High court questions Punjab DGP over ‘vague’ affidavit

CHANDIGARH: A Punjab and Haryana high court bench on Monday raised questions over an affidavit filed by Punjab director general of police (DGP) Suresh Arora in a case involving former Moga senior superintendent of police SSP Raj Jit Singh Hundal.

On the last date of hearing, the court had slapped a fine of ₹25,000 after the DGP failed to submit a reply in the case. The matter pertained to illegal detention of a Moga resident. The court termed the affidavit “vague” and wondered how such an affidavit was filed by an officer of the DGP level.

In a response submitted on Monday, the DGP told court that after an internal probe, Raj Jit Singh has been asked to explain on the contradictory content of the affidavit he filed in this case before high court. The DGP also told court that there was no case registered against the person picked up by the police. There were no compelling circumstances for the police to seize the mobile phones from the house of detainee Beant Singh and local station house officer Jangjit Singh was “careless” in handling the matter, the DGP stated, adding that there was also no reason for the police to conceal information from a court-appointed officer about the illegal detention.

The court was told that Raj Jit has been asked to explain about his conduct and regular departmental probe has been initiated against the SHO. Appearing for the petitioner lawyer Pradeep Virk questioned that it was not clear what explanation has been sought from Raj Jit. He questioned as to how a case of criminal trespass in the house of detainee was termed merely as “carelessness” by the DGP. It was also pointed out that the SHO had not even been transferred out of that area and two other officers, whose rile petitioner had questioned, are not being probed.

Upon this, the court sought details of the outcome of probe against officials and the response Raj Jit submits in this case by September 10.

The matter had reached court in February when the detainee’s wife alleged that police picked up her husband. The warrant officer told the court that the SHO admitted of detention but the affidavit filed by Raj Jit had contradicted warrant officer’s report arguing that there were complaints against the detainee.