State gets High Court notice on petition seeking CBI probe

CHANDIGARH:Just about a week after the Gurgaon police rift came out in the open with Joint Commissioner (traffic) Bharti Arora accusing Police Commissioner Navdeep Singh Virk of harassment and mental torture in a rape case inquiry, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today put the state on notice on a petition seeking CBI probe into the cases.

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 6

Just about a week after the Gurgaon police rift came out in the open with Joint Commissioner (traffic) Bharti Arora accusing Police Commissioner Navdeep Singh Virk of harassment and mental torture in a rape case inquiry, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today put the state on notice on a petition seeking CBI probe into the cases.

The notice for November 6 by Justice Paramjeet Singh came on the petition filed by Chanchal, sister of an accused in the case. Among other things, Chanchal is seeking directions to the state government to take legal action against the “culprit police officers” including Virk, and direct state government to transfer or place his services under suspension till the pendency of the investigation in the matter.

Directions have also been sought to the State and the Director-General of Haryana Police to implement the investigation carried out by Bharti Arora as Joint Commissioner of Police.

Her counsel Ajaivir Singh said the probe carried out by Arora clearly suggested “victimisation and prosecution of innocent citizens at the hands of extortionist with the backing of the local police and at the behest of respondent Navdeep Singh Virk”.

The case had hit the headlines after Arora had shot off a letter to DGP Yashpal Singhal, accusing Virk of mentally torturing her over the inquiry and supervision of files in the rape case.

Virk, on the other hand, had claimed that the rape victim had made several complaints alleging misconduct by Arora. Ajaivir added on the petitioner's behalf that the alleged victim lodged a false case in July last year for rape and another offence under Section 376 and 506 of the IPC, after being in a live-in relationship with her brother Ajay Bhardwaj.

Going into the background of the matter, Ajaivir submitted the petitioner and their family wanted an independent inquiry into the matter. It was only at the DGP's instance that the inquiry was marked to Joint Commissioner of Police(Traffic).

The inquiry conducted by her clearly showed that the offences were not covered under the definition of rape.

The report revealed the Gurgaon Police under Virk misused its powers and abused the process of law.