Bagga’s arrest: HC seeks stand on Punjab police’s plea to quash FIR
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought the response of Delhi Police on a petition by Punjab Police seeking to quash FIR for allegedly abducting BJP leader Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga from his residence in the city. The high court issued notice to Delhi Police, Delhi government, and Mr Bagga on the petition filed by Manpreet Singh, SP Rural, SAS Nagar in Punjab.
Justice Anu Malhotra said the respondents shall file their replies within four weeks and listed the matter for further hearing on July 26. The court, however, did not issue a notice at this stage on another petition filed by the Punjab government seeking the quashing of two orders passed by a Delhi district court for search and production of Mr Bagga and his subsequent release from the custody of Punjab Police without giving it a hearing. The high court, which listed the petition on May 26, said it would go through the entire record of the case before coming to any conclusion on whether to issue notice on the petition.
On May 6, the Punjab Police had arrested Mr Bagga from his Janakpuri residence but the Delhi Police had brought him back from Haryana, alleging that its Punjab counterpart had not informed it about the arrest. Following his arrest by the Punjab Police in a case relating to allegedly making provocative statements, promoting enmity, and making criminal intimidation, the Delhi Police registered an FIR of abduction against Punjab Police personnel on May 6 late at night.
In its plea, the Punjab Police claimed that when they reached Janakpuri Police Station on May 6 to inform it about Mr Bagga’s arrest, the Delhi Police refused to cooperate with it and illegally detained them. It said the Delhi Police lodged a false and fabricated FIR against Punjab Police
The petition alleged that the Delhi Police’s conduct is totally dubious, illegal, unwarranted, malafide, and unauthorised, who not only misled the court by assisting the accused but also concealed the factum that the person whom they are presenting as a victim in the FIR is the accused and has been arrested by the Punjab Police in another case.