The Punjab and Haryana High Court has raised serious concerns over the police investigation in a cheating case after observing that close family members of the accused were allegedly protected despite receiving money from victims. The court directed the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Hoshiarpur, to personally examine the investigation file and explain how several relatives of the accused were declared innocent.
The matter came up before Justice N.S. Shekhawat in a third regular bail petition filed by Vijay Kumar under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. The petition related to FIR No.57 dated April 11, 2024, registered at Sadar Police Station, Hoshiarpur, under Sections 406 and 420 of the IPC, now read with provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
During the hearing, the Punjab government informed the court that money allegedly obtained from victims had been transferred into the bank accounts of the petitioner’s son and daughter. The State also said that the petitioner’s wife had collected cash from victims.
The prosecution further told the court that multiple FIRs had earlier been registered against the petitioner in different cases involving allegations of cheating, forgery, corruption and other offences.
Taking note of the State’s submissions, the High Court made sharp observations about the manner in which the investigation had been conducted.
“The family members of the petitioner, who had received the various amounts either in cash or through their accounts, were declared innocent by the police,” the bench observed.
Justice Shekhawat further noted that, based on the State counsel’s own submissions, the petitioner’s family members appeared to be “equally responsible” for the alleged acts, yet they had not been proceeded against.
The court also questioned why another individual, Sukhdev Singh, who allegedly received money from victims, had been placed in Column No.2 instead of being prosecuted.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the probe, the bench remarked that it was “equally shocking” that the police had not even collected evidence regarding the allegedly cheated amount received by the accused persons.
The High Court directed the SSP, Hoshiarpur, to personally review the investigation file and submit an affidavit explaining how the petitioner’s wife, son, daughter and Sukhdev Singh were declared innocent.
The bench also said that appropriate action should be taken against the investigating officer, the concerned Station House Officer (SHO) and the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) if they were found to have shielded the “real culprits.”
The matter has now been adjourned to May 27, 2026.
Case Details
Case Title: Vijay Kumar vs State of Punjab
Case Number: CRM-M-14310-2026
Judge: Justice N.S. Shekhawat
Decision Date: May 21, 2026
