/2023 INSC 0612/
REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO 1793 OF 2023
[Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Crl.) No.8146 2023]
[Arising out of Special Leave Petition (Crl.) D.No.20936 of 2022]
Pratibha Manchanda & Anr.  … Appellant(s)
VERSUS
State of Haryana & Anr.   … Respondent(s)
JUDGMENT
Surya Kant, J.
1.   Application seeking permission to file the SLP is
allowed. Leave Granted.
2. The   instant   appeal   arises   from   a   judgment   of
the   High   Court   of   Punjab   and   Haryana   at
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Chandigarh   (hereinafter,   ‘High   Court’)   dated
31.05.2022,   whereby   the   High   Court   allowed   the
petition   filed   under   Section   438   of   the   Code   of
Criminal Procedure, 1973 (hereinafter, ‘Cr.P.C’) and
granted anticipatory bail to Respondent No. 2 in FIR
No. 113 of 2022, dated 16.03.2022, registered at PS
Badshahpur,   district   Gurugram,   under   Sections
406,   420,   467,   468,   471   and   120­B   of   the   Indian
Penal Code, 1860 (hereinafter, ‘IPC’). 
A. FACTS
3. The   abovementioned   FIR   was   lodged   by   the
Appellants   against   Respondent   No.   2   and   other
co­accused individuals, namely, Shel Narang,  Bhim
Singh   and   Vinod.   According   to   the   contents   of   the
FIR,   the   Appellants   are   senior   citizens   who   were
owners     and   had   possession   over   the   land   bearing
rect.   No.   55,   Killa   No.   3/1   (7­9),   4/1   (7­13),
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measuring   15   Kanal   2   Marla,   situated   within   the
revenue   estate   of   Village   Begampur   Khatola,   Tehsil
Kadipur,   District   Gurugram   (hereinafter,   ‘Subject
Land’)  for  over  a period of 30 years. The Appellants
claim   that   they   never   sold   the   Subject   Land   to
anyone   nor   have   they   ever   executed   any   power   of
attorney   (hereinafter,   ‘GPA’)   in   favor   of   any   third
party.   The   area   has,   in   their   version   of   events,
always   been   unequivocally   under   their   possession
and has never been ceded in any form or fashion to
people outside the family.
4. On 28.02.2022, Appellant No. 2 went to Patwar
Bhawan, Gurugram to obtain revenue papers for the
Subject   Land.   He   discovered   there   only   that   a
person   named   Bhim   Singh   Rathi   had   approached
the   halqa   patwari   to   sanction   mutation   of   the
aforementioned   land.   The   application   for   mutation
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was,   as   per   the   Appellants,   based   on   a   forged   and
fabricated sale deed bearing vasika No. 11493 dated
24.02.2022   (hereinafter,   ‘2022   Sale   Deed’).   After
looking   into   the   matter   further,   Appellant   No.   2
learned that the said sale deed was registered in the
office   of   Sub­Registrar   Kadipur,   District   Gurugram
and   was   executed   by   Respondent   No.   2.   The
execution   in   question   was   based   on   yet   another,
purportedly,     forged   and   fabricated   GPA   bearing
Vasika   No.   13907   dated   18.09.1996   (hereinafter,
‘1996   GPA’),     registered   in   the   office   of
Sub­Registrar­V, South East Delhi. 
5. The   Appellants,   as   alluded   to   earlier,   have
adopted   the   stance   that   they   never   executed   or
registered   any   GPA   in   favor   of   Respondent   No.   2,
nor   are  they   even   acquainted  with   him   in  any   form
or   fashion.   Instead,   both   the   1996   GPA   and   the
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2022   Sale   Deed   were   completely   fraudulent
documents   created   by   Respondent   No.   2   and   the
remaining   co­accused   named   in   the   FIR,   in
collusion with  other  officials at the   Sub­Registrar's
office.   These   actions   were   carried   out   in   complete
subterfuge   and   without   any   involvement   of   the
Appellants.
