Mohali, July 27
The Punjab Police today arrested the two brothers of Maninder Pal Singh Kohli, prime suspect in the rape and murder of British teenager, Hannah Foster. Kohli’s brothers Ishtpreet and Amritpal, were held today on charges of aiding Kohli with money and information while he was on the run from Mohali since March 28, 2003.

The Punjab Police team were given Mahinder Pal Singh’s custody by the SDJM’s court at Kalimpong, yesterday. The team which is likely to reach late tonight will produce Kohli before a Kharar court tomorrow morning.

According to Mr Sumedh Singh Saini, IG (economic offences and special investigation), initial investigations have revealed that Maninder Pal Singh Kohli and his brother Ishtpreet, who is a constable in the Police HQ office, were in touch with each other through the internet over the past year. ‘‘Maninder Pal Singh was using an e-mail ID to send and receive information from Ishtpreet. Other than chatting on the internet, Ishtpreet would inform Maninder Pal Singh about any news on him, ’’said Mr Saini.

Mr Saini added that Ishtpreet and Amritpal also pooled in small amounts of cash and managed to transfer it to Maninder Pal Singh. ‘‘Kohli would give an account number and a location to Ishtpreet who would then transfer money there. Most likely, wherever he went he made a friend or two and used their bank accounts to get small amounts of cash,’’said Mr Saini.

Mr Saini told The Tribune that Mr A.S. Rai. SSP, Patiala, who was bringing Kohli to Punjab had examined him last evening and gathered information about his e-mail ID, including his passwords. ‘‘Our officers browsed his e-mail account and came across two contacts who were suspicious and were passing on all information to Kohli. This information was then tallied with the information procured by DIG Rohit Chaudhry and SP Mohali, Mr Rakesh Agarwal from Ishtpreet. The contact IDs matched,’’said Mr Saini.

Police sources added Kohli’s email ID Scorpionking 424@yahoo.com had two main addresses listed in it — bava4u@yahoo.com and ms_tappy@yahoo.co.uk — both of which belonged to Ishtpreet. Police sources said that tomorrow the two brothers will also be presented before the magistrate for police remand as their bank accounts have to be checked.

When asked if Punjab Police was trying to delay the extradition process, a senior police officer said bringing Kohli to Punjab is not going to interfere in the extradition process in any way. Kohli is in 60 days of judicial remand during which period the UK police has to present the extradition papers. Following which an extradition court will begin trial. ‘‘If we are using the interim period to gather information about who helped him during his run and who all harboured him, then what is the harm? ’’said the officer.