HC raps police for inaction, ‘forging’ widow’s statement
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has come down heavily on the Punjab Police for “forging” a widow’s statement in an alleged land grab case. Expressing dismay over the police conduct, Justice Manisha Batra said the police not only failed to act on her complaints but also coerced her into signing a blank document before manipulating and presenting that before the court as her statement.
“The police not only resorted to the reprehensible act of forging the petitioner’s statement, but also exhibited an alarming audacity by presenting such a fraudulent document before this court. This blatant disregard for the truth and the sanctity of legal proceedings is both deeply troubling and disrespectful,” Justice Batra asserted, while hearing the petition filed by the widow through counsel Onkar Singh Batalvi and Harpreet Singh Sandhu.
The case stems from an incident that occurred in August last year. The petitioner and her son were allegedly attacked by individuals, who tried to forcibly take possession of her plot.
Among other things, the petitioner alleged she and her son were made to sit in a police station for hours without addressing their grievances, following which she complained to the authorities concerned, including the Director-General of Police. But still action was not taken, compelling her to approach the court.
“When the petitioner sought redress by knocking the doors of this court, she was coerced into signing a blank document, which was later manipulated and presented as her purported statement, wherein she is shown to have stated that she never wanted to file the present petition and it was only on the asking of her counsel that she has done so. She is also shown to be willing to withdraw the petition,” Justice Batra observed.
Describing it as “blatant disregard for the truth and the sanctity of legal proceedings”, Justice Batra asserted it was both deeply troubling and disrespectful.
The court directed Batala Senior Superintendent of Police to look into the petitioner-widow’s grievances and the conduct of the then SHO of the Qadian police station. The SSP was also instructed to submit an action-taken report by the next hearing date and to appear in person in the court.