6. The   Appellants   claim   that   they   are   in
possession   of   the   original   sale   deed   for   the   Subject
Land,   and   a   true   copy   of   it   was   attached   to   the
complaint.    Upon examining  the  2022 Sale Deed, it
was apparent to them that the accused had failed to
provide   a   PAN   Number,   which   is   mandatorily
required   for   a   valid   sale   deed.   Furthermore,   there
was no mention of  the 1% amount of Tax Deducted
at Source (hereinafter, ‘TDS’) being deposited, which
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also   forms   part   of   the   requirements   for   execution
and registration of a sale deed.
7. The   complaint   also   mentioned   the   current
market  value of  the Appellants'  land, measuring  15
Kanal   2   Marla,   as   being   approximately     not   less
than Rs. 50 crores. However, in the 2022 Sale Deed,
the sale consideration was  shown as an abjectly low
and   meager   amount   of   Rs.   6,60,62,500/­,   which
was   significantly   below   its   actual   asking   price.
Moreover, the Appellants had not received even this
miniscule   amount   even   if   the   2022   Sale   Deed   was
hypothetically   considered   to   be   valid.   Thus,   this
document   was   clearly   created   by   Respondent   No.   2
and the co­accused in collusion with the witnesses,
the   scribe,   and   officials   of   the   Sub­Registrar   Tehsil
Kadipur,   District   Gurugram,   with   the   unholy
intention   to   wisk   the   property   away   from   the     the
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complainants   and   place   it   under   the   possession   of
the accused.  
8. Accordingly, the    First Information  Report was
registered   at   Police   Station,   Badshahpur,
Gurugram,   and   an   investigation   was   initiated.
Respondent No. 2, fearing arrest if he were asked to
appear   before   the     Investigating   Officer,   filed   an
application   for   Anticipatory   Bail   before   the
Additional Sessions Judge, Gurugram.
9. The   Additional   Sessions   Judge,   Gurugram,
dismissed   Respondent   No.   2's   application   for
anticipatory   bail   in   an   order   dated   23.05.2022,
while observing that:
i. Respondent   No.   2   was   accused   of   allegedly
forging   a   GPA   and   executing   the   2022   Sale
Deed.   The   original   1996   GPA   was   still   to     be
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recovered   by   the   police.   Several   questions
pertaining to the whereabouts of the 1996 GPA,
the   execution   of   the   sale   deed,   the   payment   of
sale consideration, sanctioning of the mutation,
and the relationship between Respondent No. 2
and the Appellants,  were all to be ascertained; 
ii.  The   allegations   against   Respondent   No.  2  were
serious,   and   filing   a   civil   suit   did   not   absolve
them of criminal liability. Anticipatory bail was
to   be   granted   only   in   exceptional
circumstances,   as   a   person   under   pre­arrest
bail   may   not   disclose   all   the   relevant   facts
under   questioning,   due   to   the   safeguard
provided   under   Section   438   of   the   Cr.P.C.
Custodial   interrogation   of   Respondent   No.   2
was     necessary   for   a   thorough   investigation,
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given all the outstanding points of inquiry that
remained pending.
10. Aggrieved,   Respondent   No.   2   filed   an
application   for   Anticipatory   Bail   before   the   High
Court.   The   High   Court,   vide   impugned   order   dated
31.05.2022,   allowed   the   application     and   granted
him   Anticipatory   Bail.   The   High   Court,   inter   alia ,
observed that:
i. The   dispute   involves   the   validity   of   the   1996
GPA and the misappropriation of the purported
sale   consideration.   Civil   suits   have   been   filed
regarding the ownership and possession of the
property   already   and   a   handwriting   expert's
report   was   crucial   in   determining   the
authenticity of the signatures; 
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ii.  The High Court acknowledged the pendency of
ongoing   civil   suits   and   suggested   that   the
validity   of   the   1996   GPA's   execution   could   be
determined by the civil court, and did not need
to be a determinative factor in the proceedings
for anticpatory bail; 
iii. Prima   facie ,   it   seemed   that   the   involvement   of
the   criminal   justice   system,   initiated   by   the
Appellants,   might   be   an   attempt   to   settle
certain   transactions   and   resolve   ongoing
disputes between them. In this background, to
ensure   that   justice   was   done   for   both   the
Appellants   and   Respondent   No.   2,   directions
were issued for them to provide their specimen
signatures. The handwriting expert was tasked
with comparing the writings and signatures to
assess their similarity.”
