CM: No action against cop who booked Cong candidate, will help him fight mental disorder

Chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Saturday said his government will not take disciplinary action against inspector Parminder Bajwa, the former station house officer (SHO) of Mehatpur area here, who registered a case of illegal mining against Congress’ Shahkot bypoll candidate Hardev Singh Ladi Sherowalia and later made disparaging remarks against the CM.

“It has emerged before everyone that the inspector is not mentally fit and is suffering from bipolar disorder for the past many months,” the CM told HT inside his campaign bus for his road show here.

“I have further found out about Bajwa,” he added, “He was 10 years old when his father, who too was a Punjab Police officer, sacrificed his life for the nation as he was killed by militants. We will not levy any charge on the inspector.”

Bajwa, diagnosed with alcohol dependence and bipolar disorder, is currently in judicial custody and undergoing treatment at a government deaddiction centre in Jalandhar. He was admitted there after his arrest from the district courts, where he had gone carrying his revolver to apply for security on account of “threat” from the administration.

Initially after the FIR embarrassed the government, the CM had said the SHO was “biased” against Ladi and had an “objectionable” personal life. Bajwa had retaliated with questions over the CM’s personal life.

He was removed as the SHO by the Election Commission three days after he registered the case.

During the campaign, the issue dominated the scene with opposition Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) even saying that “when we come to power in the state, Bajwa will be promoted and posted as DSP (deputy superintendent of police) in Shahkot”.

On Saturday, the CM, however, said, “A man who is not well should be treated with sympathy. I will direct the state police chief, Suresh Arora, not to take any disciplinary action against Bajwa, and to rather help him in his recovery from mental illness. We will keep him in service.”

He was 10 when his father, who was in Punjab Police, sacrificed his life for the nation as he was killed by militants. CAPT AMARINDER SINGH, CM