Khalra murder: Rs 49 lakh damages for key witness

Manish Sirhindi

Tribune News Service

Patiala, January 20

A local court today ordered Rs 49-lakh compensation for Kirpal Singh, a key witness in the Jaswant Singh Khalra kidnapping and murder case, who was framed in a false rape case but was acquitted in 2007.

The court of Sukhwinder Singh, Civil Judge, Senior Division, asked the then Punjab IG Rajinder Singh, current IG Paramraj Singh Umranangal, then Sub-Inspectors Sarabjit Singh Cheema, Jaipal Singh and Shamsher Singh Guddu, journalist Parveen Komal and a woman complainant, Gurmeet Kaur alias Monika, to pay Rs 7 lakh each to Kirpal.

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A neighbour of human rights activist Khalra, Kirpal had filed a suit against the seven persons seeking Rs 50 lakh as compensation on account of malicious prosecution he faced at their behest.

The court said: “It has been found that Kirpal is entitled to damages from the police officials, the complainant and the witness on account of malicious prosecution faced by him at their hands. Kirpal suffered mental tension, torture, agony, harassment and irreparable loss. All accused should pay him Rs 7 lakh each, totaling Rs 49 lakh, within two months.”

Kirpal was booked by the Patiala police on July 28, 2003, on a rape complaint filed by Gurmeet Kaur and Parveen Komal. Kirpal said the case had been slapped to prevent him from appearing in court in connection with the Khalra case, but despite all pressure he got his statements recorded in the court.

He was acquitted of the rape charge on December 22, 2007. The state filed an appeal in the High Court, which was also dismissed.

Khalra had been involved in a campaign to highlight the plight of those who ‘disappeared’ after being arrested during the 1980s and early 1990s. On September 6, 1995, he “disappeared”.

Many, including Kirpal, had seen him being picked up by Punjab Police in Amritsar.