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11.   The   High   Court   ordered   that   no   arrest   of
Respondent No. 2 would be carried out as long as he
provided   personal   and   surety   bonds   of   Rs.   2   lakhs
each   to   the   satisfaction   of   the   investigating   officer.
While   extending   these   protections,   Respondent
No.   2   was   also   instructed   to   cooperate   with   the
investigation   whenever   required   and   to   give   an
undertaking     to   avoid   tampering   with   prosecution
evidence,   or   influence   any   of   the   witnesses.
Furthermore, a deposit of of Rs. 1.50 Crores was to
be subimtted before the concerned Magistrate which
would   serve   as   victim   compensation   and   be
disbursed based on the outcome of the trial.
12. The   Appellants  being   aggrieved  at   the  grant   of
anticipatory bail, are before us.
B. CONTENTIONS
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13. Shri   Saket   Sikri,   learned   counsel   for   the
Appellants,   vehemently   contended   that   the   High
Court   acted   on   the   erroneous   assumption   that   the
alleged   1996   GPA   in   favor   of   Respondent   No.   2   is
genuine.   The   original   copy   of   1996   GPA   has   not
been   recovered   by   the   police   till   date,   and   hence,
custodial interrogation is required. Furthermore, the
High   Court   failed  to   consider   that   despite   the   1996
GPA   being   executed  in   favour   of   Respondent   No.  2,
he   applied   for   its   certified   copy   only   in   February
2022,   i.e.,   26   years   later,   whereas   he   should   have
possessed   the   original   already   if   his   claim   is   to   be
bona   fide .   The   present   case   is   one   where
Respondent   No.   2,   in   collusion   with   other   accused
persons, has carried out an elaborate fraud against
the   Appellants,   who   are   vulnerable   owing   to   their
age and the NRI status. Additionally, the signatures
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used   by   Appellant   No.   2   during   the   period   between
1990­2000 are dissimilar, unalike and non­identical
from   those   inscribed   on   the   alleged   GPA   dated
18.09.1996.   In   addition,   the   consideration   of   the
alleged sale deed ­ Rs. 6.60 crores ­ is far less than
the   market   value   of   the   Subject   Land,   which   is
stated to be Rs. 50 crores.
14. Ms.   Bansuri   Swaraj,   learned   Additional
Advocate   General   appearing   on   behalf   of
Respondent   No.   1   –   State   of   Haryana,   strongly
contested   the   grant   of   anticipatory   bail   to
Respondent No. 2 and supported the stand taken by
the   Appellants.   It   was   argued   that   a   strong   prima
facie   case   has   been   made   out   against   Respondent
No. 2, and that his custodial interrogation is vital to
the objective of unearthing the larger conspiracy.
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15. Shri   Maninder   Singh,   learned   Senior   Counsel
representing Respondent No. 2, vigorously defended
High Court’s view and asserted that each and every
allegation, contention, and submission made by the
Appellants   was   factually   and   legally   incorrect.
Learned   Senior   Counsel   argued   that   Respondent
No.2   had   originally   purchased   the   land   in   question
from   the   Appellants   in   the   year   1996.   However,   at
that   time,   there   was   a   third­party   lease   existing   on
the   land.   In   order   to   address   this,   the   Appellants
executed   1996   GPA,   which   was   duly   registered   at
the   office   of   the   Sub­Registrar,   Kalkaji,   Delhi.   This
GPA has not been disputed in any court of law and
has not been challenged by the Appellants up to the
time   the   civil   suits   were   filed,   clearly   showing   that
the   contestation   of   its   validity   was   merely   an
afterthought.   Respondent   No.   2   had   full
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authorization   through   the   1996   GPA   to   execute   a
registered   deed   of   conveyance   for   the   property   in
question   and   receive   consideration   for   it.   On
24.02.2022,   Respondent   No.   2   sold   the   land
through   the   exercise   of   power   vested   in   him   by
virtue   of   the   1996   GPA.   However,   the   purchasers
have not been included as parties before this Court.
