Judgment
CRM-M-44027-2026 -1- (222) IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH
CRM-M-44027-2026 Date of Decision: 14.09.2026 VIKAS GOYAL @ VICKY GOYAL ... Petitioner Versus CBI ...Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JASJIT SINGH BEDI Present:
Mr. P.S. Ahluwalia, Sr. Advocate with Ms.Isha Mehta, Advocate and Mr. Avikaran Bansal, Advocate for the petitioner.
Mr. Ravi Kamal Gupta, Advocate for the respondent-CBI.
**** JASJIT SINGH BEDI, J.
The prayer in this 2nd petition under Section 483 of BNSS, 2023 is for the grant of regular bail in case bearing FIR No.RC0052026A0012 dated 11.05.2026 registered under Sections 7 & 7A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, and Section 61(2) of BNS, 2023 (Section 120-B of IPC) at Police Station CBI, ACB, District Chandigarh.
2.
The present FIR came to be registered at the instance Amit Kumar S/o Satya Pal Charaya and the same reads as under:- To, The Deputy Inspector General CBI, ACB, Chandigarh Subject: Complaint regarding demand of illegal gratification by Sh. Vicky Goyal & Sh. Raghav Goyal on behalf of Sh. S.S.
Chauhan DGP (Vigilance), Punjab and Sh. Rana, Reader to DGP (Vig.) Punjab JITESH LAL 2026.09.15 11:55 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document
CRM-M-44027-2026 -2- Respected Sir, I am Amit Kumar s/o Sh. Satya Pal Charaya, R/o H. No.
1662, Street No. 13, Abohar, District Fazilka. I respectfully submit that I am working as State Tax Officer in the office of GST Office, Edwardgang Guest House, Malout, District Sri Muktsar Sahib. I am acquainted with Sh. Vicky Goyal @ Vikas Goyal and his son Raghav Goyal, both contractors in Malout.
Both are influential and well-connected persons having Punjab police gunmen with them.
On 24.04.2026, Shri Vicky Goyal contacted me through WhatsApp call and informed me that a complaint against me pertaining to disproportionate assets is pending in the office of the DGP (Vigilance), Punjab and they could help me in getting the same closed through their influence and contact with DGP Vigilance and his reader. Further, on 28.04.2026, I again received a late-night call from Vicky Goyal stating that I had to come to Chandigarh regarding complaint against me and that they will arrange a meeting with DGP Vigilance Sh. S.S.
Chauhan in his office in this regard.
On 29.04.2026, I along with Sh. Vicky Goyal and his son Raghav Goyal visited the Vigilance Office, Mohali and met Sh.
O.P. Rana, Reader of the DGP (Vigilance). During the said visit, Sh. O.P. Rana showed me a brief glimpse of the alleged complaint and informed me that no action had been initiated so far in the matter. The reader told us that DGP Vigilance was not in office. However, he showed us the office chamber of the DGP Vigilance. While leaving the office, O.P. Rana, reader to DGP Vigilance told me that they (Vicky Goyal and Raghav Goyal) will tell me how to proceed in this matter to settle the complaint against me. Thereafter, I was taken to CSIR-CSIO Guest House, Sector 30, Chandigarh by Sh. Raghav Goyal and his father Vicky Goyal in their Toyota Innova, where they were staying. At JITESH LAL 2026.09.15 11:55 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document
CRM-M-44027-2026 -3- CSIR-CSIO Guest House, Chandigarh, Sh. Raghav Goyal and his father Vicky Goyal told me that bribe of Rs. 20 lakh is to be paid to DG (Vigilance) Sh. Sharad Satya Chauhan, to close the complaint against me. Sh. Raghav showed me his photographs socially interacting with the family of DGP Vigilance in his mobile phone. They impressed upon me that they were very close to Sh. Chauhan and informed me that complaint against me pending in the office of DGP Vigilance will be closed once the bribe of Rs. 20 lacs is paid. They further warned me that in case I fail to pay the said amount, I would have to face serious consequences.
Thereafter, the demand of bribe was reiterated on several occasions telephonically and in person by both Raghav Goyal and his father Vicky Goyal. I expressed my inability to pay such a big amount. However, due to fear and pressure I had reluctantly agreed to arrange Rs. 5 lac to settle the matter.
However, they refused to settle the matter at Rs. 5 lac and reiterated the demand of bribe of Rs. 20 lac on behalf of DGP Vigilance Sh. Sharad Satya Chauhan and his reader Sh. O.P.
Rana.
I further submit that I am in possession of audio recordings of conversations with Shri Raghav Goyal and Shri Vicky Goyal wherein they are clearly demanding illegal gratification/bribe money from me on behalf of the DGP (Vigilance), Punjab and his reader Sh. O.P. Rana. I do not want to pay any bribe and request for legal action against the aforesaid persons. I shall be highly obliged and thankful to you for your prompt action in the matter.
Date: 08.05.2026 Yours faithfully Sd/- Amit Kumar S/o Sh.
Satya Pal Charaya, R/o H.
JITESH LAL 2026.09.15 11:55 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document
CRM-M-44027-2026 -4- No. 1662, Street No. 13, Abohar, District Fazilka.” 3.
Pursuant to the registration of the FIR, a trap was laid by the CBI, during which co-accused Ankit Wadhwa, who happens to be the driver of the petitioner and his son Raghav Goyal was apprehended with illegal ₹ gratification of 13,00,000/- in cash along with a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold-7 mobile phone. Subsequently, the petitioner was also arrested along with his son Raghav Goyal.
4.
The learned Senior counsel for the petitioner contends that the petitioner has been falsely implicated in the present case. The investigation stands completed. As the petitioner is in custody since 12.05.2026 but none of the 56 prosecution witnesses has been examined so far, the Trial of the present case is not likely to be concluded anytime soon and therefore, he is entitled to the concession of bail.
5.
A reply dated 14.09.2026 has been filed on behalf of the respondent-CBI by the learned counsel for the respondent. The same is taken on record. He vehemently opposes the grant of regular bail on the ground that the petitioner is an influential person and may tamper with evidence or influence prosecution witnesses in case he is granted the concession. He, however, concedes that the petitioner is in custody since 12.05.2026 but none of the 56 of the prosecution witnesses has been examined so far.
6.
I have heard the learned counsel for the parties.
JITESH LAL 2026.09.15 11:55 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document
CRM-M-44027-2026 -5- 7.
The veracity of the prosecution case against the petitioner and his co-accused shall be adjudicated upon during the course of the Trial.
Admittedly, the petitioner is a first-time offender, in custody since 12.05.2026 but none of the 56 prosecution witnesses has been examined so far. Therefore, the Trial of the present case is not likely to be concluded anytime soon. In this situation the further incarceration of the petitioner is not required.
8.
Thus without commenting on the merits of the case, the present petition is allowed and the petitioner-Vikas Goyal @ Vicky Goyal S/o Vijay Goyal is ordered to be released on bail subject to his furnishing bail bonds and surety bonds to the satisfaction of learned CJM/Duty Magistrate, concerned.
9.
The petition stands disposed of.
(JASJIT SINGH BEDI) JUDGE 14.09.2026 JITESH Whether speaking/reasoned:- Yes/No Whether reportable:- Yes/No JITESH LAL 2026.09.15 11:55 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document