The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered the case on 18 April 1994 under Sections 342, 365 and 120 B of the IPC on the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The prosecution case was that Saini, then SSP Ludhiana, was having strained relations with his relatives Narender Saini and Meenakshi Saini, owners of Saini Motors. SS Saini adopted vindictive attitude towards them and as a result of animosity, several criminal cases were registered against the partners of Saini Motors during his tenure, the CBI added.

The case was transferred to Delhi in 2004 on the orders of the Supreme Court.

What happened 12 years ago

According to the prosecution, on 15 March 1994, Vinod Kumar — a partner of Saini Motors — along with his driver Mukhtiyar Singh was abducted from Chandigarh by SS Sandhu and other unidentified police personnel. Ashok Kumar, brother-in-law of Vinod Kumar, was abducted from the latter’s house in Ludhiana on the same day. The CBI said the three were untraceable and their whereabouts not known despite all efforts made since then. The CBI filed the chargesheet in May 2000.