Punjab IG, 5 others acquitted in criminal conspiracy case linked to PO’s abduction
The Court of Additional Sessions Judge, Hisar, has recorded strong remarks over the conduct of the Station House Officer (SHO) concerned while deciding an anticipatory bail application in Karambir Dhillon versus State of Haryana. Photo for representation/iStock
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A Special CBI court has acquitted Punjab Police Inspector General Gautam Cheema and five others of all charges in a 2014 case related to the kidnapping of proclaimed offender Sumedh Gulati over profit-sharing in a joint property venture.
Cheema, a 1995-batch IPS officer, along with five others, was awarded eight-month rigorous imprisonment (RI) for criminal conspiracy and obstructing a public servant in the case.
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The 54-year-old police officer, along with suspended chief executive officer of Ambala Cantonment Board Ajay Chaudhary (55); Chandigarh residents Rashmi Negi (38), Varun Utreja (44) and Vicky Verma (49), and Sirsa resident Aryan Singh (33), was convicted on December 20, 2024.
Terming it “unwarranted and unsustainable in law”, the court set aside the order recorded by the Special Judicial Magistrate under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 186 (obstruct public servant in discharge of duty) and 225 (obstruct arrest of another person) of the IPC.
IG Cheema, a resident of Chandigarh, and others were accused of kidnapping and criminal intimidation of immigration agent Gulati, who was allegedly taken from the Phase 1 police station to a hospital. Gulati was a co-accused with realtor Devinder Gill in a cheating case.
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Gill and his wife Krispy Khera had alleged that IGP Cheema had foisted false cases against them over a dispute of profit-sharing in a joint venture.
Cheema was, however, acquitted of kidnapping and criminal intimidation charges and all accused were granted bail in December 2024.
Advocate Terminder Singh, counsel for Cheema and three other accused, said: “The prosecution couldn’t prove that PO Gulati was ever produced by head constable Ramesh at the Phase 1 police station or someone took him away from there. As per documents, Gulati was arrested by the police from Max Hospital on August 27, 2014, by ASI Sulekh Chand and he never stated that Gulati was earlier produced at the police station or anyone abducted him.”
Accused Aryan Singh was represented by Advocate Harpreet Singh Badali.
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