ORDER : 1. Leave granted. 2. The High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh by the impugned judgment and order dated August 30, 2024 has rejected the appellant's prayer for bail. 3. The appellant, figuring as an accused in FIR No. 44 dated March 8, 2023 registered with Police Station Beas, District-Amritsar, is in custody since 08.03.2023. It is alleged in the FIR that the appellant committed offence(s) punishable under Section(s) 307, 392, 342, 34, 325, 394, IPC and Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act. 4. We have heard learned counsel appearing for the parties and perused the materials on record. 5. We find from the counter affidavit that the first three key witnesses for the prosecution PW-1 (Amit Kumar), PW-2 (Surinder Kumar) and PW-3 (Sonu Bagga) have been declared hostile. 6. The appellant has been behind bars for more than two years and only 5 (five) out of 17 (seventeen) prosecution witnesses have been examined till date. 7. Having regard to the above facts and circumstances, we are inclined to accept the present appeal. 8. Accordingly, we set aside the impugned judgment and order. 9. The appellant shall be released on bail, subject to such terms and conditions as may be imposed by the trial court. 10. We clarify that the observations made in this order and grant of bail will not be treated as findings on the merits of the case. 11. The appellant shall, however, appear before the trial court on the dates fixed, unless exempted; and should the appellant fail to appear on any date without justifiable cause or breach any of the terms and conditions for grant of bail, the trial court shall be at liberty to cancel the bail. 12. The appeal is, accordingly, allowed on the aforesaid terms. 13. Pending application(s), if any, stand disposed of.