The   authenticity   of   the   GPA   had   been   verified
according to the report of the Sub Registrar, Kalkaji,
dated 13.02.2022 and the sale of the land only took
place   after   the   receipt   of   the   verification   report.   It
was   only   after   this   that   the   Appellants   began
threatening   Respondent   No.   2   and   the   purchasers,
and subsequently filed the civil suits contesting the
validity   of   the   GPA.   Furthermore,   the   High   Court
has   granted   anticipatory   bail   to   Respondent   No.   2
subject   to   strict   conditions   such   as   providing
specimen signatures to the Investigating Officer and
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depositing   Rs.   1.50   crores.   The   police   have   also
obtained records from the Sub Registrar's office and
Respondent   No.   2   has   complied   with   all   the
conditions imposed on him by the High Court.
C. ANALYSIS
16. It goes without saying that the alleged offences
of   forging   documents   for   transferring   ownership   of
land   worth   crores   of   rupees   are   grave   in   nature.
Hence, while it is extremely important to protect the
personal liberty of a person, it is equally incumbent
upon   us   to   analyze   the   seriousness   of   the   offence
and   determine   if   there   is   a   need   for   custodial
interrogation.
17. In   Siddharam   Satlingappa   Mhetre   v.   State
of   Maharashtra 1
,   this   Court   carefully   considered
the principles established by the Constitution Bench
1  (2011)   1   SCC   694.
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in   Gurbaksh   Singh   Sibbia   v.   State   of   Punjab 2
case.   After   a   thorough   deliberation,   this   court
arrived at the following conclusion:
"112.   The   following   factors   and
parameters   can   be   taken   into
consideration   while   dealing   with
anticipatory bail:
(i) The   nature   and   gravity   of   the
accusation   and   the   exact   role   of   the
accused   must   be   properly   comprehended
before arrest is made;
(ii) The   antecedents   of   the   applicant
including   the   fact   as   to   whether   the
accused   has   previously   undergone
imprisonment   on   conviction   by   a   court   in
respect of any cognizable offence;
(iii) The   possibility   of   the   applicant   to
flee from justice;
(iv) The   possibility   of   the   accused's
likelihood   to   repeat   similar   or   other
offences;
(v) Where the accusations have been made
only   with   the   object   of   injuring   or
humiliating   the   applicant   by   arresting   him
or her;
(vi) Impact   of   grant   of   anticipatory   bail,
particularly   in   cases   of   large   magnitude
affecting a very large number of people.
xxx xxx xxx”
2  (1980) 2 SCC 565.
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18. In   Sushila   Aggarwal   v.   State   (NCT   of
Delhi) 3
,   the   Constitution   Bench   reaffirmed   that
when   considering   applications   for   anticipatory   bail,
courts   should   consider   factors   such   as   the   nature
and gravity of the offences, the role attributed to the
applicant, and the specific facts of the case.
19. The   relief   of   Anticipatory   Bail   is   aimed   at
safeguarding   individual   rights.   While   it   serves   as   a
crucial   tool   to   prevent   the   misuse   of   the   power   of
arrest   and   protects   innocent   individuals   from
harassment,   it   also   presents   challenges   in
maintaining   a   delicate   balance   between   individual
rights and the interests of justice.   The tight rope we
must   walk   lies   in   striking   a   balance   between
safeguarding individual rights and protecting public
interest.  While  the   right  to   liberty  and   presumption
3  (2018) 7 SCC 731.
