IPS officer Deshraj’s fate to be decided on August 8

Ishrat S Banwait

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 30

Six years after he was arrested by the CBI for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 1 lakh, former UT Superintendent of Police (SP) Deshraj Singh’s fate will be decided on August 8. As final arguments in the case ended on Monday with the CBI’s rebuttal, Deshraj has taken the defence of being falsely implicated due to the senior- subordinate issue in Chandigarh.

The 2008-batch IPS officer had allegedly demanded Rs 2 lakh from the then SHO of the Sector 26 police station Anokh Singh for ‘taking care’ of an enquiry that Deshraj had initiated against him. However, Anokh contacted the CBI, which laid a trap and nabbed Deshraj soon after he allegedly accepted the money.

While speaking to Chandigarh Tribune, 39-year-old Deshraj said: “I have been saying this since Day 1 that I am innocent. But I have accepted my fate. I have always believed that whatever happens, happens for the good”.

While admitting that he was “in need of money” at the time, Deshraj said he never asked for money and was ‘lured’ by the complainant.

The senior-subordinate dispute had also been mentioned by the then UT SSP, Naunihal Singh, who had recorded his statement as defence witness in the case.

He had said: “The Chandigarh Police have a problem of a permanent cadre up to the rank of DSP. This, over a period of time, had created serious issues of discipline in the force, especially where senior officers had tried to hold the subordinate accountable for their actions or discipline them in the larger public interest. This had led to a number of incidents of indiscipline and insubordination.”

The enquiry against Anokh Singh was opened for dereliction of duty and insubordination. As per the CBI chargesheet, Deshraj had then called Anokh and demanded a bribe of Rs 2 lakh. The conversation was recorded by Anokh where he expressed his inability to pay the amount saying “I have to pay my daughter’s fee”. However, as Deshraj did not agree, Anokh pleaded that he would pay the amount in instalments, which was agreed upon.

I have to twist my statement a little: Deshraj

As per the recordings, which have been attached with the chargesheet, after handing over the money, Anokh reminded him to take care of his enquiry. In response, Deshraj said, “Ussme thoda sa statement hi twist karna hai bas (I have to twist my statement a little, that’s it)”.

In his final defence in the court, Deshraj took two pleas. One was that he never accepted the money and Anokh had kept it at his house while he had gone to the other room. However, CBI counsel KP Singh questioned as to why the CFSL report proved that his hands had touched the bribe money, which were smeared with phenolphtalein powder. (Deshraj’s fingers were dipped in a colourless solution, which turned pink. It is possible only after coming in contact with the phenolphthalein powder).

The second defence taken by Deshraj in court was that Anokh Singh had come to meet him regarding another enquiry which was on against a constable of the UT police. However, CBI questioned as to why an SHO would come to discuss or pay bribe for someone else. 

Verdict in graft case against Punjab AIG today

The CBI court here will announce its judgement in the graft case against Additional Inspector General of Punjab Police Paramdeep Singh Sandhu on Tuesday. On July 13, 2011, the CBI had arrested Sandhu, a Punjab Police Service (PPS) officer, while allegedly accepting bribe. Sandhu, who was posted as the AIG (Internal Vigilance Cell) at the Punjab Police headquarters at that time, was allegedly caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of 50,000 from Nishant Sharma for favouring him in an inquiry pending against him at coffee shop in Sector 28.

TIMELINE

Oct 18, 2012: CBI lays trap, arrests Deshraj while allegedly taking Rs 1 lakh

Dec 12, 2012: Deshraj get bail 

July 5, 2013: CBI receives prosecution sanction from union home ministry to try Deshraj

July 7, 2013: CBI files chargesheet

Oct 14, 2013: Charges framed

February 14, 2014: Complainant inspector Anokh Singh testifies against Deshraj

July 30, 2018: Trial completed, order on August 8

The case

The 2008-batch IPS officer had allegedly demanded Rs 2 lakh from the then SHO of the Sector 26 police station Anokh Singh for 

‘taking care’ of an inquiry that Deshraj had initiated against him. However, Anokh contacted the CBI, which laid a trap and nabbed Deshraj soon after he allegedly accepted the money.