HC seeks hospital CCTV footage after allegations against jailed Mohali realtor

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the State of Punjab to produce CCTV footage from the Ropar Civil Hospital spanning an entire month, from June 14 to July 13, amid allegations of jailed real estate developer Jarnail Singh Bajwa “wandering free”, operating from a hotel and meeting clients under the garb of hospitalisation.

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The Bench was hearing a protection plea filed on the ground that the petitioner was “not only pursuing his own case, but also been assisting other complainants in legal proceedings against Bajwa”. The directions came as Justice Sandeep Moudgil’s Bench was told by the petitioner that Bajwa purportedly hospitalised for treatment since March was allegedly using mobiles and issuing cheques.

At the onset, the petitioner placed before the Bench the details of the mobile numbers allegedly used by Bajwa while in jail. He also provided information regarding several cheques issued by him as “part of compromise/settlements with certain complainants in various cases”, adding these were subsequently dishonoured.

“Apart from that, three photographs have also been produced claiming the same to be of June 14, with the assertion that the respondent is wandering free and not detained in Ropar district jail. He was either allowed to stay at a comfortable accommodation in the Civil Hospital, Ropar, as a privileged prominent person and during that detention alone even attending clients and continuing his business activities in a hotel,” Justice Moudgil asserted.

The Bench observed that the accusations “raise fingers directly on the discipline force” and ordered the State to submit the complete footage from the hospital, including reception and areas around his designated bed or ward

Justice Moudgil also directed Ropar Superintendent of Jail to file a detailed affidavit listing all inmates currently housed in the facility and disclose how many of them—particularly those with similar or more serious medical ailments—had been allowed extended stays in hospitals like Bajwa. The judge observed that the documents and photographs placed on record prima facie established the complicity of jail and hospital officials, and pointed to “obvious reasons” behind the apparent indulgence shown to the accused.

“The circumstances clearly establish, prima facie, the role of the law enforcement agency, including the Superintendent of Jail, Ropar district, and the Senior Medical Officer at Civil Hospital, Ropar, who appear to be advancing undue favour to the respondent for certain obvious reasons. The allegations against him have been consistently raised not only in this petition but also in earlier cases dealt with by this Court, relating to his links with certain politicians, police officers, and other entities, which further strengthens the case of the petitioner, which demonstrate the conduct and reach of the respondent,” the court added.