HC notice to state on plea alleging police inaction

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 22

Less than a year after an FIR was registered against SAD leaders, including Sukhbir Singh Badal and Bikramjit Singh Majithia, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice of motion to Punjab on a petition seeking “proper, fair and impartial inquiry”.

The notice by Justice Mahabir Singh Sindhu came on a petition Parvinder Singh Kittna and another petitioner through counsel Hakam Singh.

The petitioners submitted that the FIR was registered on December 8, 2017, for wrongful restraint, obstruction in public way and other offences under Sections 341, 283, 431, 188 and 148 of the IPC, besides Section 8-B of the National Highway Act. But the police was not proceeding in the FIR “due to political influence”.

Going into the background of the case, the petitioners submitted that political leaders belonging to SAD blocked the national/state highways across Punjab on December 8, 2017.

It caused “a lot of harassment and inconvenience” to the general public, including the present petitioners. Several FIRs were also lodged all over Punjab.

The petitioners added the others against whom FIR was registered included Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Capt Dharam Singh and 45 others by name, besides 150-200 unidentified persons.

Their counsel added that it was stated in response to information sought under the RTI Act that the investigation was being conducted and the raids for arrest are being carried out. “The accused persons are prominent political leaders, who are attending political meetings… The police are intentionally not arresting them due to political pressure and influence…. The police are openly helping the accused” the counsel said.