Peetam Singh v. State of Haryana

o o o o o 1o o o 212o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHo o o PeetamoSinghoo o o o o o ....Petitionero versuso o StateoofoHaryanaoo o o o o o ....Respondento o DateoofoDecision:oJanuaryo21,o2026o DateoofoUploading:oJanuaryo22,o2026o

CORAM:oo HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSUMEEToGOELo o Present:oo Mr.oRahuloBhargava,oAdvocateoandooPresent o o Mr.oAvijitoSingh,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioner.oo o o o Ms.oPriyankaoSadaroThakur,oSenioroDAGoHaryana.oo o *****o SUMEEToGOEL,oJ.o(Oral)oo o o o TheopresentopetitionoisotheosecondoattemptounderoSectiono482oofo BharatiyaoNagarikoSurakshaoSanhita,o2023o(hereinafterotoobeoreferredoaso'theo BNSS')o foro granto ofo pre-arrest/anticipatoryo bailo too theo petitioner,o ino caseo bearingoFIRoNo.404odatedo03.10.2025,oregisteredoforotheooffencesopunishableo underoSectionso125oando318(4)oofotheoBharatiyaoNyayaoSanhita,o2023o(foro shorto'BNS'),oSectiono15(2)oofotheoNationaloMedicaloCommissionoAct,o2019o andoSectionso18(C),o18(A)oando18(B)oofotheoDrugsoandoCosmeticsoAct,o1940,o atoPoliceoStationoSectoro8,oDistrictoFaridabad.oo o o Theoearlieropetitionoforograntoofopre-arrest/anticipatoryobailotoo theo petitionero waso dismissedo aso withdrawno ono 27.11.2025o byo thiso Court,o relevantowhereoforeadsothus:oo o o o o o 2o o "PresentopetitionohasobeenofiledounderoSectiono482oofotheoBNSS,o 2023oforograntoofoanticipatoryobailotootheopetitioneroinocaseoFIRoNo.404o datedo03.10.2025,oregisteredounderoSectionso125o&o318(4)oofotheoBNS,o 2023,oSectiono15(2)oofotheoNationaloMedicaloCommissionoAct,o2019oando Sectionso18(C),o18(A)o&o18(B)oofotheoDrugsoandoCosmeticsoAct,o1940,oato PoliceoStationoSectoro8,oDistrictoFaridabad.oo

2.o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitioner,o aftero arguingo foro sometime,o seekso too withdrawo theo petitiono ino hando witho libertyo too fileo afresho aftero givingocomplete/obetteroparticulars.ooo

3.oo Orderedoaccordingly.oo

4.oo Pendingoapplication(s),oifoany,oshalloalsoostandodisposedoof."o o o o Thereafter,otheopresentopetitionoi.e.otheosecondopetitionoforogranto ofoanticipatory/pre-arrestobailohasobeenopreferredobyotheopetitioneroonoando aroundo28.11.2025.oo

2.oo o TheogravamenoofotheoFIRoinoquestionoisothatoono03.10.2025,oDr.o Vijay,oASMO,oB.K.oHospital,oFaridabad,opursuantotooLetteroNo.FW/o2025/o 735/o736/o737odatedo03.10.2025oissuedobyotheoCMO,oFaridabad,oalongowitho Dr.oTarun,oDentist,oSector-3,oFaridabad,oShrioParveenoRathee,oDrugoControlo Officer,oandoShrioSatbiroRawal,oNaiboTehsildar,oGonchhi,oactingoasotheoDutyo Magistrate,osoughtopoliceoassistanceoforoconductingoaoraidoatotheoshopoofoao quackooperatingo fromo theo houseo ofo Sehdev,o sono ofo Udaiveer,o residento ofo Villageo Sihi,o Sector-8,o Faridabad.o Thereafter,o ino theo presenceo ofo policeo officials,o theo aforesaido teamo conductedo theo raid,o duringo whicho certaino prescriptions,omedicines,oandootheroarticlesowereorecoveredoandotakenointoo policeopossessionovideoseparateorecoveryomemos.oAsoperoprosecutionocase,o informationo hado beeno receivedo thato ao persono waso illegallyo practicingo medicineoatotheosaidoshopowithoutopossessingoanyovalidomedicalodegreeooro authorization.oHowever,oatotheotimeoofotheoraid,onoodoctorowasofoundopresento atotheoshop.oAsoperotheostatementoofotheohouseoowner,onamely,oSehdev,oDr.o PreetamoSingho(petitioneroherein)owasopracticingoatotheoshoposituatedoinohiso o o o o o 3o o house.oBasedoonotheseosetoofoallegations,otheoinstantoFIRowasodulyoregisteredo andoinvestigationoensued.oo

