Farmers’ protest: Journalist Mandeep Punia granted bail, judge notes delay in filing FIR

Granting bail to Punia on a bond of Rs 25,000, the order stated: “It is pertinent to mention here that the alleged scuffle incident of present case is of around 6.30 pm. However, the present FIR was registered at around 1.21 am on the next day. Moreover, the complainant, victims and witnesses are police personnel only. Hence, there is no possibility that accused/applicant can…influence any of the police officials.”

The court also said that no recovery is to be effected from the accused person and keeping the accused further in Judicial Custody would not serve any “cogent purpose”.

“It is well settled legal principle of law that ‘bail is a rule and jail is an exception’,” the order granting him bail said.

Opposing the bail application, the public prosecutor had said that Punia “may again indulge in instigating the protestors and may create nuisance at the protest site with the group of different people and may hamper the investigation”.