Charges framed against Mohali ADC

Sanjiv Kumar Bakshi

Hoshiarpur, December 18

In a 10-year-old poaching case, the court of Additional CJM Lukhwinder Kaur has framed charges against then Pathankot SDM Punit Goyal (now ADC, Development, Mohali) and his two accomplices under Sections 9, 40, 46-A and 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The court had clubbed two cases. One of the cases relates to a complaint filed by then honorary Wildlife Warden Gunraj Singh and the other by the state based on a challan presented before the court on the same issue. Goyal claimed he was innocent and that he had been framed in the case because of animosity he had incurred as a public servant. He said he had faith in the judiciary.

Then Pathankot SDM, Goyal was arrested for poaching in the forests of Narur area in Hoshiarpur district on February 29, 2004, along with his accomplices Mohinder Pal Bhola of Hambran village near Tanda and Makhan Singh of Pathankot.

A report was filed by the Department of Forests and Wildlife in this regard. It said two peahen, four dead partridges, a licensed .12 bore gun and live cartridges were found in the jeep used by the accused. The tip-off to the forest officials was provided by then honorary Wildlife Warden Gunraj Singh Saini of Hoshiarpur and Sukhdeep Singh Bajwa of Gurdaspur. Then District Forest officer RR Kakkar and range officer Kulraj Singh laid a trap at about 9:30 am on February 29, 2004.

Gunraj Singh’s counsel HS Saini said: “A criminal complaint in this regard was filed by Gunraj Singh in the local court. Later, the police presented a challan before the court and the latter clubbed the two cases. At the next date of hearing on December 20, the defence will cross-examine the witnesses again”.