Punjab ex-SP gets 10-yr jail for rape, 5 for graft

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur, February 21

Former Punjab SP Salwinder Singh, who was pronounced guilty in a rape case on February 15, was sentenced to 10-year jail by Additional District and Sessions Judge Prem Kumar here today.

For corruption, he will have to undergo jail for five years. The sentences will run concurrently. A fine of Rs 50,000 was also imposed. The officer said he would challenge the order.

The former SP had shot to infamy when four Jaish militants allegedly kidnapped him, his cook and a friend on December 31, 2015. Forty-eight hours later, the terrorists had attacked the Pathankot Air Force station.

The NIA had initially suspected his involvement in providing logistical support to the militants. Later, he was given a clean chit. The complainant in the rape case is a resident of Geeta Bhawan road. Her husband was present in the court today.

A case under Section 376 (2) of IPC (public servant taking advantage of his official position to molest a woman) was registered at the Gurdaspur city police station on August 3, 2016, after the victim’s husband approached the then Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal through the government’s online Sangat Darshan portal. An offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, was also made out against him after the victim’s husband claimed the officer took money from him to hush up a case.

The victim had complained that Salwinder, in his capacity as inquiry officer (IO), used to visit her house after her husband got involved in a criminal case. She added that he used to rape her on the pretext that he would exonerate her husband. She also told the police that he also demanded Rs 50,000 to hush up the proceedings. The police traced the mobile phone calls of Salwinder and concluded that he was regularly in touch with the victim.

The officer had moved the HC to get relief, but his bail application was declined on September 23, 2016. Later, he absconded and was declared a proclaimed offender. On April 20, 2017, he surrendered in a Gurdaspur court.

In November, 2017, the state government ordered his premature retirement after two FIRs and several cases of indiscipline surfaced against him. The government also took cognisance of two adverse entries recorded in his annual confidential reports.