HC reserves verdict on Zaidi’s bail plea

Legal Correspondent

Shimla, January 12

The Himachal Pradesh High Court today reserved its verdict on the bail plea of Inspector General of Police (IGP) ZH Zaidi in the case of custodial death of an accused in the rape-and-murder of a teenage girl in Kotkhai.

After hearing arguments of the counsel for the bail petitioner and the counsel for the CBI, Justice Sandeep Sharma reserved the verdict. 

Zaidi had filed a petition in the court stating that the investigating agency has already filed a chargesheet against him on November 26 and now he may be released on bail.

Zaidi, the then Theog DSP, the then Kotkhai SHO, one ASI, three head constables and one constable were arrested by the CBI on August 29.

Suraj Singh was killed allegedly by another accused in the case at the Kotkhai police station on the intervening night of July 18 and 19, triggering a massive public outrage. Suraj, a 29-year-old labourer from Nepal, was among six persons arrested by the police. 

Zaidi was heading a Special Investigation Team probing the case. The case was later transferred to the CBI on the orders of the High Court. 

The Class X student had gone missing on July 4 and her naked body was recovered from the Haliala forests in Kotkhai on July 6.