Punjab EX-DGP Saini faces arrest as cops add murder charges to FIR
MOHALI: Police on Friday added murder charges against former Punjab director general of police (DGP) Sumedh Singh Saini in the disappearance of Balwant Singh Saini, a Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Corporation (CITCO) employee in 1991.
The move came after the court of judicial magistrate (first class) Rasveen Kaur in Mohali gave approval for the same earlier in the day.
The special investigating team (SIT) headed by superintendent of police (SP) Harmandeep Singh Hans by evening issued notice to Saini and the other co-accused. But arrests, if any, can be made only after three days. According to the earlier court orders, the police have to give three-day prior notice before arresting Saini.
Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was added to the FIR against Saini after co-accused Jagir Singh and Kuldeep Singh, both formerly with the Chandigarh Police, turned approver in the case.
Special public prosecutor Sartej Singh Narula said, “We have enough evidence against Saini now. Jagir and Kuldeep have recorded their statements in the court as eyewitness against Saini.”
The duo’s application to become approver by seeking pardon was accepted by chief judicial magistrate Deepika Singh on August 18. However, plea of then colleague sub-inspector Harsahai Sharma for the same was rejected by the court.
In their statement, they claimed to have been witness to torture on Multani when he was in the custody of Saini, the then Chandigarh SSP, besides him being shifted in a vehicle in an unconscious state.
They also claim to have been informed that Multani had died.
Besides, they were asked to declare Multani as missing and absconding on the orders of Saini, the two have alleged.
Multani was allegedly picked by two officials in 1991 after a terrorist attack on Saini, in which four cops deputed in his security were killed.
The police later claimed that Multani had escaped from police custody in Qadian, Gurdaspur. Former DSP Baldev Singh, Satvir Singh (ex-inspector), Har Sahai Sharma, Anokh Singh (ex-si) besides Jagir and Kuldip Singh were initially named in the case.