Langah moves HC, wants trial shifted out of Punjab
CHANDIGARH : Punjab and Haryana high court on Wednesday put Punjab government on notice on the plea of former Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) minister Sucha Singh Langah seeking transfer of trial outside Punjab. Langah was booked in September last year for allegedly raping a Punjab Police woman constable.
Senior advocate JS Bedi who appeared on behalf of Langah said the court had sought a response from the government by May 19. Langah, 61, a former MLA from Dera Baba Nanak segment in Gurdaspur district, was booked on September 29 last year, 11 days ahead of the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll. He is out on bail.
The FIR (first information report) said the woman, who is a police constable, charged Langah with raping her repeatedly since 2009 using his influence as a top leader of the Akali Dal, which later ousted him as she had submitted a CD (compact disc) with a 20-minute video showing Langah having sex, purportedly with her. She had also accused Langah of selling her properties using his political pressure.
After absconding for days, he had surrendered at the Gurdaspur court on October 4, and charges were framed on February 14 under sections 376 (rape), 384 (extortion), 420 (cheating) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
PUNJAB AND HARYANA HIGH COURT PUTS THE STATE GOVERNMENT ON NOTICE ON FORMER AKALI DAL MINISTER’S PETITION; SEEKS RESPONSE BY MAY 19
Langah has told court that the case was registered just before the 2017 Lok Sabha by-election in Gurdaspur and was a result of political rivalry.
Generally, only one district attorney (DA) is assigned a case but in the present case three law officers have been appointed and twice changes have been made, he has informed court adding that he was opposed to the present legislator at Gurdaspur and his convoy was also attacked, when he was on way to attend a court hearing.
He also alleged the trial court judge was going “beyond” the case of prosecution.
RESIDENTS, GUN HOUSE OWNERS RESENT MOVE
On the condition of anonymity, an owner of a gun house said, “In the countryside, many people keep .12 bore single barrel or double barrel guns that cost between ₹2,000 and ₹20,000. The cost of renewal for one weapon is ₹3,300 and this additional burden of ₹1,500 will irk people.” He added that the rich who already kept expensive guns were unlikely to feel the pinch. Harpreet Singh, an arms licence holder, said, “We keep weapon for safety and the government should not make the dope test a way of minting money.”
Ludhiana chief medical officer Parminderpal Singh welcomed the move and said that the hospital will be able to recover the cost incurred on dope tests.