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Gist of High Court Order has been mentioned below for readers reference, readers are advised to refer complete Judgement order

The petitioners, against whom there are allegations of having caused loss to State-Exchequer to the tune of `20 crores appx. by evasion of payment of GST, seek grant of interim bail, mainly on account of the prevelant conditions of spread of COVID-19 virus.

It has been contended on behalf of the petitioners that since a large number of inmates are confined in New District Jail, Nabha and the threat of spread of pandemic COVID-19 still looms large and since a policy has in fact been framed by the State Government for release of prisoners, the present petitioners deserve to be released on bail in terms of the policy.

Before parting with this order, it is directed that the Superintendent, Jail would ensure that that all the required cautions and safeguards are duly adhered to whenever any new inmate is admitted to jail and would get him/her medically examined and keep him/her segregated from other inmates atleast for a period of 14 days so as to rule out any chance of spread of epidemic within jail premises in case such fresh prisoner happens to be infected with COVID-19 although he may not initially have shown any such symptoms.

It is however clarified that dismissal of this application for grant of interim bail shall not have any bearing on consideration of any application for grant of regular bail on merits.

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