In a significant legal setback for the family of former Haryana Chief Minister Bhajan Lal, the Additional Sessions Court in Gurugram has rejected the anticipatory bail application of his daughter, Roshni Bishnoi. The order was issued by Additional Sessions Judge Yashwinder Paul Singh in connection with a high-profile multi-crore land fraud case. The prosecution alleges that fraudulent documents were forged in the name of a deceased property owner to illegally transfer valuable real estate in Gurugram, involving substantial illegal financial transactions.
Forged Documents and Multi-Crore Money Trail
The criminal case originates from an FIR registered on September 5, 2023, at the Sector 14 police station in Gurugram under various relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code governing forgery, cheating, and criminal conspiracy. According to the investigation report submitted by the police, Roshni Bishnoi played an active role in facilitating the fraudulent scheme by allegedly creating a counterfeit driving license using the credentials of a deceased individual named Sunil Kumar. This forged identification document was subsequently used to open an unauthorized bank account under Sunil Kumar's name at Axis Bank.
Police records indicate that an amount of Rs 2,38,43,750 was wired directly from this fraudulent Axis Bank account into the personal bank account of Roshni Bishnoi. Investigations further revealed that she transmitted the digital copy of the fake driving license from her personal email account to co-accused Vikas Bishnoi. Statements gathered from other co-accused individuals also pointed to her involvement in the conspiracy. Furthermore, Roshni Bishnoi is currently wanted in connection with another separate case registered under FIR No. 318. Citing prima facie evidence of her involvement and noting that bail applications of other co-accused had already been turned down, the court denied her pre-arrest relief.
Sequence of Events: From Plot Allotment to Illegal Sale
The matter came to light following a formal complaint lodged by Dharambir, who detailed how his deceased father's property was fraudulently usurped. Dharambir stated that his father, Sunil Kumar, had been allotted a one-kanal residential plot in Sector 23-23A of Gurugram. Sunil Kumar passed away on 15.07.2010. Years after his demise, the primary accused, Krishan Lal Bishnoi, along with his son Vikas Bishnoi, allegedly hatched a conspiracy to illegally transfer the allotment by executing a forged sale deed.
To complete the fraudulent deed execution, an individual named Kirta Ram was brought in to impersonate the late Sunil Kumar before registering authorities. While the prevailing market value of the one-kanal plot was estimated at approximately four crore rupees, the co-conspirators recorded the sale consideration at Rs 2,42,74,500 to execute the unlawful transfer. In his complaint, Dharambir alleged that the overall fraudulent scheme encompasses a total loss of ten crore rupees and claimed that several officials colluded with the perpetrators.
Arguments Presented in Court by Defence and Prosecution
During the bail hearing, legal counsel representing Roshni Bishnoi argued that she was neither the person who impersonated the deceased property owner nor a witness or named beneficiary in the formal sale deed. The defence contended that the mere receipt of transferred funds into her bank account does not automatically constitute a criminal offense. Counsel also highlighted that her name was omitted from the initial FIR and pointed out a considerable delay in lodging the police complaint.
Countering these assertions, the prosecution strongly opposed the bail request, emphasizing that Roshni Bishnoi generated the forged driving license and dispatched it via email to a co-accused. The prosecuting attorney argued that custodial interrogation is indispensable to uncover further details regarding electronic mail communications, trace additional money trails, and expose the complete scope of the crime. Taking note of these compelling investigative requirements, the court dismissed the petition.
