In custody since Jan, MP’s kin gets bail in rape case

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 12

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has taken note of a complainant’s affidavit accusing the police of concocting a story and registering an FIR in a rape case on wrong premises before granting bail to Harvinder Singh Harpalpur, a senior SAD leader and a relative of SAD MP Prem Singh Chandumajra.

Harpalpur, also former vice-chairman of the Punjab Khadi and Industrial Board, had relied upon the affidavit which, among other things, said the police took the complainant’s thumb impressions on blank papers and misused the signed papers. Implication at the behest of local MLA, belonging to the ruling party, was also alleged.

Justice Hari Pal Verma asserted the affidavit furnished by the complainant could not be ignored lightly at the current stage. The petitioner was in custody since January 10 and the affidavit was furnished on January 29.

Besides, the execution of affidavit had been duly accepted by counsel for the complainant. “The question as to whether the affidavit has been obtained under duress is required to be adjudicated during trial,” Justice Verma ruled.

Allowing the petition, Justice Verma added the petitioner was ordered to be released on bail on furnishing adequate bail and surety bonds. Harpalpur had moved the High Court through counsel Jasjit Singh Bedi for regular bail in FIR dated November 1, 2018, for cheating, gangrape and other offences.

Appearing before Justice Verma’s Bench on the petitioner’s behalf, Bedi added that Harpalpur was in custody since January 10; and challan had already been presented on March 11 and the conclusion of trial would take a long time.