Nature of allegations, SC/St Act: Punjab and Haryana HC denies bail to woman accused in Sangrur hooch deaths case

On her part, the woman said she had been falsely implicated on suspicion in the Sangrur hooch deaths case, no recovery had been effected from her, she had been in custody since March 2024, and she was suffering from medical ailments.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed an appeal filed by an accused in the Sangrur spurious liquor deaths case, refusing to grant her regular bail while observing that the allegations against her were grave, and she had played a “significant role in the supply of spurious and poisonous liquor which has caused the death of several innocent persons”.

Justice Manisha Batra dismissed the appeal filed by Soma Kaur under Section 14-A of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, challenging the July 16, 2025, order of the Additional Sessions Judge, Sangrur, who rejected her bail plea.

Taking note of the gravity of the offence, the potential sentence on conviction, and the fact that the trial was proceeding at a proper pace with five witnesses already examined, the court concluded that no ground for bail was made out.

“Taking into consideration the nature of the allegations levelled against the appellant, the quantum of sentence which the conviction may entail and the attendant facts and circumstances, this Court is of the considered opinion that no ground has been made out for allowing the appeal,” the order stated while dismissing the plea.

The case arises from First Information Report (FIR) No. 44 dated March 22, 2024, registered at Police Station City Sunam, Sangrur, under sections 302, 328, 468, 469, 471, 201 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Section 3(2)(v) of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and Section 61 of the Punjab Excise Act.

As per the prosecution, the FIR was lodged on the complaint of Harmesh Singh, who alleged that illicit liquor was being sold in the village and that on March 21, 2024, his father Budh Singh and other villagers consumed liquor procured from the accused. Budh Singh later complained of severe abdominal pain and loss of eyesight and subsequently died. Two other villagers also died around the same time after consuming spurious liquor.

The court noted that the post-mortem and viscera reports revealed that the death had occurred due to consumption of methyl alcohol poison, which was “sufficient to cause death in the ordinary course of nature”.

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During the investigation, co-accused Mangal Singh and his father Channa Ram were arrested. Based on their disclosures, it was alleged that liquor branded as “Sahi Haryana” had been procured from Soma Kaur, and sold to the victims. Kaur was arrested on March 27, 2024. Since one of the victims belonged to a Scheduled Caste, Section 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST Act was invoked.

Before the High Court, Kaur argued that she had been falsely implicated on suspicion, that no recovery had been effected from her, she had been in custody since March 2024, and she was suffering from medical ailments. She also contended that the provisions of the SC/ST Act were not attracted, and that similarly placed co-accused had already been granted bail.

Rejecting these submissions, the court held that the allegations against Kaur were serious. The order recorded she was alleged to have purchased and supplied spurious liquor and to have poured the remaining liquor into a pond near her house, “thereby causing disappearance of evidence of offence”.

On the medical ground, the court noted that while the jail medical report showed that she was suffering from pain in her left knee and thigh and had difficulty walking, she was under treatment, and this by itself was not sufficient to justify release on bail.

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The court also rejected the argument regarding non-applicability of the SC/ST Act, observing that Section 3(2)(v) would apply where an offence punishable with imprisonment of 10 years or more is committed against a person belonging to a Scheduled Caste. “One of the victims in this case was a person of the Scheduled Caste community. As such, the aforementioned provision is fully attracted,” the court said.

Manraj Grewal Sharma

Manraj Grewal Sharma is a senior journalist and the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Chandigarh, where she leads the newspaper’s coverage of north India’s most politically and institutionally significant regions. From Punjab and Haryana to Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, she oversees reporting at the intersection of governance, law, politics and society. She also reports on the diaspora, especially in Canada and the US. With a career spanning journalism across several countries, academia and international development, Manraj brings a rare depth of perspective to regional reporting. She is widely regarded as a leading chronicler of Punjab’s contemporary history and socio-political evolution, particularly its long shadow of militancy, federal tensions and identity politics. Her book, Dreams after Darkness, remains a definitive account of the militancy years and their enduring aftermath. Professional Background & Expertise A gold medalist in mass communication and a post-graduate in English literature, Manraj has a multifaceted career spanning journalism, academia, and international development. She was also awarded a fellowship by National Foundation of India and did several in-depth pieces on Manipur. Internationally, she has reported from Israel, US, UK, Myanmar, and Mauritius Her key focus areas include: Regional Politics, History, Agriculture, Diaspora, and Security. Of late, she has started focusing on Legal & Judicial Affairs: Much of her recent work involves reporting on high-stakes cases in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, ranging from environmental policy to civil rights. International Consulting: She previously served as a consulting editor for the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network and a publishing consultant for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila. Academia: For five years, she was the managing editor of Gender, Technology and Development, a peer-reviewed international journal at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage focuses heavily on judicial interventions and regional governance: 1. Environment & Governance "‘NGT can’t test legality of policy’: HC hears challenge to Punjab’s ‘Green Habitat’ plan" (Dec 22, 2025): Covering a critical legal battle over whether the National Green Tribunal has the authority to strike down a state policy regularizing farmhouses on delisted forest land. "High court pulls up Punjab poll panel over audio clip probe" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on judicial concerns regarding the transparency and fairness of local body elections. 2. Legal Rights & Social Welfare "HC issues notice to Punjab, Haryana over delay in building old age homes" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on a contempt petition against top officials for failing to establish government-run homes for the elderly as promised in 2019. "Victims can appeal acquittals in sessions court without seeking special leave" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant procedural shift in criminal law following a Supreme Court ruling. "HC upholds benefits for Punjab FCI officer acquitted in 20-year-old bribery case" (Dec 19, 2025): A report on the concept of "honourable acquittal" and its impact on employee benefits. 3. Human Rights & Identity "As Punjab denies parole to MP Amritpal Singh, HC asks it to submit ‘foundational material’" (Dec 1, 2025): Covering the legal proceedings regarding the radical preacher and sitting MP's request to attend Parliament. "Protecting life paramount: HC backs Muslim woman in live-in after verbal divorce" (Nov 6, 2025): Analyzing judicial protections for personal liberty in the context of traditional practices. Signature Beats Manraj is recognized for her ability to decode complex judicial rulings and relate them to the everyday lives of citizens. Whether it is a 30-year-old land battle in Fazilka or the political implications of Kangana Ranaut’s candidacy in Mandi, her writing provides deep historical and regional context. Contact @grewal_sharma on X manrajgrewalsharma on Instagram ... Read More

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