HC rejects bail plea of former mayor

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 17

Bail plea of former mayor Suresh Sehgal was rejected today by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Earlier, he had applied for anticipatory bail application and got interim relief from the court until December 13.  Sehgal had sparked a row by publicly hitting a building inspector and hurling abuses at him.

Dinesh Joshi, the building inspector who was beaten up by the former mayor, said he won the battle today.

“Today, I am feeling good and relaxed as the Judge gave the judgment in the case,” he said.

Earlier, when Sehgal had got the interim relief, Joshi had said he was demoralised by the court judgment.

Notably, after the incident, Municipal Corporation building inspectors were on a strike since November 1 for long, seeking the arrest of Sehgal.

While they were holding dharnas, they were called many times by Mayor Jagdish Raja to call off their protest as it was affecting the work of the Municipal Corporation.

The Mayor had asked the staff to return to work as it was getting difficult to complete the works.

Also, after the Mayor’s request, the latter had ended the agitation. The MC staff was on a continuous strike and had been demanding the arrest of the former mayor for assaulting the building inspector.

Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said the police investigation was on in the matter. “Whatever the law states, we will act according to it,” he said.

An FIR was registered against Sehgal under Sections 353 (assault or use of criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 186 (obstructing public servant), 332 (causing hurt), 149 (unlawful assembly) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.

The former mayor was welcomed with garlands by his family members and supporters at his residence after he got the interim relief. He had said he had always fought against corruption and would continue to do so.