HC stays arrest of constable in embezzlement of seized gold

BATHINDA: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered a stay on the arrest of constable Manpreet Singh in the case of embezzlement of seized gold and cash recovered from the house of former director of agriculture, Mangal Singh Sandhu, from the Rama police station.

Gagandeep Sharma

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, June 22

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered a stay on the arrest of constable Manpreet Singh in the case of embezzlement of seized gold and cash recovered from the house of former director of agriculture, Mangal Singh Sandhu, from the Rama police station.

Two other accused—- former SHO of Rama Gursher Singh and head constable Iqbal Singh— have been absconding since May 19 when a case had been registered at the Rama police station.

Former SHO of Rama police station Gursher Singh, head constable Iqbal Singh and constable Manpreet Singh were booked for misappropriating cash, gold jewellery and a revolver from the ‘maalkhana’ at Rama police station.

The case was registered under Sections 13(1) (c) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 409 (criminal breach of trust by a public servant) of the IPC on the basis of the statement of Rama SHO Manoj Kumar.

The cash and other items had been recovered from the Mohali residence of Mangal Singh Sandhu, former Director, Agriculture, when he was in custody of the Rama police in 2015 in connection with the pesticides scam.

Investigating Officer Balwinder Singh Bheekhi had deposited Rs 4.11 lakh, 3,090 Canadian dollars, 11,624 US dollars, gold jewellery, a revolver, 27 rounds of ammunition and an arms licence with Iqbal Singh in the presence of the Talwandi Sabo DSP on September 5, 2015. According to Manoj Kumar, these items were later found missing from the ‘maalkhana’.

After a month, the Bathinda police have not arrested any accused because all of them have been absconding. During this time, constable Manpreet applied for anticipatory bail in the district and sessions court, where his application was rejected. After that, Manpreet had applied for bail in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Ex-SHO Gursher Singh and head constable Iqbal Singh have not applied yet for the anticipatory bail. Bathinda SSP Naveen Singla confirmed that constable Manpreet Singh had got a stay on his arrest in the case while Gursher Singh and Head Constable Iqbal Singh had been absconding. The police have conducted raids many times to nab them.

The interrogation of Mangal Singh Sandhu was done by the CIA Staff (now CIA-1) and the role of the police officials posted in CIA-1 at that time is also being investigated. The investigating team will also probe into the role of the staff present at the Rama police station.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Naveen Singla said the case is being investigated from every possible angle and the role of every official attached with the case is being investigated. The SSP assured that the accused would soon be held.