Sidhu Moosewala case: Two probe officers removed on singer’s request

Tribune News Service
Patiala, June 23

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The Punjab Police have removed two of its investigating officers, who were part of the Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing controversial singer Sidhu Moosewala on Tuesday. The two officers were removed following an application by Sidhu Moosewala to Patiala IG Jatinder Singh Aulakh.

The move comes amid allegations against the police department for going soft on the singer. Probe officer Rupinder Bhardwaj, who was SP (PBI) Barnala, has been shifted and replaced by SP Sukhdev Singh Virk who is SP (investigation) Barnala. Others in the SIT now include DSP Raminder Singh and SHO Dhanaula Kuldeep Singh.

Aulakh said that now two separate SITs, in Barnala and Sangrur, will probe the Moosewala FIRs and their investigation. 

“However the two SITs will continue to work under SSP Sangrur. This was done after we received an application from the singer’s lawyer requesting for change of the officer in the Barnala SIT,” he stated.

On May 4, after a video showing the singer shooting at a firing range in Badbar went viral on the social media, the police had registered a case against Moosewala and five policemen under Section 188 of the IPC and the Disaster Management Act. Later, stringent sections of the Arms Act were added to the FIR.

Since then, the police claimed to have raided several places to arrest the singer. However, on June 6, the singer was rounded up by Patiala police and later allowed to leave following a minor traffic challan.

The orders to change the probe officers have raised eyebrows as both the SP-ranked officers are on verge of retirement. Instead of asking a senior IPS to probe the matter, the police shifted the case from one SP ranked officer to another, say sources.