Former SSP, SP among four Punjab cops convicted in 2007 Moga sex scam

A CBI court here today convicted former Moga SSP Devinder Singh Garcha, former SP (Headquarters) Paramdip Singh Sandhu and two dismissed Punjab Police SHOs under the Prevention of Corruption Act in the 2007 Moga sex racket case.

The quantum of sentence will be pronounced on April 4, said CBI Public Prosecutor Anmol Narang. Two other accused, Barjinder Singh, alias Makhan, son of a former Akali Dal minister, and Sukhraj Singh, have been acquitted.

The case had made national headlines as it allegedly involved high-profile politicians, a serving SSP and SP, and two SHOs who extorted money from rich youths by trapping them in immoral activities. Over time, the names of goldsmiths, advocates, businessmen, a journalist, a junior engineer and even relatives of police personnel were added and later dropped from the case. Police officials were accused of extorting money from them in exchange for removing their names from the statements of a woman and a minor girl.

The minor girl was granted pardon and turned an approver, only to turn hostile during the evidence stage. The woman, Manjit Kaur of Dharamkot, and her husband were shot dead by unidentified assailants in 2018.

Garcha, an Olympian who even captained the Indian hockey team, and Sandhu rose to the rank of Additional Inspector General before retiring from the Punjab Police. Raman has also been convicted of extortion and Amarjit of attempted extortion.

The hushed-up happenings came to light on June 7, 2007, when Bhagike village resident Ranjit Singh filed a complaint with the ADGP (Law and Order) alleging that Moga City-1 SHO Amarjit was demanding a Rs 50,000 bribe to spare him in a rape case lodged on the complaint of the minor girl.

As senior police officials and politicians were allegedly involved, the Punjab and Haryana High Court transferred the case to the CBI in December 2007. The high court had even observed that the Moga sex scam was “no less than the Jammu sex scandal”.

In 2012, the CBI court had framed charges against Garcha, Sandhu, Amarjit, Raman, Barjinder, Manjit, the minor girl, Sukhraj, and advocates Ranbir Singh, alias Ranu, and Karamjit Singh Batth. Ranbir and Karamjit turned approvers and testified as prosecution witness.