1. Notice of motion.

2. Mr. Hittan Nehra, Additional Advocate General, Punjab accepts notice on behalf of the respondent.

3. On a query by the Bench, counsel for the State has pointed out that even challan has not been presented in the case despite the fact that FIR was registered way back on 28.12.2018.

4. A perusal of the records shows that earlier too, the petitioner had preferred a similar application seeking anticipatory bail; which was dismissed as withdrawn on 09.07.2019. Despite passing of about two years, the police is yet to do anything concrete in this case, muchless take any action against the petitioner as such. This inaction of the police is, basically, a joke upon the Court process and procedure.

5. Accordingly, it is ordered that the payment of salary of the investigating officer of the case and the S.H.O of the police station concerned shall remain stayed till the next date of hearing, if the petitioner is not arrested within a period of one week from today. The concerned Commissioner of Police, Ludhiana shall file his personal affidavit as to the date when the petitioner is arrested, as well as, qua the fact whether salary of the above said officials was, in fact, stopped or not.

6. Adjourned to 17.12.2021.