SC rejects Punjab police inspector’s petition against denial of bail

Satya Prakash

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Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 2

The Supreme Court has dismissed an anticipatory bail plea of Inspector Baljinder Singh—former SHO of Khanna Police Station—who is accused of making three persons stand nude in his cabin and passing casteist remarks.

“We are not inclined to entertain the Special Leave Petition under Article 136 of the Constitution of India. The Special Leave Petition is accordingly dismissed,” a Bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachud said.

The accused Inspector had challenged the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s August 11 order rejecting his anticipatory bail plea.

“As the Station House Officer, he is responsible for anything and everything that happens in his police station. From the evidence of SIT, it is evident that the police exceeded its mandate and tortured the complainant party. This is unacceptable in a society governed by the rule of law and needs to be dealt with a firm hand. Persons like the petitioner do not deserve any kind of discretionary relief at the hands of this court,” the high court had said dismissing his anticipatory bail plea.

The accused had contended that the HC’s interpretation of facts and law was flawed as it failed to apply its mind and ruled against him without providing any valid reason.

He had contended that the SIT exonerated him of four of the seven allegations and that he deserved benefit of doubt as SIT findings made no mention of any specifically attributable action on his part.

During the hearing in the Supreme Court, his plea was opposed by senior advocate HS Phoolka on behalf of the complainant.

Earlier, a Ludhiana Sessions court had on August 4 dismissed his anticipatory bail plea.

A nine-second video of the incident had gone viral after nine months. When the video went viral, DGP Dinkar Gupta marked an inquiry to the IG (Ludhiana Range) in April 2020. An FIR was registered in this connection on July 4, 2020.

The Sessions court had said Head Constable Varun Kumar’s version regarding indulgence of the SHO in the commission of the alleged offence cannot be straightway discarded at this stage.