Commissioner sends ACP-Crime on leave

Shivani Bhakoo

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 25

Commissioner of Police RN Dhoke has asked ACP-Crime Maninder Bedi to proceed on leave till further orders and deputed ADCP-Crime Paramjit Singh Pannu to thoroughly investigate as to why Bedi lodged a “false” FIR against SAD leader Gurpreet Singh Babbal.

Dhoke said Bedi played a “biased role” while registering a case against the Akali leader and it would be investigated whether he (Bedi) did it for money, under political influence or for share in property, which is embroiled in controversy.

Talking to The Tribune, Dhoke said he had asked the SHO concerned to write to the SDM to take custody of the property (a piece of 400 square yard in Sarabha Nagar) and see to it that it is transferred to its real claimant by the authorities.

“We cannot register FIRs like that. People trust us and we have to come up to their expectations,” said Dhoke. He also cancelled the FIR against Babbal lodged at the Sarabha Nagar police station. “The FIR has been cancelled,” he said.

There are allegations that Babbal shielded gangster Sukha Barewalia (who was arrested recently). Following the arrest of Barewalia, cases under various sections were registered against Babbal too.

Yesterday, a delegation, including the wife of Babbal, met the Commissioner of Police at his residence and submitted an application, in which she has alleged that Babbal was framed and charges pressed against him were false. They alleged the case was politically motivated. Actually, a dispute over a property in Sarabha Nagar was going on between Babbal and another party, which enjoys patronage of a few Congress leaders. Babbal’s wife had alleged that those Congress leaders were behind the false cases slapped on Babbal and the matter should be investigated by an honest officer.