Stay on arrest, ex-DGP finally appears in court

Tribune News Service

Faridkot, March 8

Three days after the Punjab and Haryana High Court stayed the arrest of Punjab’s former DGP Sumedh Singh Saini in the Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan police firing cases of October 2015, the former officer today appeared in the court of judicial magistrate here.

The cases pertain to police firing incidents in the aftermath of sacrilege incidents at Bargari and Burj Jawahar Singh Wala in June 2015. While two persons were killed at Behbal Kalan, several were injured in police firing at Kotkapura.

Saini was chargesheeted by the special investigation team (SIT) of the Punjab Police in both cases in January this year and was summoned by the Faridkot court. Apprehensive of arrest, Saini had not appeared in the court in both cases.

The District and Sessions Judge, Faridkot, had denied anticipatory bail to the former DGP in the cases. In his appeal, Saini had approached the High Court and got relief on March 1 and March 4, with stay on his arrest.

While allowing anticipatory bail to Saini and IGP Paramraj Singh Umranangal, on March 1, the HC had directed both accused to appear in the Faridkot court on or before March 8. Both accused were provided a copy of the chargesheet today.

Saini is accused in two criminal cases registered under Sections 307, 34, 201, 218, 166A, 120B, 34, 194, 195 and 109 of the IPC and 25 and 27 of the Arms Act at the Kotkapura police station; besides Sections 302, 307, 34, 201, 218, 166A, 120B, 34, 194, 195 and 109 of IPC and 25, 27 of Arms Act at the Bajakhana police station of Faridkot.

Box

2015 police firing cases

* In January, Saini was chargesheeted by the SIT in the Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan police firing cases of October 2015

* The former top cop was summoned by the Faridkot court, but he failed to appear in court apprehending arrest