Lapses by police officers led to destruction of evidence: CBI

Amit Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 16

Lapses on the part of UT police officers led to the destruction of evidence in the murder case of Sukhmanpreet Singh Sidhu, alias Sippy Sidhu. This has been stated by the CBI in its “untraced” report submitted earlier to the CBI special court.

The CBI has stated, “Certain lapses have been found on the part of Inspector Poonam Dilawari, then SHO of the Sector 26 police station, and Guriqbal Singh Sidhu, then ASP, in the destruction of evidence”.

The investigating agency has further stated that, for lapses at initial stages of investigation (which seriously handicapped the progress of investigation), RDA (regular disciplinary action) for major penalty against Poonam Dilawari and Guriqbal Singh Sidhu is recommended.

Sources in the CBI said the report recommending action against police officers was also sent to the UT Police Department. Sippy, a national-level shooter and advocate, was shot dead on September 20, 2015, at a park in Sector 27. A .12-bore gun was used in the crime and four bullets were fired from it. A case of murder was registered at the Sector 26 police station. In January 2016, the case was transferred to the CBI.

Sippy’s brother Jippy Sidhu said they would file a protest petition against CBI’s “untraced” report and demand action against the officers.

“The main evidence in the case was related to the CCTV footage of area near the spot which was not completely provided to the CBI by the UT police,” said Jippy.

The CBI special court had earlier this month rejected the request of the investigating agency to adjourn the Sippy murder case on the grounds that further investigation is pending. The court had observed that the grounds for seeking adjournment were totally unjustified because an untraced report had already been filed by the agency. The case will come up for hearing on November 18

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