Over 40 days on, DSP Soni gives up in Mohali court

Mohali, March 2

DSP Atul Soni, who was booked for allegedly firing at his wife, has surrendered before a court here today.

A case was registered against the cop on January 19 after his wife Sunita Soni, in her complaint, alleged that following a heated argument, he fired a gunshot at her at their residence in United Society, Sector 68. Sunita had a narrow escape as the bullet missed her shoulder.

The DSP surrendered before the court of Ruchi Swapan Sharma here around 4 pm. A case was registered against him under Sections 307, 498-A and 323 of the IPC and Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act at the Phase VIII police station.

The police had also recovered a country-made pistol used by the DSP then.

However, Sunita Soni took a U-turn the next day and claimed that the police had concocted the story of firing of a gunshot at her. She had claimed that she had sent an affidavit to the Director General of Police, Punjab, and other senior officials of the Mohali police, in which it was stated that hers was a case of domestic violence and the police had implicated her husband in a false case. She had also moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking anticipatory bail for her husband. However, the court had dismissed the petition on January 31.

Soni was suspended by the Punjab Government on February 5 and on the next day, a Mohali court had issued non-bailable arrest warrants against him.

Soni had been at large ever since. Cops conducted various raids at his residence and also tracked his phone and social media accounts. After over 40 days, Soni surrendered before the court, following which information was sent to the Phase VIII police station. Soni was taken into custody and his medical examination was conducted at the Civil Hospital. The court later sent Soni to Ropar jail.

Rajnish Chaudhry SHO, Phase VIII police station, said they would soon get Soni’s production warrant and arrest him, following which he would be interrogated in connection with the case. — TNS