Dowry death case: HC attaches salary of Jind SHO over ‘poor assistance’

HIGH COURT ALSO ATTACHED SALARY OF AN INVESTIGATING OFFICER, BESIDES ISSUING BAILABLE WARRANTS AGAINST THE TWO COPS

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court on Wednesday attached salary of a station house officer (SHO) of Jind and investigating officer (IO) on the plea of an accused in an alleged case of dowry death.

The high court bench of justice Fatehdeep Singh was perturbed over the poor assistance from Haryana.

“In spite of due service of the process upon the Advocate General, Haryana, again, none has put in appearance on behalf of respondent/state. The conduct of the respondent/state is certainly deplorable necessitates issuance of bailable warrants of arrest against Station House Officer, Police Station, City, Jind and the Investigating Officer in the sum of Rs10,000 with one surety in the like amount each returnable for 28.01.2020,” the high court bench said while issuing bailable warrants to these two policemen and further attaching salaries of the both the officials.

The order came on the bail plea of one Kuldeep, who had approached high court seeking bail on December 20, 2019. He again filed an application on January 17, upon which the high court bench acted and sought response from the state by January 21.

The matter could not be taken up on Tuesday reportedly due to non appearance of counsel. Again on Wednesday too, none appeared on behalf of the state, which prompted high court to pass the order.

The petitioner, Kuldeep Singh, was arrested on June 2, 2018 and allegations are that barely after 20 days of marriage with one Kirti, he and his family members started harassing her, which resulted in the woman hanging herself to death on June 2, 2018. Singh is behind bars since June 2, 2018.

The FIR in the case was registered at police station (city), Jind on the day the incident was reported.