Colonel Bath moves high court alleging police brutality, seeks CBI probe

Alleging a brutal assault by Punjab Police officers and subsequent manipulation of the investigation, Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath today moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court, seeking a transfer of the probe to the CBI or an independent agency. The matter, along with a related petition, is scheduled to come up for hearing before Justice Sandeep Moudgil of the high court on Tuesday.

Col Bath, serving at a “sensitive post under the Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India”, stated that he and his son were “brutally” attacked on the intervening night of March 13-14 in Patiala. He accused four Inspector-rank Punjab Police officers and their armed subordinates of attacking them without provocation, snatching his official ID card and mobile phone, and issuing threats of fake encounters — all in public view and under CCTV surveillance.

The petitioner submitted the local police allegedly failed to take action despite the gravity of the offence. Distress calls to senior officials were ignored. Instead of registering an FIR on his complaint, the police lodged a bogus FIR under ‘affray’ against unknown persons based on a third-party complaint. The officer’s family had to approach senior police officials and even the Governor of Punjab before a subsequent FIR was registered — eight days later.

Col Bath alleged that the accused officers allegedly made video calls to the petitioner’s wife during this period, admitting to the offence, claiming they were intoxicated, and pressuring her to compromise. Eyewitnesses reportedly filed sworn affidavits identifying the officers involved, but the police failed to arrest or interrogate them. They continued to suppress evidence and delay justice.

Col Bath referred to a clear conflict of interest, manipulation, and bias before contending that a fair and impartial investigation was impossible under the Punjab Police. Given his position in a national security agency, he warned of a potential breach of classified information. The petition urged the court to transfer the case to the CBI or another independent agency to prevent a miscarriage of justice and restore public confidence in the rule of law. It was also argued that failure to do so could lead to the demoralisation of armed forces, institutional breakdown, and irreparable harm to public trust.