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of innocence are vital, the court must also consider
the gravity of the offence, the impact on society, and
the need for a fair and free investigation. The court's
discretion   in   weighing   these   interests   in   the   facts
and circumstances of each individual case becomes
crucial to ensure a just outcome.
20. Adverting   to   some   of   the   undisputed   facts   in
this  case, it is  clear  that  the 1996 GPA has  not yet
seen the light of the day. No indication regarding the
location   of   the   original   document   has   been   placed
before   us.   In   light   of   Respondent   No.   2’s   own
contention, what transpired in 1996 was the sale of
the   Subject  Land  through  the  GPA. Upon  reviewing
a   copy   of   the   alleged   1996   GPA   presented   to   the
court,   the   Appellants   relinquished   all   crucial   rights
pertaining to the Subject Land. These rights include
possession   of   the   land,   handling   water,   sewer,
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electricity,   power   connections,   and   other   services
related   to   the   property,   paying   lease   payments   and
other dues, making additions or modifications to the
existing   structure   with   required   permissions,
renting out the land, issuing receipts, and managing
tenant­related matters. Furthermore, the Appellants
granted   authority   for   selling,   disposing,   or
transferring the land, entering into agreements, and
receiving   consideration   on   behalf   of   the   principal.
However,   regardless   of   obtaining   all   the   rights   over
the Subject Land, Respondent No. 2 does not appear
to have ever informed the Revenue/local authorities
that   he   had   purportedly   ‘purchased’   the   Subject
Land   through   a   GPA.   The   ownership   of   the   land
always   remained   in   the   name   of   the   Appellants   in
the revenue record and no application for change of
mutation,   etc.   was   moved   by   the   2 nd
  Respondent.
We   are   informed   that   at   a   very   belated   stage,   after
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the   execution  of   the  alleged  1996  GPA,  a  portion  of
the   Subject   Land   was   acquired   by   the   Government
and   compensation   in   this   regard   was   paid   to   the
Appellants. Respondent No. 2 neither objected to the
payment of such compensation nor asserted his title
over   the   land,   which   he   normally   would   have   done
had   he   possessed   any   rights   over   it.   It   would   be
incongrous to accept transfer of ownership rights in
an   immovable   property   merely   on   execution   of   a
power of attorney.
21. We must keep in mind that the Subject Land is
a   prime   property   situated   in   the   National   Capital
Region. Even in the year 1996, it’s value must have
been   quite   significant.     The   2 nd
  Respondent   has   so
far   not   been   able   to   show   payment   of   any
consideration   to   the   Appellants   in   the   year   1996.
The   original   GPA,   as   we   have   noted   on   multiple
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ocassions, is conspicuous by its absence. A certified
copy of this GPA is said to have been relied upon to
execute   the   disputed   sale   deed.   We   fail   to
understand   or   comprehend   as   to   how   a   bona   fide
purchaser   could   pay   crores   of   rupees   as   sale
consideration   to   a   person   who   neither   possesses
documents   showing   ownership   and   title   nor   has
original   GPA   of   the   true   owner(s)   of   the   property
being sold.  The fact that the sale deed was allegedly
executed   without   mentioning   the   PAN   Number   or
without   deducting   TDS,   underlines   the   dubious
nature of  this transaction.  We are equally  intrigued
at the behaviour of   the Registering Authorities and
their   acceptance   of   the   conveyance   deed     in   the
absence   of   these   formalities   being   completed.   The
Sub­Registrar   and   his   officials   were   obligated   to
verify the ownership rights before registration of the
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sale   deed.   As   per   the   Appellants’   claim,   the     prior
original   sale   deeds   of   the   land   are   still   in   their
possession.   The   fact   that   the   vendee   agreed   to   pay
such   massive   sums   of   money   to   Respondent   No.   2
without   obtaining   the   original   records   as   of   now
casts   a   shadow   over   the   legitimacy   of   the
transaction.
