Day after, DSP's wife takes U-turn

Tribune News Service

Mohali, January 20

A day after the Mohali police booked DSP Atul Soni for allegedly firing a gunshot at his wife following an altercation, the complainant, DSP’s wife Sunita Soni, alleged that the local police concocted a false story in the matter.

Talking to Chandigarh Tribune, Sunita claimed that she gave a simple complaint of domestic violence to the police. “I don’t know how and why the police concocted the false story about my husband firing a gunshot at me. Such a thing (firing of gunshot) never happened. Apparently, it is some internal rivalry/conspiracy against my husband, who is earning a good name in his department,” she alleged.

Sunita also claimed that she has submitted an affidavit to the Director General of Police, Punjab, and senior officials of the Mohali police, including the SSP and the area DSP.

In the affidavit, Sunita mentioned that neither had she written the complaint nor did she read it before signing it. In the affidavit, she stated that she signed the complaint presented to her, believing it to be regarding domestic violence. “I only came to know about the FIR and the allegations against my husband through newspapers today,” claimed Sunita.

Mohali SSP Kuldeep Singh Chahal said, “I did not get any affidavit or any other such document from Soni’s wife. We registered the case on the basis of her complaint. Today, our team went to their home in Sector 68, but found it locked. Soni is still at large.”

On the other hand, Sunita claimed that her husband was present in his office at Chandigarh today and the local police were aware about it.

DSP Atul Soni was booked under Sections 307, 498-A and 323 of the IPC and Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act at the Phase 8 police station here.

Suspect used illegal firearm: Police

The local police claimed that some illegal firearm was used by DSP Atul Soni. “The gunshot was fired from a .32 bore revolver. The probe is on,” said a senior official of the Mohali police. The official claimed that Soni had filed divorce applications in court thrice in the past. “Every time, he withdrew his applications,” claimed the official.