Former Himachal DGP’s son gets bail

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 2

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today granted regular bail to Himachal Pradesh’s former DGP Gurpreet Singh Gill’s son Arjun Gill in a dowry demand and attempt to rape case.

The complaint against him was lodged by the daughter of an IG with the Punjab Police. She has alleged that Gill tried to outrage her modesty after calling her to his place. Taking up the plea argued by senior advocate RS Cheema and AS Cheema, Justice MMS Bedi asserted the police file indicated certain recoveries after two-day police remand.

“The petitioner has been in custody since December 17, 2014. Without expression of any opinion on merits of the case, at this stage, it is sufficient to observe that as per the allegations and the material gathered during the course of investigation, it will certainly be a debatable issue whether the act attributed to the petitioner i.e. after fixing the date of marriage, during the period of courtship, the petitioner committed the act of outraging the modesty or it was an attempt which would fall under the definition of attempt to rape,” Justice Bedi asserted.

Arjun’s plea for regular bail was filed after the earlier rejection of his pre-arrest bail. He had moved the court for anticipatory bail on grounds of implication after he was booked by the Chandigarh Police on October 11 on the allegations of outraging modesty, attempt to rape, breach of trust, criminal intimidation and other offences.

The complainant had earlier alleged that the accused started demanding dowry after the date for her marriage with him was fixed. A list was also handed over to her parents. She alleged that the unsavoury incident took place on October 7 last year after Arjun Gill called her to his residence for dinner.

Arjun had alleged lodging of false complaint after he “refused to marry” on ground of compatibility.