1993 killings: CBI finds no role of CM’s security adviser

THE CASE WAS HANDED OVER TO CBI IN 1997 ON HC DIRECTION ON A PLEA BY A WOMAN WHO LOST HER SIX RELATIVES

MOHALI : The CBI has denied the involvement of Khubi Ram, currently posted as Punjab CM’s security adviser, in a 1993 case concerning the alleged killing of six people, including a Baba Charan Singh in Tarn Taran.

The CBI was replying to an application moved before CBI special judge Karunesh Kumar by one of the witnesses Kanwar Singh Dhami, pleading to summon Khubi Ram as an additional accused in the case. He had deposed before the court saying that he (Dhami) shared the cell with Charan Singh at CIA office Tarn Taran.

As per Dhami’s statement, Charan Singh had told him that he and his five relatives were tortured by the police. Dhami alleged Khubi Ram, who was SP (operations) then, had received directions from his seniors to eliminate Charan Singh.

“No incriminating evidence was found against the then SP (operations) (Khubi Ram) that he indulged in the commission of heinous crime in the said case,” the CBI told the court, adding the “plea was filed with ulterior motive to derail the trial”.

The case was handed over to the CBI in 1997 on the direction of Punjab and Haryana high court on a petition filed by Surjit Kaur, wife of Charan Singh, who had lost her six relatives, including her husband. The challan in the case was filed in 2001. The court was told that in 1992-93 her husband and five others were picked by the police and kept in illegal custody for 43 days where they were tortured.

The CBI investigations had concluded that Charan Singh and his brothers Meja Singh, Kesar Singh, Gurdev Singh, his brother-in-law Gurmej Singh and his son Balwinder Singh and nephew were abducted from different places and after illegal detention, false cases were registered against them.

Later, they were shown as killed while trying to escape from custody.

The CBI told the court that probe revealed that Charan Singh was abducted in April 1993 from near Tarn Taran by a police party headed by inspector Suba Singh of CIA staff when he, along with his relatives, was going to surrender before then Tarn Taran SSP Ajit Sandhu, who is now dead.