22. It   warrants   mention   here   that   the   Appellants
are elderly  couple. Being  NRIs, the majority  of their
time   is   spent   abroad.   They   have   stated   that   they
were   not   in   India   at   the   time   of   execution   of
disputed   sale   deed.   The   Appellants’   claim   that   the
market   value   of   the   land   is   not   less   than     Rs.   50
crores,   although   not   got   verified   yet   by   a   valuation
expert, does not appear to be far off the mark. There
is a serious allegation of under­valuation of the land
at   the   time   of   execution   of   the   allegedly   fraudulent
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sale deed.   The contention that the consideration of
Rs.6.60   crores   is   much   less   than   the   market   value
of   the   Subject   Land,   thus,   also   requires   a   deeper
probe.
23. We   are   not   oblivious   of   the   fact   that
Respondent   No.   2   is   said   to   have   applied   for   the
certified   copy   of   the   1996   GPA   in   February,   2022
after   a   period   of   26   years   since   its   execution.     It   is
also unclear  why, given that when the Subject Land
is situated in Gurugram District, the GPA in relation
to the property  was registered in Kalkaji, New Delhi.
It   raises   some   suspicion   regarding   the   genuineness
of the   GPA. There is, thus, overwhelming and clear
cut prima facie evidence to indicate that the version
of events  provided by Respondent No. 2, the buyers
of   the   property,   and   the   Sub   Registrar,   should   be
viewed   with   scepticism.   These   parties,   prima   facie,
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appear   to   be   acting   in   concert   with   each   other   and
might be hands in glove, with the ulterior motive of
duping   the   absentee   land­owners.   This   angle
requires thorough consideration by the investigating
authorities.   The   Appellants   have   seemingly   fallen
prey   to   a   well­orchestrated   conspiracy   hatched   to
rob   them   of   their   highly   valuable   property.   In   such
cases   where   the   victims   of   a   crime,   on   account   of
their   old   age   and   geographical   distance,   are   unable
to   secure   justice   on   their   own,   it   falls   upon   Courts
and   the   State   to   carry   out   their   solemn   duty     to
ward off injustice and restore the faith of one and all
in the rule of law.
24. All these material facts which go to the root of
the   matter   were   unfortunately   not   brought   to   the
notice   of   the   High   Court.     Had   there   been   proper
assistance,  the  High  Court  also  would   have  given  a
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free   hand   to   the   investigating   agency   to   investigate
the   role   of   Respondent   No.   2,   the   vendees,   the   Sub
Registrar   and   other   officials   of   the   Registering
Authority,   so   as   to   uncover   the   collusion,
connivance   and   conspiracy,   if   any,   engineered   to
commit fraud at the expense of the Appellants.
25. Land   scams   in   India   have   been   a   persistent
issue,   involving   fraudulent   practices   and   illegal
activities related to land acquisition, ownership, and
transactions. Scammers often create fake land titles,
forge sale deeds, or manipulate land records to show
false   ownership   or   an   encumbrance­free   status.
Organized criminal networks often plan and execute
these   intricate   scams,   exploiting   vulnerable
individuals   and   communities,   and   resorting   to
intimidation or threats to force them to vacate their
properties.   These   land   scams   not   only   result   in
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financial   losses   for   individuals   and   investors   but
also   disrupt   development   projects,   erode   public
trust, and hinder socio­economic progress.
26. While   we   do   not   wish   to   comment   further   on
this issue, we believe it is necessary to  foil any trace
of     organised   crime   perpetrated   by   land   mafia,
through   an   unimpaired   and   unobstructed
investigation.
27. It   is   inarguable   that   the   cancellation   of   bail
should be done  only  for  substantial and  compelling
reasons,   however,   setting   aside   an   erroneous   bail
order   is   altogether   different   from   cancelling   bail.
This   Court   does   not   intend   to   interfere   with   the
judicial   discretion   exercised   by   the   High   Court   in
granting   bail   to   an   accused   as   a   standard   practice.
