1987 Ludhiana heist: SC acquits 9 convicted under TADA

R Sedhuraman

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, January 10

The Supreme Court on Tuesday acquitted nine people sentenced to 10-year jail under the anti-terror law TADA for looting Rs 5.7 crore from Punjab National Bank in Ludhiana in 1987. The crime was then described as the biggest bank robbery in the country.

A Bench comprising Justices Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Rohinton Fali Nariman held that the CBI had failed to prove that the Rs 60 lakh recovered from the convicts were in fact part of the looted money, advocate RK Kapoor, who argued for a convict, said.

Among those convicted by TADA special judge, Ludhiana, on November 20, 2012, were Sikh Students Federation ex-President Daljit Singh Bittu and his close associate Gursharan Singh Gamma, who were allegedly working with Gen Labh Singh of the Khalistan Commando Force.

The special court under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA), which now stands repealed, had convicted and sentenced 13 accused persons. Two of the convicts withdrew their appeals in the apex court as they completed 10 years in jail in the absence of bail, while two died.

Among those who had come in appeal to the Supreme Court were Balwinder Singh, Harjinder Singh and Harbhajan Singh.

In its judgment, the TADA court had held that it was clearly established that the robbery was committed with the intention to either overawe the government or strike terror in a section of people.

According to the prosecution, the accused had committed the crime on February 12, 1987 by donning police uniform to enter the Millarganj branch of PNB at 9.45 am.