Witness in Jassi case alleges threat to life

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 12

Adding a twist to the controversy shrouding cable operator Jaswinder Singh Jassi’s suicide, witness in the case Gurdev Singh Bhullar today moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court to restrain the State of Punjab and other respondents from “implicating” him at the instance of the accused and Punjab Home Minster Sukhbir Singh Badal.

He also alleged before the High Court that Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Harjit Singh Brar had threatened to eliminate him for pursuing the matter. He claimed the main accused, Sarabjit Singh, alias Raju, was pursuing Sukhbir’s interest in cable business. As such, the “Home Minister was openly supporting Raju”.

In his petition filed through Himmat Singh Shergill, Bhullar also claimed that he was apprehending threats to his life and liberty at the hands of Brar and accused named in the FIR dated March 28 registered for abetment to suicide and another offence at Civil Lines police station in Amritsar (City).

Shergill has contended that when the petitioner approached the ADCP on May 4 to get his statement recorded as prosecution witness and furnish the evidence, including video CD and other material, the ADCP “threatened to eliminate him if he pursued the case”.

The petitioner alleged that the ADCP also claimed he had instructions from Sukhbir to get the accused named in the FIR discharged and to implicate him in the case. He also prayed for providing him security or protection by some central force such as the Central Reserve Police Force.

Bhullar has all along been claiming that he was present when the victim consumed poison during a meeting of the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT). He claimed Jassi aired his grievance before the TDSAT chairperson and other Judges present there before consuming some poisonous substance in their presence. Jassi was taken to the hospital where he died three days later.

A special investigating team headed by Brar was constituted to investigate the case. But statements were being recorded of witnesses, who were supporters of the accused.