'Taliban-Style Punishment': Punjab & Haryana HC Declines Pre-Arrest Bail To Man Who Paraded Victims In Public With 'I Am Thief' Placards

The Punjab & Haryana High Court refused to grant pre-arrest bail to a man who was accused of parading five people including minor girls in the market with a placard, "I am a thief, I confess my guilt" written on it.

Justice Namit Kumar said, "cardboards were hanged around the neck of the victim by writing incriminating material “I am a thief, I confess my guilt”on white placards; victims were paraded in the market openly and thereafter their video was made viral on the social media also, makes it clearly discernible that the act of the accused persons including the petitioner was not an acceptable human act by any stretch of imagination rather it was an act of “Taliban-style punishment” by taking the law in their own hand."

The Court further said that the act was done without realizing that it "may affect and tarnish the social image of the victims, out of whom some are girls and even minor, and this act may also spoil their future by lowering their reputation and image before the society at large, which is a serious concern."

A video went viral on social media, showing three girls, an elderly woman, and a boy with blackened faces and white placards around their necks on which it was written, “I am a thief, I confess my guilt".

The victims were the factory workers in Ludhiana, who were allegedly paraded in the streets after they were accused of stealing clothes by the owner.

Later an FIR under Sections 127, 356, 74, 75, 61(2) of the BNS was lodged against accused persons including the factory owner.

Counsel appearing for the factory owner contended that two other co-accused have already been granted the concession of regular bail by the Court of learned Additional Sessions Judge, Ludhiana, and he is ready to join the investigation, co-operate with the investigating agency.

State counsel, assisted by counsel for the victims, while filing the status report by way of affidavit of Devinder Kumar, Assistant Commissioner of Police (North), Ludhiana, opposed the plea by stating that the petitioner is the main accused and his custodial interrogation is required as the mobile phone and NVR/DVR installed in his factory are required to be recovered.

After hearing the submissions, the Court said, "the mobile phone of the accused and NVR/DVR installed in his factory is yet to be recovered and required for proper and fair investigation of the matter."

The Court also noted that Additional Sessions Judge while granting bail to the other co-accused observed that, "'it is not yet known as to from whose mobile phone the video clip showing the blackened faces of the victim and having a cardboard in their neck has gone viral and who has blackened the faces of victim and put cardboard in their necks with incriminating wording."

Moreover, the Court of Additional Sessions Judge, Ludhiana, while rejecting pre-arrest bail of the petitioner, has specifically recorded that one of the victims is a minor and the application has been given to the police to add the offense under Section of POCSO Act, it added.

In the light of the above, the Court dismissed the plea and said, "if the petitioner choses to surrender before the trial Court within a period of 10 days from today and moves an appropriate application seeking regular bail, in such eventuality, the trial Court shall consider and decide the same in accordance with law as expeditiously as possible."

Mr.P.S.Ahluwalia,Advocate, Mr. Jasraj Singh, Advocate, and Mr. Jaiveer Singh, Advocate, for the petitioner.

Mr. Yuvraj Singh Tiwana, AAG, Punjab. Mr. Vishavjeet Singh Rishi, Advocate, for the victims.

 PXXXX v. State Of Punjab 

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (PH) 117