Deshraj moves High Court, wants his conviction stayed

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 7

Less than six months after Deshraj Singh was held guilty in a bribery case by the Special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court, the 2008-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer today moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking a stay on his conviction.

The application for the stay was placed before the Bench of Justice Daya Chaudhary. Taking up the matter, Justice Chaudhary adjourned the hearing on the plea, without issuing a notice to the premier investigating agency. Deshraj was awarded three years in the case.

His appeal in the matter was heard and admitted by Justice Chaudhary in August last year. Justice Chaudhary had asserted that the fine slapped by the court below had already been deposited by the appellant with the trial court.

It was added that the sentence imposed upon him, too, had also been suspended by the trial court vide an order dated August 10, 2018, up to October 10, 2018. “The same shall remain suspended during the pendency of this appeal on his furnishing fresh bail/surety bonds to the satisfaction of the trial court,” Justice Chaudhary had added.

The CBI had registered an FIR against the petitioner, Deshraj Singh, Superintendent of Police (City) on a written complaint filed by Anokh Singh, SHO of the Sector 26 police station.

The complainant had alleged that a departmental inquiry was ordered against him by the Senior Superintendent of Police on the basis of a report by the petitioner in connection with a case for dereliction of duty, insubordination and not informing senior officers about crime. It was also alleged by the complainant that he was not at fault.

It was alleged that the petitioner called the complainant on his mobile and asked him to come to his residence. As the complainant reached the petitioner’s house, he discussed the functioning of the complainant’s police station and demanded money for not harassing him and for helping him in the inquiry by deposing in his favour.

IPS officer was awarded 3 yrs in bribe case

The application for the stay was placed before the Bench of Justice Daya Chaudhary. Taking up the matter, Justice Chaudhary adjourned the hearing on the plea, without issuing a notice to the premier investigating agency. IPS officer Deshraj was awarded three years in the case.