
findings on the merits of the case.
14. The appeal is, accordingly, allowed on the
aforesaid terms.
15. Pending application(s), if any, shall stand
disposed of.
……………………………………..J.
(DIPANKAR DATTA)
……………………………………..J.
(PRASANNA B. VARALE)
New Delhi;
March 13, 2026.
Crl. Appeal @ SLP (Crl.) No.18775/2025 4
ITEM NO.5 COURT NO.8 SECTION II-B
S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Petition for Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.)
No.18775/2025
[Arising out of impugned final judgment and order
dated 11-07-2025 in CRMM No.24915/2025 passed by
the High Court of Punjab & Haryana at Chandigarh]
PARDEEP KUMAR @ BANU Petitioner
VERSUS
STATE OF PUNJAB Respondent
I.A. No.284306/2025-EXEMPTION FROM FILING C/C OF
THE IMPUGNED JUDGMENT
I.A. No.284307/2025-PERMISSION TO FILE ADDITIONAL
DOCUMENTS/FACTS/ANNEXURES
Date : 13-03-2026 This matter was called on for
hearing today.
CORAM : HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE DIPANKAR DATTA
HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE PRASANNA B. VARALE
For Petitioner(s) :Mr. Gaurav Goyal, Adv.
Ms. Srija Choudhury, AOR
For Respondent(s) :Ms. Abha Sharma, AOR
Mr. Anupam Maurya, Adv.
Mr. Praneet Das, Adv.
Crl. Appeal @ SLP (Crl.) No.18775/2025 5
UPON hearing the counsel the Court made
the following
O R D E R
1. Leave granted.
2. The appeal is allowed in terms of the signed order.
3. Pending application(s), if any, shall stand disposed of.
(MANIK KUMAR) (SUDHIR KUMAR SHARMA)
SENIOR PERSONAL ASSISTANT COURT MASTER (NSH)
Crl. Appeal @ SLP (Crl.) No.18775/2025 6