3.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionero haso iteratedo thato ao bareo perusaloofotheoFIRoitselfoshowsothatoallegationsoleveledoagainstotheopetitionero areoconcocted,oimprobableoandodevoidoofoanyomerit.oLearnedocounselohaso furtheroiteratedothatoneither,otheopetitionerowasopresentoatotheosportonorohaso anyoconcernowithotheoallegedooffence.oLearnedocounselohasoalsooiteratedothato theo petitionero iso merelyo ao tenanto ino theo shopo ino questiono ando haso noo ownership,ocontrol,oaccessooroconnectionowithotheosaidoshopofromowhereotheo allegedorecoveryohasobeenomade,oand,oinofact,otheoowneroofotheohouse,oino which,otheoaforesaidoshopoisosituated,oisooneoSehdevoandoheoisorunningotheo saidoshopounderonameoandostyleoofoFynelifeoPharma.oLearnedocounselohaso arguedo that,o ino fact,o saido landlordo haso someo disputeo witho hiso immediateo neighboursoand,osinceotheoneighboursoofotheopetitionerohadogivenofakeooralo informationo too theo complainant,o therefore,o theo petitionero haso beeno unnecessarilyodraggedointootheopresentolitigationowhenothereoisonooevidenceo availableo witho theo prosecutiono too connecto theo petitionero witho theo allegedo crime.oLearnedocounselohasofurtheroarguedothatoinvocationoofoSectiono318(4)o ofotheoBNS,o2023oisowhollyomisconceivedoasotheoFIRoinoquestiononowhereo showsoanyoallegationoofocheating,oinducement,owrongfulogain/olossooroanyoacto committedobyotheopetitioner.oLearnedocounselohasofurtheroarguedothatotheo petitioneroisoanoeducatedoAyurvedicodoctorohavingovalidolicenceofromotheo competentoauthorities.oo

3.1.o o Learnedocounseloassertsothatotheopoliceohaveonotoconductedoao fairoandoimpartialoinvestigationoandotheoinquiryoconductedosoofaroisonotoonlyo incomplete,obutoalsootaintedowithobias.oMoreover,otheocustodialointerrogationoMAHAVIR SINGH o o o o o 4o o shouldo noto beo usedo aso ao punitiveo measureo ando iso justifiedo onlyo wheno absolutelyonecessaryoforotheorecoveryoofomaterialoevidence.oFurthermore,otheo petitionero iso readyo too joino theo investigationo ando henceo noousefulo purposeo wouldo beo servedo byo sendingo himo behindo theo bars.o Ono theo aforesaido submissions,otheograntoofoanticipatoryobailoisoentreatedofor.oo

4.o o Pero contra,o learnedo Stateo counselo haso opposedo theo granto ofo anticipatoryobailotootheopetitionerobyoarguingothatotheooffenceocommittedobyo theopetitioneroisoseriousoinonature.ooLearnedoStateocounselohasoiteratedothato thereo areo specifico ando directo allegationso againsto theo petitioner.o Learnedo counseloraisesoavermentsoinotandemowithoreplyobyowayoofoanoaffidavitodatedo

