Cops file cancellation report in realtor Puneet Sood case

Hoshiarpur-based realtor Puneet Sood, who had been arrested in a high-profile case by the city police under the Excise Act and NDPS Act in July last year with the recovery of over nearly Rs 3 crore, has finally got a relief. The police have now filed a cancellation report in the case, following recommendation of the SIT.

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Swapan Sharma, former CP, had projected the case to be a suspected hawala racket being run by illegal travel agents in the region. Sood’s family had held a presser soon after his arrest, alleging that he was carrying Rs 1 crore more, which was found missing after the police action.

A SIT, headed by former IG Police, Ludhiana Range, and new Commissioner of Police, Dhanpreet Kaur, had submitted a report on February 6 in which she had concluded that Sood was innocent. A copy of the report has been submitted by the state counsel to the Punjab and Haryana Court in reply to a writ petition moved by Sood. Sood had sought a CBI inquiry into the case and security cover for himself. While submitting the SIT findings in the court, the state counsel has also mentioned that a cancellation report had already been filed in the case.

The report mentions that no recovery of illicit liquor, narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or illegal weapons had been made from Sood. “However, Indian and foreign currency was recovered from him. As there is no evidence available in the case, the recommendation has been made by the SIT to file the cancellation report before the competent court”, it reads.

Dhanpreet had also reported, “The Police Commissioner will take necessary action in coordination with the Income Tax Department regarding the recovery of Rs 2.93 crore and $3100.” Dhanpreet, however, is now on the post weeks after her own recommendation.

The IPS officer had also recommended that an inquiry be conducted against Inspector Kamaljit Singh, SHO of Police Station, Navi Baradari, and ASI Vinay Kumar from the same police station for negligence in the discharge of official duties. “Explanation shall also be called from Gurpartap Sahota, ADCP-1, Jalandhar, who was the supervisory officer of the police station.

The court of Justice Kuldeep Tiwari had on February 21 ordered, “In view of the events, the first prayer regarding issuance of mandamus to transfer the investigation in the FIR has been rendered infructuous. The second prayer with regard to issuance of mandamus to ensure protection of life of the petitions goes without saying that it is the duty of the state to protect the life and liberty of each and every citizen. In case there is an imminent threat to the life of the petitioners, an apt action shall be taken by the competent authority, in accordance with the law as well as the scheme adopted by the state of Punjab”.