Drug case: Court raps SHO for sending junior cop to hearing

Taking a serious note of the non-appointment of an investigation officer in a drug case, a local court has ordered the police commissioner to initiate a departmental probe into the ‘careless attitude’ of Basti Bawa Khel police station house officer (SHO).

During the hearing of a bail plea of Sonu of Rattan Nagar, who was arrested by assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Jatinder Kumar of Basti Bawa Khel police station on April 24 for alleged possession of intoxicants, head constable Barjinder Kumar brought the records.

A case under section 22 of the NDPS Act was registered against Sonu.

Barjinder further told the court that investigating officer ASI Jatinder Kumar was trans- ferred from the police station on May 11 and the probe wasn’t handed over to any other investigating officer.

He also submitted to the court that as he was not the investigating officer of the case and cannot assist this court regarding the case.

Taking note of the fact that the SHO had sent a cop not related with the case, the court said, “It is sheer negligence and glaring lack of supervision on the part of the present SHO Basti Bawa Khel as he has not entrusted the investigation of the case to any other investigating officer despite the lapse of a period of more than one and half months since the transfer of Jatinder Kumar.”

“So this prima-facie shows a very careless attitude on the part of SHO in performing his official duty,” it added.

The court also directed the department of home and justice, director general of police (DGP), Punjab, and police commissioner to initiate a departmental inquiry against SHO.

Speaking to HT, SHO Naresh Kumar said that he is on leave and can’t comment on the issue.

Police commissioner PK Sinha said he has not seen the order and if court has directed to do so, same will be followed.

Sonu’s counsel Harsh Bhatt, meanwhile, said the court’s order was appreciable and claimed it will help speed up the trail in this case.

HEAD CONSTABLE SAID AS HE WAS NOT THE INVESTIGATING OFFICER, HE WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST THE COURT REGARDING THE CASE