USHA RANI v. STATE OF PUNJAB
Court: High Court of Punjab and Haryana
Bench: MRS. JUSTICE AMARJOT BHATTI
Judgment date:
Case summary
High Court of Punjab and Haryana judgment dated 2025-08-18. USHA RANI v. STATE OF PUNJAB. Read the judgment and case details on LawSphereX.
Judgment text
IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH 289 CRM-M-37970-2025 Decided on:- 18. 08. 2025 Usha Rani .... Petitioner Versus State of Punjab .... Respondent CORAM:- HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE AMARJOT BHATTI Present:- Mr. Tejvir Singh Maness, Advocate for the petitioner. Ms. Amrit Kaur Mahir, AAG, Punjab. * * * * * AMARJOT BHATTI, J. (Oral) 1. Petitioner Usha Rani has filed petition under Section 482 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for grant of anticipatory bail in case FIR No. 0026 dated 22. 01. 2025 under Section 108, 3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Annexure P-1) registered at Police Station City Faridkot, District Faridkot, Punjab. 2. As per the facts of case, complainant Anita gave her statement that she is doing work as a domestic helper. Her daughter Anjali age about 22 years was earlier married. She was having a son Ekam aged about 4-5 years out of said wedlock. First marriage ended in divorce.
Victim re-married Rakesh Kumar and out of this marriage, she gave birth to twin daughters aged about one and a half months. As per customs, she left her daughter alongwith newly born daughters to matrimonial home on 21. 01. 2025. Her daughter told her about the maltreatment given to her and she further informed that she was not given food to eat. After some time, she again called her and informed that even by that time she was not given food to eat. Finally, she had sent Manjot Singh who was friend of her son to send food to her daughter. At about 01:00-01:30 pm, she reached matrimonial home of her daughter. She met Surjit Singh – father-in-law and Usha Rani – sister-in-law that she wanted to meet her daughter. They started abusing her. When they tried to go to the first floor where her daughter was present, they prevented them and put lock on the door. Complainant raised alarm and also tried to call police.
She had a talk with her daughter on phone and thereafter, returned to her home at Dashmesh Nagar. She received information from police that her daughter has committed suicide by hanging herself from the ceiling fan. Complainant alleged that her daughter committed suicide on account of maltreatment given to her by her husband and in-laws family. With these allegations, present FIR has been registered. 3. Learned counsel for petitioner argued that Usha Rani is married sister-in-law of deceased victim. She got married in Jalandhar, whereas, matrimonial home of deceased victim was situated at Faridkot. Copy of her Marriage Certificate dated 17. 11. 2024 is Annexure P-2. False and frivolous allegations have been levelled against petitioner. She is ready to join investigation as and when required. Therefore, her anticipatory bail petition may be allowed. 4. Status report has been filed.
It is pointed out that specific role is attributed to petitioner that she caused harassment to deceased victim alongwith other members of in-laws family. Even on the day when complainant had gone to matrimonial home of her daughter, petitioner was present there. Co-accused Surjit Singh and Jyoti Rani have been arrested on 23. 01. 2025. Co-accused Rinku alias Kanwaljit Singh also joined investigation. Challan has been presented against co-accused, whereas, present petitioner is yet to join investigation. 5. I have considered the arguments and facts narrated in FIR. As per facts detailed above, present petitioner is specifically named for causing harassment to deceased victim even when complainant had gone to matrimonial house of her daughter to provide her food. It is a case of unnatural death by hanging. Matter requires thorough investigation.
Considering the specific allegations and gravity of offence, I do not find a fit case for grant of anticipatory bail and petition filed by petitioner Usha Rani is, accordingly, dismissed. 6. Pending application(s), if any, also stands disposed of accordingly. 18. 08. 2025 (AMARJOT BHATTI) lalit JUDGE Whether speaking/reasoned: Yes/No Whether reportable: Yes/No
Source: High Court of Punjab and Haryana. Dataset: Dattam Labs. CC BY 4.0. Text extracted automatically; compare with the source PDF for layout and accuracy.