Virk evading trial in disproportionate assets: Cops in court

Claiming that the petition filed by S S Virk, in which, he has demanded a change of investigating officer in his case, has become infructuous, the Punjab government has apprised the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the investigation qua Virk is already over.

Alleging that the former Punjab director general of police (DGP), is evading the trial in a case of disproportionate assets, the Punjab Police, on Monday, filed a short affidavit in response to Virk's petition.

The state police also submitted that after the arrest of Sukhwinder Singh alias Sukhi, an alleged Khalistani Commando Force leader, the Crime Branch has been asked to investigate the cases pending against him.

Sukhi had been shown as dead in Punjab Police records for the last 20 years. While no longer an active terrorist, he had been working as a police informer for a long time. The police were aware of his "fake" death story but some top officers were allegedly part of the story that showed Sukhi was killed in a fake encounter.

While stating that there were nine cases pending against the former terrorist, the Punjab Police alleged that Sukhi was harboured by Virk. The former top officer's counsel, however, contested the claim and also contended that it was strange that the Punjab Police had no officer, without a taint, to investigate the disproportionate assets case against Virk.

The counsel added that even if the investigation, as claimed by the Police, qua Virk is over, it needs to be looked into as to why P S Umranangal, an officer against whom a case of fake encounter is pending, was appointed as the investigating officer in the case. He further contended that for reasons best known to the police, officers who have enquiries pending against them, are being hand picked in the case against Virk.

... contd.

ALSO READ

Promised jobs in Iraq, 20 youth return empty-handed

What will govt gain by hanging Bhullar: Punjab CM Badal

Congress dares Navjot Singh Sidhu to contest from Amritsar on BJP ticket

'Had told Rajiv Gandhi, killings of Sikhs as big a sin as Indira Gandhi's assassination'