Punjab and Haryana High Court Assigns Colonel's Assault Case to Chandigarh Police
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Synopsis
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has mandated the Chandigarh Police to investigate the alleged assault case of Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath involving Punjab Police personnel, setting a four-month deadline for completion.
Key Takeaways
- Chandigarh Police tasked with investigation
- Four-month timeline for probe completion
- Special Investigation Team to be formed
- No Punjab Police in the SIT
- Colonel Bath's allegations include threats and alcohol influence
Chandigarh, April 3 (NationPress) On Thursday, the Punjab and Haryana High Court instructed the Chandigarh Police to launch an investigation into the alleged assault of Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath by personnel of the Punjab Police, mandating that the inquiry be concluded within four months.
The incident reportedly involved 12 Punjab Police officers in Patiala, triggered by a parking dispute.
Justice Harpreet Singh Brar, presiding over the case, ordered the Chandigarh Police to establish a Special Investigation Team (SIT) within three days, clearly stating that no personnel from the Punjab Police should be included in the SIT to guarantee an unbiased investigation.
Colonel Bath, stationed in Delhi, approached the High Court last week, requesting an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) due to alleged delays by the Punjab Police in filing a first information report (FIR) regarding the assault on him and his son by the 12 officers, which included four inspectors.
The violent encounter is said to have occurred on the night of March 13 while Colonel Bath, his son, and his wife were dining in Patiala.
In his legal petition, Colonel Bath alleged that he and his son faced a severe attack from four officers of the Punjab Police, who confiscated his identity card and mobile phone while threatening him with a “fake encounter” over the parking dispute outside a restaurant.
The petition further claimed that Colonel Bath’s wife, Jaswinder Kaur, was coerced by the police into reaching a compromise, with some officers reportedly confessing to her over a video call that they were under the influence of alcohol during the incident.
Four days post-incident, the police extended an apology to the army officer and promised “strict action against the erring cops.”
Previously, the case had been reviewed twice by Justice Sandeep Moudgil, who expressed strong disapproval towards the Punjab government and scrutinized the police regarding the delay in FIR registration and the non-arrest of the involved officers.
Justice Moudgil voiced concerns regarding the actions of the Punjab Police in this case, questioning, “Why did you not register the FIR when you learned of the incident? Why this delay? What is the explanation?”