06.12.2025,owhichohasoalreadyobeenofiled.oTheorelevantopartoofotheosaidoreplyo readsothus:oo "4.o ThatoafterolodgingotheoFIR,otheoinvestigationosetointootheomotiono andoduringotheoinvestigation,otheospotowasoinspectedoandoaoroughositeoplano wasoprepared.oStatementsoofowitnessesowereorecorded.oAsoperotheostatemento ofotheolandlordoSahdev,otheonameoofotheodoctorowasogivenoasoPeetamoSingho Rana,o sono ofo Sodano Singh,o residento ofo M.No.o E-1506,o Dabuao Colony,o Faridabad.oCDRoofoPeetamoSinghoRana'somobileowasoobtained.oAccusedo Peetamo Singho Ranao hado appliedo foro anticipatoryo bailo ino theo Honorableo CourtoofoShrioSurendraoKumaroASJoFaridabado ono24-10-25,owhichohaso beenorejectedobyotheoCourtovideoorderodatedoono28-10-25.ooo

5.oo Thatotheopetitioneroisoattemptingotooimproveohisocaseobyoraisingonewo pleasoinotheopresentopetitionowhichowereoneverotakenobeforeotheolearnedo AdditionaloSessionsoJudgeoinotheofirstoanticipatoryobailoapplication,onoro wereosuchogroundsoraisedoinotheopetitioner'soearlierobailopetitionoCRM-M-66617-2025o beforeo thiso Hon'bleo Court,o whicho waso dismissedo aso withdrawn.oAtonoopriorostageodidotheopetitionerodiscloseoororelyouponotheo allegedoAyurvedicoqualificationooroclaimoanyorightotoopracticeoasoaomedicalo professionaloinoHaryana,oandosuchogroundsoareoaoclearoafterthoughtodeviseo onlyoafterotheorejectionoofohisofirstobailorequest.oTheodeliberateoconcealmento ofothisopleaoinoearlieroproceedings,ocoupledowithotheopetitioner'soattemptotoo introduceonewofactsoatoaolaterostage,odemonstratesolackoofobonaofidesoando constituteso suppressiono ofo materialo facts.o Hence,o theo petitioner,o havingo failedotooraiseothisocontentionoatotheofirstoavailableoopportunity,ocannotobeo permittedotooimproveoororeconstructohisocaseoinotheosecondobailopetition,o andotheopresentopetitionodeservesotoobeorejectedoonothisogroundoalone.oo

6.oo Thato theo custodialo interrogationo ofo theo petitionero iso absolutelyo necessaryoforotheofairoandoeffectiveoinvestigationoofotheopresentocase,oasotheo recoveryomadeofromotheopremisesoclearlyoshowsoanoongoingoillegalomedicalo practiceoandoseveralocrucialoaspectsoremainounanswered,owhichocannotobeo elicitedowithoutohisocustodialoquestioning.oTheopetitioneroisorequiredotoobeo interrogatedo too ascertaino theo sourceo ofo theo medicines,o theo identityo ofo patientsotreated,otheooriginoandoauthorshipoofotheoprescriptionsorecovered,o o o o o o 5o o ando theo extento ofo theo illegalo clinico beingo run,o aso wello aso too recovero prescriptionopads,oappointmentoregisters,oWhatsAppochats,odigitalorecords,o ando othero incriminatingo materialo relatingo too unauthorizedo medicalo treatment.oFurther,otheoauthenticityoofotheopetitioner'soallegedoAyurvedico certificateo ando hiso actualo entitlemento too practiceo ino Haryanao requireso detailedoconfrontationowithodocumentsoduringocustodialointerrogation.oTheo illegalopracticeoofomedicineowithoutolicenceoisoaoseriousooffenceoaffectingo publicohealth,oandoallowingotheopetitionerotooevadeocustodialointerrogationo wouldoseriouslyoprejudiceotheoinvestigation,oasoheoisoinoaopositionotootampero withoevidence,oinfluenceolocalowitnesses,oandodestroyomaterialopertainingo toohisoillegalopractice.oTherefore,oinotheointerestoofojusticeoandotoouneartho theoentireoillegalomedicalosetup,otheocustodialointerrogationoofotheopetitionero isoindispensableoandofullyojustified.oo

