Fortnight after plea rejection, CBI files review petition in SC

TWISTS AND TURNS

MOHALI : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a review petition in the Supreme Court, challenging the dismissal of its plea on February 20 that upheld the Punjab government’s notification to withdraw the probe in the 2015 sacrilege cases from the central probe agency.

During the resumed hearing before the CBI special magistrate on Friday, the agency told the court it had filed the review petition on March 5. The court was to hear the CBI’S plea to keep in abeyance the closure report in the three Bargari sacrilege cases. The next hearing is on April 1. The SC had upheld the Punjab and Haryana high court’s January 25 order, dismissing the petitions challenging Punjab government’s decision to withdraw investigation in the Bargari sacrilege cases from it (CBI).

On July 4, 2019, the CBI filed a closure report, giving a clean chit to Dera Sacha Sauda followers Mohinder Pal Bittu, who was murdered in Nabha jail; Sukhjinder Singh, alias Sunny; and

Two Sikhs protesters killed in police firing at Behbal Kalan, two days after torn pages of Guru Granth Sahib found in Bargari village.

Zora Singh commission constituted to probe the issue.

Government hands over probe to the CBI.

Zora Singh Commission submits report to state government.

Amarinder government constitutes Justice Ranjit Singh Commission.

Ranjit Singh panel submits report.

Capt Amarinder

Shakti Singh, in the three cases of sacrilege. The cases are of the theft of a ‘bir’ of Guru Granth Sahib from Burj Jawahar Singh Wala village on June 1, 2015; putting up handwritten posters in Bargari and Burj Jawahar Singh

Wala on September 25; and torn pages of the ‘bir’ found at Bargari on October 12, the same year.

The HC had dismissed the petition, saying the court “does not feel the necessity to interfere in the decision of the government”.