However,   it   is   essential   to   ensure   that   all   the
material   facts   are   brought   on   record   and   thereafter
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only   the   discretionary   jurisdiction   is   exercised   in
accordance   with   the   fundamental   principles   of
anticipatory bail laid down in various decisions over
time by this Court.
28. It   is   immaterial   that   the   genuineness   of   the
1996   GPA   is   already   sub­judice   before   the   Civil
Court in the civil suits pending between the parties.
The   appellants,   owing   to   their   age   and   residential
status,   cannot   be   expected   to   await   indefinitely   for
the   outcome   of   these   civil   proceedings.   Regardless,
the   pendency   of   these   cases   does   not   estop   the
issues of forgery and fabrication being considered in
the course of criminal investigation. The facts of the
case   speak   for   themselves   and   an   element   of
criminality   cannot   be   ruled   out   at   this   stage.
Whether or not the alleged offences were committed
by   Respondent   No.   2   and   his   co­accused   in   active
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collusion   with   each   other   can   be   effectively
determined   by     a   free,   fair,   unhampered   and
dispassionate   investigation.   In   the   peculiar   facts
and   circumstances   of   this   case,   custodial
interrogation   of   not   only   Respondent   No.   2   but   all
other   suspects   is,   therefore,   imperative   to   unearth
the truth. Joining the investigation with a protective
umbrella  provided by  pre­arrest  bail will  render  the
exercise of eliciting the truth ineffective in such like
case.     We   are,   as   mentioned,   also   skeptical,
suspicious   and   incredulous   about   the   verification
process   of   the   1996   GPA   carried   out   by   the   Sub­
Registrar, Kalkaji, New Delhi. Hence, the conduct of
the   officials   of   Sub­Registrar   Office,   Kalkaji,   New
Delhi   is   also   required   to   be   examined   to   take   the
investigation to its logical conclusion.
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29. It   is   clarified   that   the   observations   made
hereinabove are prima facie in nature and shall not
be taken as final conclusions.
D. CONCLUSION
30. In   light   of   above   discussion   and   without
expressing  any  views  on  the  merits  of  the  case,  the
appeal is allowed and the impugned order dated 31 st
May,   2022   passed   by   the   High   Court   granting
pre­arrest   bail   to   Respondent   No.   2   is   hereby   set
aside.
31. Given the facts and circumstances of this case,
we expand the scope of inquiry in these proceedings
and   direct   the   Commissioner   of   Police,   Gurugram
to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to be
headed   by   an   officer   not   below   the   rank   of   Dy.
Superintendent   of   Police   along   with   two   Inspectors
as   its   members.   The   SIT   shall   take   over   the
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investigation   forthwith.   The   SIT   shall   have   the
liberty   to   subject   Respondent   No.   2,   the   vendee(s),
the   Sub   Registrar/officials,   or   other   suspects   to
custodial   interrogation   to   arrive   at   a   definite
conclusion, strictly in accordance with law.
32. In case the vendees, the officers/officials of the
Registering Authority have secured anticipatory bail
from Sessions Court/High Court, the SIT shall be at
liberty to seek suitable modifications to such orders
so   that   no   impediment   is   caused   in   carrying   out   a
fair and free investigation.
33. No   interlocutory/interim   order   passed   by   the
Civil Court shall obstruct the ongoing investigation.
The Civil Court shall not, from this point forth, pass
any   such   order   in   pending   civil   suits   which   may
hamper the ongoing investigation.
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34. The   SIT   shall   conclude   the   investigation   as
early   as   possible   and   not   later   than   two   months
from the date of this order.
35. The   Commissioner   of   Police,   Gurugram   shall
be personally responsible for   monitoring the day to
day investigation.
36. The   authorities   of   NCT   of   Delhi   shall   extend
full   cooperation   in   the   matter   of   verification   of   the
genuineness   of   the   GPA   alleged   to   have   been
registered in the office of Sub Registrar, Kalkaji, New
Delhi in the year 1996.
…………………………..J.
     [Surya Kant]
…………………………..J.
       [C.T. Ravikumar]
New Delhi;
July 07, 2023
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