SIT: Badal can record statement from anywhere
After facing flak for bypassing the set procedure while summoning former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal in the 2015 sacrilege cases, the special investigating team (SIT) has now sent an “amended” summons to the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) patriarch, giving him the option of appearing before it wherever “he is comfortable”. Earlier, SIT had summoned the nonagenarian Akali leader to Circuit House in Amritsar on November 16..
CHANDIGARH:After facing flak for bypassing the set procedure while summoning former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal in the 2015 sacrilege cases, the special investigating team (SIT) has now sent an “amended” summons to the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) patriarch, giving him the option of appearing before it wherever “he is comfortable”.
Earlier, SIT had summoned the nonagenarian Akali leader to Circuit House in Amritsar on November 16.
Section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) states that “no male aged under 15 or above 65, or a woman, or a disabled person is required to join the probe at any place other than their residence.
“We have sent amended summons. However, there is no change in the summons to SAD president Sukhbir Badal and actor Akshay Kumar,” said inspector general of police (IGP) Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh, who had issued the summons to the three.
An official said the move to amend the summons was taken on the recommendations of the senior police officers and legal experts of the government.
Earlier, SIT had mistakenly sent the summons meant for the Badals to the official residence of chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh.
The IGP had defended the original summons to call Badal senior to Amritsar, saying he should not have any issue appearing before SIT as he travels in luxury cars with Z-plus security provided by the government.
MAND WELCOMES SIT SUMMONS TO BADALS
Acting parallel Akal Takht jathedar Dhian Singh Mand on Wednesday welcomed the move to issue summons to the Badals by Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Punjab Police, which is investigating the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib in 2015.
“It’s a good step, at least some beginning has been made as the main culprits have been told to join investigations,” Mand, who is currently leading the anti-sacrilege protest in Bargari, said.