Leave granted.

The appellant, Darshan Singh, is the complainant at whose behest First Information Report No (For short ‘FIR’). 312 dated 14.08.2023, was registered on the file of Police Station – Sohana, SAS Nagar, Punjab, for the offences punishable under Sections 406 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

The accused therein, viz., Satinder Pal Singh, respondent No.2 herein, filed a petition under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, seeking quashing of the aforestated FIR.

While ordering notice of motion on the said petition on 02.09.2024, a learned Judge of the High Court directed that further proceedings in the FIR in question should remain stayed.

Aggrieved by the stay of investigation, the complainant/ appellant, Darshan Singh, approached this Court.

By order dated 01.08.2025, this Court observed that this was not a fit case for the High Court to have stayed further proceedings in the FIR in question. It was noted that the High Court was not informed of the fact that the anticipatory bail application filed by respondent No. 2, Satinder Pal Singh, had been rejected not only by the High Court but also by this Court. As this relevant fact has been suppressed by the accused while approaching the High Court to secure stay of further investigation in the FIR, this Court stayed the said order and permitted further investigation to go on in accordance with law.

The State of Punjab filed affidavit dated 24.11.2025, wherein it is stated that pursuant to the order of this Court permitting the investigation to go on, attempts were made to ascertain the whereabouts of the accused/respondent No.2, Satinder Pal Singh, but without success. He is stated to be absconding as on date.

Though the accused/respondent No. 2, Satinder Pal Singh, filed an affidavit, the learned counsel appearing for him also confirms that she is not in a position to contact him.

In the light of the aforestated facts, we are of the opinion that the High Court was not justified in granting stay of further proceedings in the FIR in question, including investigation therein.

The appeal is accordingly allowed, setting aside the impugned order dated 02.09.2024 to the extent that it directed stay of further proceedings in the matter.

Pending application(s), if any, shall stand disposed of.