Col Bath assault case: HC gives accused cop 3 days to move sessions court for bail

A day after police officer Ronnie Singh Salhaged sought anticipatory bail in the Army officer assault case, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today stayed his arrest for three days to enable him to approach sessions court for the purpose. Justice Harpreet Singh Brar also disposed of the matter.

Describing himself as “a dedicated police officer with an unblemished service record”, the petitioner claimed he was being implicated in the matter. Narrating the sequence of events, the petitioner submitted that he, along with a police team, conducted a raid near Rajindra Hospital in Patiala following secret intelligence regarding a wanted drug trafficker.

“During this operation, he encountered individuals consuming alcohol in public and obstructing hospital access. Upon being politely asked to clear the passage, these individuals, including Col Pushpinder Bath and his son, reacted aggressively, assaulted the petitioner, and created public nuisance,” he alleged.

He added the incident, captured on CCTV and corroborated by medical and eyewitness reports, resulted in a counter-FIR against the aggressors. Subsequently, a misleading social media campaign was launched, distorting facts and attempting to malign the petitioner’s reputation, even misrepresenting his goodwill apology as an admission of guilt,” his counsel added.