Punjab Police treats murder as accident, HC hands case to CBI

Holding an investigation done by the Punjab Police in a case of alleged murder as "vitiated", the Punjab and Haryana High Court Tuesday handed over the probe to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Criticising the Punjab Police for shielding the actual accused and projecting a case of "murder" as a case of accident, the court directed the central agency to take over the investigation from Gurdaspur Police.

The directions were passed by Justice Mahesh Grover on a petition filed by one Surjit Singh, father of Pratap Singh. Pratap's body was found on a road in Gurdaspur on October 1, 2010. Surjit had alleged that Pratap was murdered by the family members of a girl (name withheld) who had an affair with Pratap.

The father, through his counsel Surinder Singh Siao, had alleged that Pratap was having an affair with a girl of the same village Sarchur in Gurdaspur district. This was not acceptable to Surjit Singh and the girl's parents. To end this, Surjit got Pratap married to some other girl in 2010. However, the petitioner alleged that even after Pratap's wedding, the girl and Pratap remained in touch.

As a result, the girl's family members allegedly abducted Pratap on October 1, 2010 and murdered him. Advocate Surinder Singh contended that the Punjab Police acting at the behest of the accused projected it to be a case of an accident. To corroborate his claim, the petitioner placed on record call records of the deceased and the girl. The father alleged that according to the Punjab Police, Pratap died after falling from a bus on the fateful day. As per the Police, the incident took place at around 3:50 pm. The father placed on record call records of the girl's mobile phone which showed that phone calls were exchanged even after the alleged time of incident.

... contd.

ALSO READ

'Shootout At Wadala' producer Ekta Kapoor apologises, Valmiki Samaj unperturbed

Theatres in Punjab cancel 'Shootout at Wadala' shows

Rail traffic hit due to protests over Sajjan's acquittal

Family of 1971 POW awaits his return from Pak, fears for his life