Saini joins SIT probe, surrenders passport
MOHALI:Former director general of police (DGP) Sumedh Singh Saini on Wednesday joined the special investigation team (SIT) probe in the case registered against him in connection with disappearance of Balwant Singh Multani, a Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Corporation (CITCO) employee, in 1991.
In compliance with orders of a Mohali court that granted him anticipatory bail on Monday, Saini came to the Mataur police station, where the case was registered against him on May 6, 29 years later. He surrendered his passport and furnished personal bonds of Rs 50,000.
The three-member SIT constituted on Tuesday comprises Mohali superintendent of police (SP-investigation) Harmandeep Singh Hans, deputy superintendent of police (DSP-investigation) Bikramjit Singh Brar and Rajiv Kumar, station house officer (SHO), Mataur.
Saini came to the police station around 6 pm and completed the formalities. Saini’s counsel APS Deol said, “Saini has surrendered his passport in compliance with the court order and gave an undertaking before SP Hans that he is available at his residence in Chandigarh and will come whenever asked by the SIT.”
The ex-DGP was, however, was not asked any questions. “The SIT would be summoning him for questioning later,” said advocate Deol.
Notably, the court had restrained Saini from leaving the country without prior permission of the court.
The court in its order had said, “Till the lockdown period, he (Saini) will remain in his house and will not leave it in any circumstances, except in case of medical emergency and whenever he is called to join investigation.”
While directing Saini to join investigation within seven days, the court had also restrained Saini from making “any threat, promise or inducement to any person conversant with the facts of the case to dissuade him/her from disclosing the truth to the court or police.”
Multani was allegedly picked up by two officers after a terrorist attack on Saini, then SSP, Chandigarh, in which four policemen in his security posse were killed. The police later claimed that Multani had escaped from the custody of Qadian police.
A case was registered under Sections 364 (kidnapping or abduction in order to murder), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), 344 (wrongful confinement), 330 (voluntarily causing hurt to exhort confession) and 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy) in Mohali on May 6 on the basis of a complaint filed by Multani’s brother Palwinder Singh Multani. Former DSP Baldev Singh Saini, inspector Satvir Singh, sub-inspectors Har Sahai Sharma, Jagir Singh and Anoop Singh and ASI Kuldip Singh were also named in the case.
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Till the lockdown, Saini will remain in his house and will not leave it in any circumstances, except in medical emergency and whenever he is called to join investigation.
MOHALI COURT THAT GRANTED SAINI BAIL HAD SAID