Sumedh Saini fails to appear before SIT

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 8

Former Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Sumedh Singh Saini today did not appear before a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing October 2015 police firing case citing his unavailability due to a court case hearing in New Delhi.

Seeks 3 weeks

Former DGP Sumedh Singh Saini, in a communication, sought three weeks to appear before the SIT due to scheduled court hearings in New Delhi.

The SIT, led by ADGP LK Yadav, had summoned Saini for an appearance today at 10:30 am at the Punjab Police Officers Institute. But Saini, in a communication, sought three weeks’ time for an appearance due to scheduled court dates in New Delhi.

The Special Investigation Team had summoned Saini a few days after Punjab and Haryana High Court dismissed a bunch of petitions by Saini and other accused police officers seeking transfer of the case to a Central agency. While disposing of the petitions, the High Court had asked the Punjab Police to expedite the probe into the 2015 Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan police firing cases. Another Special Investigation Team, led by IG Naunihal Singh, is probing the Behbal Kalan police firing incident.

Saini had earlier gotten a blanket bail by the High Court against his arrest in any case. Due to the legal protection, the SIT was not able to question Saini. The last questioning of the Director General of Police was done on May 31 last year.

The Supreme Court had in March this year expressed “shock” over an “unprecedented” order passed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court giving blanket protection from arrest to Saini in all pending and future criminal cases against him till April 20.

“This is an unprecedented order. How can future course of action be stayed? It’s shocking and three of us (on the Bench) feel it’s unprecedented. This will require hearing,” a three-judge Bench, led by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana, said.

Meanwhile, AIG Gulneet Khurana has replaced DIG Surjit Singh in the three-member SIT, assisted by Faridkot police officials. DIG Surjit Singh has superannuated about three months ago. Inspector General Rakesh Aggarwal is the other member.

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