‘Plant 10 indigenous saplings’: Punjab and Haryana High Court grants anticipatory bail with green mandate

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has virtually planted seeds of change by asking an accused to go green and plant “10 saplings of indigenous plants at a public place” before granting her anticipatory bail in a cheating case.

The accused had moved the court seeking anticipatory bail in connection with an FIR registered on December 15, 2023, for several alleged offences, including cheating, at the Tigaon police station in Faridabad.

Appearing before Chief Justice Sheel Nagu’s bench, her counsel contended that the offences of cheating, forgery and house-tresspass alleged against the petitioner had its genesis in a controversy revolving around a will, which was subject matter of challenge in civil litigation.

Her counsel also told the bench that forensic science laboratory report was against the petitioner, but the handwriting expert’s report was in her favour. He added that the petitioner had no criminal antecedents, while suggesting that the likelihood of her fleeing was minimal. At the same time, he contended, her arrest might entail serious adverse consequences to her personal life and dignity.

Chief Justice asserted the benefit of interim anticipatory bail was being extended to the petitioner subject to her furnishing personal bonds for a sum of Rs 50,000 with two sureties of the like amount each. The court mandated that the petitioner must cooperate with the investigation and join as required.

“This order shall also remain subject to the following condition – the petitioner shall plant 10 saplings of indigenous plants at a public place and submit proof in that regard by way of photographs before the registry before the next date of hearing, failing which the registry is directed to place the matter before the appropriate bench where the bench may consider recall of the order,” Justice Nagu concluded.