High Court snubs police for delay in cheating case investigation in Jagraon
Saurabh Malik
Chandigarh, January 18
In a major embarrassment for the police, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has admonished them for highhandedness and casual approach in investigating a cheating case registered more than nine months back. The reprimand came as Justice Sandeep Moudgil of the high court directed Ludhiana Senior Superintendent of Police to look into the matter before ensuring the probe’s completion without further delay, preferably within a month.
Casual approach of cops
The High Court has admonished the police for highhandedness and casual approach in investigating a cheating case registered more than nine months ago
“This is one of the glaring examples of highhandedness and casual approach adopted by the investigating agency, wherein the investigation under Sections 420 and 120-B of the IPC has been pending since April 2023, meaning thereby more than nine months have been lapsed, but there is no headway in the investigation so far,” Justice Moudgil asserted.
The admonition came on a petition seeking directions to the state and other respondents to conclude the investigation in the matter in a time-bound manner before presenting the final investigation report or the challan under Section 173 of the CrPC in an FIR registered on April 3, 2023, at city police station at Jagraon, Ludhiana district.
Taking up the matter, Justice Moudgil asserted that the court was “astonished” after examining the petition, wherein a person was compelled to rush to the court seeking direction to the state and other respondents to expedite the investigation in the case before taking the matter to its logical conclusion.
Justice Moudgil also observed only two accused were involved in the matter. Yet, the investigation was pending in the dispute pertaining to alleged forgery and fraud committed against the petitioner.
Going into the background of the matter, Justice Moudgil observed the dispute involved a land deal allegedly completed in a fraudulent manner during the pendency of a civil suit, following which the sale deeds had also been executed.
Justice Moudgil also disposed of the petition after issuing directions for expeditious completion of the probe.
