Ruled in favour of Sameer Khan and Sohan Lal @ Sonu (Petitioners)
In Short
Two men accused of being part of a fake bank scam that cheated people out of crores of rupees approached the High Court asking for regular bail. The court noted they had already spent over a year in jail, their trial had not even started, and other co-accused had already been let out, so it granted them bail.
The Parties
Party A: Sameer Khan and Sohan Lal @ Sonu
Party B: State of Haryana
Advocates & Judges
For Party A: Learned Advocate Mr. Partap Singh, Learned Advocate Mr. Manav Sharma, and Learned Advocate Mr. Harshit Sangwan
For Party B: Learned Advocate Ms. Jasmine Gill
Judge(s): Hon'ble Justice Vikram Aggarwal
What the Case Was About
A man named Ajay Kumar filed a complaint stating that he and many others were tricked by a fake financial company called Pride Nidhi Limited, which pretended to be a real bank offering high returns. Investors deposited around two crores of rupees through cash, cheques, and digital payments, but eventually, the company stopped paying returns and refused to return the principal amounts. The accused allegedly issued fake fixed deposits and savings bonds, and some key managers even planned to send the money abroad via cryptocurrency. The two petitioners, Sameer Khan and Sohan Lal, were arrested for their alleged involvement in this grand fraud.
Judgment Date
28.10.2026
The Outcome
The court allowed the petitions and ordered that the petitioners be released on regular bail after submitting proper surety bonds. It decided that keeping them locked up indefinitely without a trial was unfair.
What the Court Looked At
- The court noted that both petitioners had already spent more than one year behind bars since their arrest in October 2025.
- It observed that the investigation was already finished and a final report had been submitted, but charges had not been framed yet.
- It pointed out that out of 37 prosecution witnesses, not a single one had been examined so far, meaning the trial would take a very long time.
- It highlighted that another co-accused, Tahir Khan, had already been granted regular bail by the court earlier.
- It considered the fact that the petitioners had clean backgrounds, while the main masterminds of the scam were still on the run.
"Keeping the petitioners in custody any longer would amount to pre-trial detention degenerating into punishment without trial."
What This Means For You
This case shows that even when someone is accused of a massive financial fraud involving crores of rupees, the law protects against endless imprisonment before a trial even begins. The petitioners managed to get bail because the investigation was finished, their trial was delayed indefinitely, and a co-accused had already received relief. However, getting tangled up with companies that promise unrealistic bank returns can easily drag you into criminal conspiracies and cost you years of your life. If you find yourself trapped behind bars while your trial refuses to move forward, understanding your rights to a speedy trial can open doors to freedom. Setback Solutions is here to help you understand your options and coordinate your next steps in plain, simple language.
You Still Have Options
If you or a loved one are facing a false FIR, stuck in jail with a delayed trial, or overwhelmed by a complex cheating case, it is not the end of the road. You can still explore options like getting a second opinion, changing your legal representation, or seeking non-judicial guidance to understand where your case stands. Reach out to Setback Solutions to get help understanding your options and coordinating your next steps. Please remember that Setback Solutions is not a law firm, does not provide legal advice, and never promises any specific court outcome.