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Supreme Court grants interim protection from arrest to Punjab ex-DGP in 1991 case

Last Updated 15 September 2020, 10:01 IST

The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted protection from arrest to Punjab's ex-DGP Sumedh Singh Saini in a case related to alleged abduction and murder of a junior engineer Balwant Singh Multani in 1991.

A bench, presided over by Justice Ashok Bhushan, asked Saini to cooperate with the police in their investigation.

The court said Saini will not be arrested till further orders.

It sought a response from the Punjab government within three weeks on a petition by Saini challenging validity of September 7 order by the Punjab and Haryana HC, rejecting his plea.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Saini, said that it has been 29 years since Multani escaped. The FIR was registered against Saini this year in a mala fide manner, as now he is a retired person.

He further alleged that the Punjab government was after Saini because he had filed two chargesheets which has the current Chief Minister of Punjab Captain Amarinder Singh as the accused.

Senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, appearing for the State government, claimed Multani was picked up from his residence.

On this, Justice Bhushan asked Luthra, "This case is of 1991 and asked after 30 years what is the hurry to arrest him?"

Luthra said after the registration of FIR, statement of approver has been recorded. Witnesses in the police station have for the first time stated that the picture of Multani released to have escaped from the prison was not of Multani at all.

Luthra further said the High Court judge had noted that Saini used to intimidate the victim. Court had noted that a person had succumbed to his injury after he was imhumanly treated by Saini, he added.

Senior advocate KV Vishwanathan, appearing for the brother of Multani, contended that his brother died at the hand of Saini and "he was a notorious police officer."

Vishwanathan added that murder offence was disclosed on August 18 this year and thereafter Section 302 was added. There is approver statement on record now.

Saini, a 1982-batch IPS officer, who was the youngest DGP in the country, was booked along with six others on May 6 this year at Mataur police station in Mohali for the alleged kidnapping of Multani, wrongful confinement, among other charges in 1991.

Later in August murder charge was added to the FIR, after two co-accused turned approvers, and in their statement, claimed to be witnesses to the torture meted out to Balwant Singh Multani, under the custody of former DGP Saini, who was then the SSP of Chandigarh.

Multani worked with Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Corporation (Citco) and was picked up by the police after a terrorist attack on Saini, who was then Chandigarh Senior Superintendent of Police. Saini was injured in the attack and three policemen were killed.

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(Published 15 September 2020, 08:35 IST)

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