7.oo Thato ito iso significanto too mentiono hereo thato ino complianceo too theo orderoofothisoHon'bleocourt,otheoansweringorespondentohasogotoverifiedotheo AurvedicoqualificationofromoRegistrar,oBiharoStateoAyurvedicoandoUnanio Medicalo Councel,o Patna.o Aso pero theo recordo theo recognitiono ofo theo certificateo waso cancelledo sinceo theo yearo 2006.o Trueo translationo ofo theo verificationoisoannexedoherewithoasoAnnexureoR-1."o o o o LearnedoStateocounselohasofurtheroarguedothatogivenotheoseverityo ofotheooffence,othereoexistsoaosubstantialolikelihoodothatotheopetitioneromayo abscondoorotamperowithotheoevidenceoifoheoisoenlargedoonobail.oFurthermore,o custodialointerrogationoofotheopresentopetitioneroisoessentialotooascertainotheo sourceo ofo medicines,o theo identityo ofo patientso treated,o theo origino ando authorisationshipoofo theoprescriptionso recovered,o andotheo extento ofo illegalo clinico beingo run,o aso wello aso too recovero prescriptiono pads,o appointmento register,oWhatsAppochats,odigitalorecords,oandootheroincriminatingomaterialo relatingo too unauthorizedo medicalo treatment.o Ono theo strengtho ofo theseo submissions,odismissaloofotheopresentopetitionoisoentreatedofor.oo

5.o o Iohaveoheardotheolearnedocounseloforotheorivalopartiesoandohaveo goneothroughotheoavailableorecordoofotheocase.oo

6.o o Itowouldobeoappositeotooreferohereinotooaojudgmentopassedobyothiso Courto ino ao titledo aso Bhishamo Singho vs.o Stateo ofo Haryana,o 2024(3)o RCR(Criminal)o65,orelevantowhereoforeadsoasounder:oo o "11.o Asoanoepilogueotootheoaboveorumination,otheofollowingoprincipleso emerge:o o Io Second/successiveoanticipatoryobailopetition(s)ofiledoundero Sectiono438oofoCr.P.C.,o1973oisomaintainableoinolawo&ohenceosuchoMAHAVIR SINGH o o o o o 6o o petitiono oughto noto too beo rejectedo solelyo ono theo groundo ofo maintainabilityothereof.o o IIo oSucho second/successiveo anticipatoryo bailo petition(s)o iso maintainableo whethero earliero petitiono waso dismissedo aso withdrawn/dismissedoasonotopressed/dismissedoforonon-prosecutiono oroearlieropetitionowasodismissedoonomerits.o o IIIo oForotheosecond/successiveoanticipatoryobailopetition(s)otoo succeed,o theo petitioner/applicanto shallo beo essentially/pertinentlyo requiredotooshowosubstantialochangeoinocircumstancesoandoshowingo ofoaomereosuperficialooroostensibleochangeowouldonotosuffice.o o IVo oNooexhaustiveoguidelinesocanopossiblyobeolaidodownoasotoo whatowouldoconstituteosubstantialochangeoinocircumstancesoasoeveryo caseohasoitsoownouniqueofacts/circumstance.oAccordingly,othisoissueo iso besto lefto too theo judicialo wisdomo ando discretiono ofo theo Courto dealingowithosuchosecond/successiveoanticipatoryobailopetition(s).o o Vo oIno caseo ao Courto chooseso too granto second/successiveo anticipatoryo bailo petition(s),o cogento ando lucido reasonso areo pertinentlyorequiredotoobeorecordedoforograntingosuchopleaodespiteo suchoaopleaobeingosecond/successiveopetition(s).oInootherowords,otheo causeo foro ao Courto havingo successfullyo countenanced/entertainedo suchosecond/successiveopetition(s)ooughtotoobeoreadilyoandoclearlyo decipherableofromotheosaidoorderopassed.o o VIo Onceo ao pleao foro anticipatoryo bailo haso beeno dismissedo aso withdrawn/dismissedoasonotopressed/dismissedoforonon-prosecutiono orodismissedoonomeritsobyotheoHighoCourt,onoosecond/successiveo anticipatoryo bailo petition(s)o shallo beo entertainedo byo ao Sessionso Court."o o

