Punjab and Haryana high court summons Jind DSP after IO alleges pressure

CHANDIGARH: Stunned over the submissions of an investigating officer (IO) in an abetment to suicide case that he was being pressurized by the station house officer (SHO) and deputy superintendent of police (DSP) of the area not to arrest two accused, the Punjab and Haryana high court has directed both cops to appear in person before it.

While summoning the SHO of Jind City police station and area DSP Dharambir Singh, the HC has also directed both of them to accompany the IO of the case in arresting the accused. Justice Rajbir Singh Sehrawat passed these orders while hearing a petition filed by Rajinder Singh, an accused in the case seeking regular bail.

When Rajinder's bail plea came up for hearing before Justice Sehrawat on Thursday, the counsel for complainant informed the court that two more accused in the case Raj Babbar and Nasib Singh have not been arrested in this case despite the fact that both are also accused in the case.

On this, when the judge asked the IO of the case, sub-inspector Krishan Kumar, who was present in the court. The IO told the court that he has been pressurized by the SHO and DSP Dharambir not to arrest these two accused.

"It is directed that the above said SHO and the DSP, both shall accompany the IO to arrest the above said accused. The above-said accused (Raj Babbar and Nasib) shall be taken into custody on or before the next date of hearing. Still further it is ordered that the SHO and DSP Jind, both shall remain present before this court on the next date of hearing," ordered the HC.

The matter has been fixed for September 24 for further hearing.

The matter pertains to suicide of a Jind-based contractor who had ended his life in June 2018. His father Suraj Bhan had made a complaint against Rajinder, his brother-in-law Raj Babbar and one more person Nasib Singh for compelling his son to commit suicide. The complaint was made on the basis of a suicide note received by the family of the deceased. While, Rajinder was arrested and is in jail at present, other two accused were not arrested by the police till date. The matter had reached before the HC after Rajinder had approached the HC seeking his release on regular bail.