In a recent ruling, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has granted bail to farmer Navdeep Singh, citing concerns over his alleged false implication in multiple cases. The court observed that Singh has been dragged into as many as 15 cases, with similar charges placed against him.
According to reports, Singh had participated in a protest organized by farmers at the Shambu border in February this year. Police had imposed restrictions on public gatherings under Section 144. It was alleged that Singh, along with other protesters, tried to break barricades and also attacked police personnel on duty. Following this, an FIR was filed against him under various sections of the IPC.
During the bail hearing, Justice Sandeep Moudgil noted that Singh has already been acquitted in six of the cases against him, while three other cases are still under investigation. Given the similar nature and location of all 15 cases, the court inferred Singh’s potential false implication. It also highlighted the violation of his right to fair trial, considering the indefinite detention without a conviction.
After examining that the investigation is complete and the trial is likely to be lengthy, the High Court granted bail to Singh. It observed that bail is the norm rather than exception, and rejecting it in this case would be unconstitutional.
The ruling has brought major relief to Singh and also sets an important precedent on preventing misuse of multiple FIRs against activists and dissenters. It reaffirms the principles of justice and the presumption of innocence.