7.o o Theo presento petitiono iso ao secondo petitiono foro granto ofo anticipatoryo bailo byo theo petitioner.o Ao secondo anticipatoryo bailo petitiono iso indeedo maintainableo undero law;o however,o ito requireso demonstrationo ofo ao substantialochangeoinocircumstancesosinceotheoearlieropetition.ooItoisoaosettledo propositionoofolawothatosuchoaochangeomustobeosignificantoandonotomerelyo superficialoorotechnical,otoowarrantoreconsideration.oThisostandardoensureso thatotheoremedyoofosuccessiveobailopetitionsoisonotomisusedothroughorepeatedo filingsobutoisoavailableowhenonewoandomaterialofactorsoariseothatoalterotheo initialo assessmento ofo theo case.o Theo firsto anticipatoryo bailo filedo byo theo petitionerowasodismissedoasowithdrawnoono27.11.2025.ooTheoinstantopetition,o i.e.,osecondopetitionoforograntoofoanticipatoryobailohasobeenofiledothereafteroono ando aroundo 28.11.2025.o Noo fresho substantialo changeo ino circumstanceo haso beenobroughtoforwardowhichowouldoindicateothatotheopetitioneroisoentitledotoo o o o o o 7o o maintainohisosecondopetitionoforograntoofoanticipatoryobail.oFromotheoentireo factualoconspectusobroughtoforwardoinotheopresentopetition,onoofreshogroundo oro circumstanceo iso madeo outo soo aso too enableo theo petitionero too fileo ando maintaino theo secondo anticipatoryo bailo petition.o However,o sinceo theo firsto anticipatoryo bailo petitiono waso dismissedo aso withdrawno ando thereo waso noo adjudicationoonomeritsothereof,othisoCourtodeemsoitoappropriateotoodecideotheo instantooneoonomeritsothereofoasowell.oo

8.o o Apartofromoitobeingosecondoanticipatoryobail,oasoperotheocaseoputo fortho ino theo FIRo ino question,o indubitably,o seriouso allegationso haveo beeno levelledo againsto theo petitioner.o Aso pero theo versiono puto fortho byo theo prosecution,o theo petitionero waso illegallyo practicingo ino theo houseo ofo oneo Sehdev,owithoutohavingoanyomedicaloeducationaloqualificationoorodegree.oTheo prescriptions,o medicineso etc.o wereo takeno ino policeo possessiono byo raidingo team.oo

8.1.o o Theocustodialointerrogationostatedotoobeorequiredofororecoveryoofo prescriptions,o medicines,o ando othero incriminatingo materialo indicateso ano ongoingo illegalo medicalo practice.o Ao perusalo ofo theo replyo byo wayo ofo ano affidavitodatedo06.12.2025orevealsothatotheocustodialointerrogationoisorequiredo tooknowotheodetailsoofopatientsotreated,oauthorshipoofoprescriptions,orecoveryo ofoprescriptionopads,oregisters,odigitalorecords,oandoelectronicodata,oandotheo trueo extento ofo theo illegalo clinic.o Theseo aspectso cannoto beo effectivelyo investigatedowithoutocustodialointerrogation.oTheosaidoreplyofurtherorevealso thatotheopetitioneroisoaolocaloresidentoandoisoinoaopositionotootamperowitho evidence,oinfluenceowitnesses,oandodestroyodocumentaryoandodigitalomaterialo relatingo too theo illegalo practiceo ifo grantedo anticipatoryo bail.o Practicingo medicineowithoutovalidolicenceoororecognitionoisoaoseriousooffenceohavingoMAHAVIR SINGH o o o o o 8o o directoimplicationsoonopublicohealthoandosafety.oGrantoofoanticipatoryobailoino suchocircumstancesowouldoadverselyoaffectoaofairoandoeffectiveoinvestigation.o Further,otheosaidoreplyorevealsothatotheoallegedoAyurvedicoqualificationoofotheo petitionero standso cancelledo sinceo 2006obyo theoBiharo Stateo Ayurvedico ando UnanioMedicaloCouncil,oPatna,otherebyonegatingoanyoclaimoofolawfulomedicalo practice.oo

