No move to arrest Dera Sacha Sauda official Prithvi Raj Nain in sacrilege cases: Punjab Police to HC

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 9

The Punjab Police today told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that arrest of Dera Sacha Sauda functionary Prithvi Raj Nain was, as of now, was not contemplated. Serving as the vice-chairman of the dera management committee, Nain was seeking at least seven-day advance notice if coercive action was be taken against him.

He had filed the petition after being summoned as a witness in a sacrilege related case in which dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was examined by the Punjab Police. As the matter came up for resumed hearing before Justice Raj Mohan Singh’s Bench, Punjab Advocate-General DS Patwalia with Sehaj Bir Singh submitted that the petitioner was only required to make statement in pursuance of notice under Section 160 of the CrPC.

“As of now, there is no such contemplation to arrest him,” Patwalia submitted, adding that the investigating officer would visit his residence in terms of proviso to Section 160. Nain’s counsel submitted that the petitioner undertook to remain present at the time of visit and cooperate in the investigation.

Fixing the case for December 16, Justice Raj Mohan Singh added: “Let further course of action be intimated to this Court on the next date of hearing”. Appearing before the Bench, senior counsel Vinod Ghai with Kirti Ahuja and Kanika Ahuja had earlier contended notice under Section 160, Criminal Procedure Code, had been issued to the petitioner in the capacity of a witness. In case he was also sought to be interrogated in the case, some prior notice be issued to the petitioner to allow him to avail his legal remedies in such an eventuality.

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