HC raps police; SIT to probe Rs 3-crore scam

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 29

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered the setting up of a special investigation team (SIT) to probe a Rs 3-crore scam after observing that all-out efforts were made by cops to favour the accused.

The SIT, comprising ADGP (Crime) and IG (Crime), has been told to submit a report by the end of next month.

Justice Deepak Sibal took note that the investigating officer (IO) was changed at the behest of the accused, they presented themselves before the new IO soon after, but were never arrested and the officer was summoning the victims instead of arresting the accused.

An FIR on the charges of cheating, criminal conspiracy and criminal breach of trust was registered on January 7 under Sections 406, 420 and 120-B of the IPC at Nayagaon police station in Mohali district. Initially, 32 victims approached the police, alleging that Bhuvneshwar Parsad and his family had not returned huge amounts collected through kitties and committees. Their number later rose to 52.

As the petition by Jagdish Chander and others came up for hearing, Justice Sibal observed that the state, till March 15, was seeking custodial interrogation of the accused on several grounds.

Four accused were denied anticipatory bail. The remaining three, including main accused Parsad, never applied for anticipatory bail but managed to evade the law.

Justice Sibal added that the IO was summoned by the court and did not appear on the pretext of spraining his ankle, following which Mohali SSP Kuldeep Chahal presented himself before the Bench.

“Interestingly, the respondent officer also appeared in spite of having been advised complete bed rest for three days,” Justice Sibal said, deprecating his conduct.