9.o o Noocauseonayoplausibleocauseohasobeenoshown,oatothisostage,o fromo whicho ito cano beo decipheredo thato theo petitionero haso beeno falselyo implicatedointootheopresentoFIR.oItogoesowithoutosayingothatoinotheoinstanto case,o theo petitionero iso allegedo too haveo practicedo medicineo withouto valido licenceoororecognition,owhich,oof-course,ohasoserious/odirectoimplicationsoono publico healtho ando safety.o Theo gravityo ofo theo offenceo ando theo natureo ofo allegationsoweighoheavilyoagainstotheograntoofoanticipatoryobail.oo

10.o o Itoisobefittingotoomentionohereothatowhileoconsideringoaopleaoforo grantoofoanticipatoryobail,otheoCourtohasotooequilibrateobetweenosafeguardingo individualo rightso ando protectingo societalo interest(s).o Theo Courto oughto too reckonowithotheomagnitudeoandonatureoofotheooffence;otheoroleoattributedotoo theoaccused;otheoneedoforofairoandofreeoinvestigationoasoalsootheodeeperoando wideoimpactoofosuchoallegedoiniquitiesoonotheosociety.oAtothisostage,othereoiso noomaterialoonorecordotooholdothatoprimaofacieocaseoisonotomadeooutoagainsto theo petitioner.o Theo materialo whicho haso comeo ono recordo ando preliminaryo investigation,oappearotoobeoestablishedoaoreasonableobasisoforotheoaccusations.o Thus,oitoisonotoappropriateotoograntoanticipatoryobailotootheopetitioner,oasoito wouldonecessarilyocauseoimpedimentoinoeffectiveoinvestigation.oInoStateov.o Anilo Sharma,o (1997)o 7o SCCo 187o :o 1997o SCCo (Cri)o 1039,o theo Hon'bleo SupremeoCourtoheldoasoundero:o(SCCop.o189,oparao6)oMAHAVIR SINGH o o o o o 9o o o "6.oWeofindoforceoinotheosubmissionoofoCBIothatocustodialointerrogationoiso qualitativelyomoreoelicitation-orientedothanoquestioningoaosuspectowhooiso well-ensconcedowithoaofavourableoorderounderoSectiono438oofotheoCode.oIno ao caseo likeo this,o effectiveo interrogationo ofo ao suspectedo persono iso ofo tremendousoadvantageoinodisinterringomanyousefuloinformationsoandoalsoo materialsowhichowouldohaveobeenoconcealed.oSuccessoinosuchointerrogationo wouldoeludeoifotheosuspectedopersonoknowsothatoheoisowelloprotectedoando insulatedobyoaopre-arrestobailoorderoduringotheotimeoheoisointerrogated.oVeryo oftenointerrogationoinosuchoaoconditionowouldoreduceotooaomereoritual.oTheo argumentothatotheocustodialointerrogationoisofraughtowithotheodangeroofotheo personobeingosubjectedotoothird-degreeomethodsoneedonotobeocountenanced,o for,osuchoanoargumentocanobeoadvancedobyoalloaccusedoinoallocriminalocases.o TheoCourtohasotoopresumeothatoresponsibleopoliceoofficersowouldoconducto themselvesoinotaskoofodisinteringooffencesowouldonotoconductothemselveso asooffenders."o o

11.o o Ino viewo ofo theo gravityo ofo theo allegationso involvingo illegalo medicineopracticeoandotheonecessityoofocustodialointerrogationoforoaofairoando thorougho investigation,o thiso Courto iso ofo theo consideredo opiniono thato theo petitionerodoesonotodeserveotheoconcessionoofoanticipatoryobailoinotheofactualo milieuoofotheocaseoinohand.oo

12.o o Inoviewoofotheoprevenientoratiocination,oitoisoordainedothus:o

(i)o Theo instanto petitiono iso devoido ofo meritso ando iso herebyo dismissed;oo

(ii)o Nothingo saido hereinaboveo shallo beo deemedo too beo ano expressionoofoopinionouponomeritsoofotheocase/investigation;oo

(iii)o Pendingoapplication(s),oifoany,oshalloalsoostandodisposedo off.o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o oooooo(SUMEEToGOEL)o o o o o ooooJUDGEo Januaryo21,o2026oJanuaryo21,o2026 mahaviroo Whetherospeaking/reasoned:o o Yes/Noo o Whetheroreportable:o o o Yes/Noo