Drug case: Kabaddi player Jeeta Maur’s bail plea dismissed

Tribune News Service

Deepkamal Kaur

Kapurthala, March 1

The court of Additional Sessions Judge Sanjay Agnihotri has dismissed the bail application of kabaddi player Ranjit S Jeeta Maur in complaints moved by his ex-realty business partner Charan Singh and Vasu Pathak in connection with action against him by the Special Task Force (STF) in February 2022.

The court had issued summons to as many as 17 persons in the case including Jeeta Maur’s family members, his security personnel and close associates, including those who were involved in land deals with him. The case against him is under Sections 420 and 120-B of the IPC and several sections of the NDPS Act, Arms Act and Prevention of Corruption Act.

The complainant had contested the bail application of Maur with the contention, “Accused Ranjit Singh is a moneyed and influential person and has close relations with politicians and high rank officials. The investigation officers had started helping the accused by making the case weak. Even the statements of some witnesses were not being recorded. Being an NRI, the accused is not entitled to keep arms which he had been keeping.”

The main argument of the counsel for the accused, however, was, “The complainant in the case is a private person and he wanted to settle scores with him. A private person cannot get the provisions of NDPS Act invoked and only a specified officer can proceed against the person who has committed offences under the Act. No such private complaint is maintainable.” The next ground given was that the custody of the applicant is not required as he was ready to face the trial.

Deciding on the application, the court passed the order, “The contention of the counsel for the accused that the complainant has no locus standi to invoke the provisions of NDPS Act cannot be looked into by the court while deciding the bail application. As per record, the previous Additional Sessions Judge after considering the pre-summoning evidence found sufficient ground to proceed against the accused. This aspect has already been taken care of. The accused can avail the remedy against the order of summoning before the appropriate forum.”

The court order further reads, “The applicant has also been summoned under Section 27-A of the NDPS Act and as per Section 37 of NDPS Act, there is a bar to release him on bail.” Thus, the court dismissed his bail application.

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