2020 Chandigarh Singla Firing Case: Punjab & Haryana High Court Grants Bail To Alleged Aids Of Bishnoi Gang

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday granted bail to two alleged members of the Lawrence Bishnoi Gang accused of aiding 4 men who opened fire at liquor baron Arvind Singla's brother's house in Chandigarh in May 2020.

The bench of Justice Avneesh Jhingan granted bail to Accused Kulwinder Singh and Siva who were arrested in June 2020 in connection with the Chandigarh Singla Firing Case taking into account their period of more than two years and four months.

The case against both the accused (the alleged members of Lawrence Bishnoi gang) is that they provided help and shelter to the 4 accused persons who carried out a shoot out by way of opening fire at the house of Rakesh Singla, the brother of liquor baron Arvind Singla. The four men had allegedly tried to target Rakesh Singla, brother of Arvind Singla, however, he managed to escape by entering the house.

Thereafter, both the accused herein were arrested on June 2020 and booked under Sections 452, 307 read with Section 34 of IPC and Sections 25, 27 of Arms Act, 1959 (Section 120-B, 212, 216 of IPC added later on).

Appearing for petitioner Siva @ Shiva Veeran, Senior Advocate Bipan Ghai submitted that the petitioner is in custody since 18th June 2020; he is not involved in any other case and he was nominated on the basis of a disclosure statement.

On the other hand, Advocate Vivek Kathuria, appearing on behalf of the petitioner Kulwinder Singh @ Kala submitted that petitioner is in custody since 12th June 2020, and no recovery was made in this case.

Against this backdrop, the Court granted them bail subject to their furnishing bail bonds to the satisfaction of the Chief Judicial Magistrate/ Duty Magistrate concerned.

"Considering the facts and circumstances in totality and that petitioner are in custody for more than two years and four months; they were nominated on the basis of a disclosure statement; petitioner-Siva @ Shiva Veeran has no criminal antecedents; no recovery was made from petitioner-Kulwinder Singh @ Kala in this case and that conclusion of trial is likely to take time, the petitioners are granted bail...," the Court ordered as it allowed the bail pleas. 

Appearances:

Senior Advocate Bipan Ghai with Advocate P.S. Bindra and Advocate Nikhil Ghai for the petitioner (in CRM-M-44824-2021).

Advocate Vivek Kathuria for the petitioner (in CRM-M-18825-2021).

Addl. APP, U.T., Chandigarh C.S. Bakshi for UT

Case title - Kulwinder Singh @ Kala vs. Union Territory, Chandigarh, and a connected matter

Case Citation: 2022 LiveLaw (PH) 320

Click Here To Read/Download Order