Ludhiana lawyers demand FIR, dismissal of STF in-charge

Rajneesh Lakhanpal

Legal Correspondent

Ludhiana, Feburary 26

The District Bar Association(DBA) today sought registration of an FIR against STF in-charge Harbans Singh and his dismissal from the service on the accusations of beating Varun Gupta, a lawyer and former office- bearer of the DBA. The incident happened when the lawyer was coming back to Ludhiana from Delhi. The DBA also announced to observe strike tomorrow.

Allegations of harassing the paralytic father of lawyer were also levelled against the STF in-charge. The incident came to light yesterday. A large number of lawyers met senior STF officials for taking action against Harbans Singh. When no action was initiated, agitated lawyers today convened the general house.

Thereafter, a large number of lawyers went to the office of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Pradeep Aggarwal, who assured the legal fraternity to take suitable action as per the law.

Later, it was learnt that the DC forwarded the same application to the Khanna SSP, in whose jurisdiction incident happened.

DBA office-bearers, including president Ashok Mittal, vice-president Rajinder Pal Singh Babbar, secretary Sham Ahuja along with a large number of lawyers met District and Sessions Judge Gurbir Singh and apprised about the incident for seeking his intervention.

Talking to Ludhiana Tribune, Varun Gupta said, “I was coming from Delhi airport after dropping my brother and nephew around 5 am on 25 February. A car started following us. We were three persons, including my dad (paralysis patient) and taxi driver in an Innova taxi car. I complained on the police helpline number at around 5:10am.We stopped for refueling diesel in our car. While we were leaving petrol pump an i20 car came and blocked our way.”

“ Then four persons in civil uniform alighted from the car and started thrashing me. I told him that I am advocate and law-abiding person, but they continued to slap and punch me. Shouting loudly they bashed and slapped me 15 to 20 times and punched me in stomach. One more car stopped near us. Its occupants said they were policemen, but they were not wearing uniforms,” Gupta added.

“The STF in-charge said he will implicate me in false narcotics case if I raised an alarm. He also threatened my father, who was lying on the back seat of the car. I requested him not to torture, but he continued doing so. He noted down my details threatened to implicate me in false cases. I came back to Ludhiana and got my medico legal report done (MLR),” Gupta said.

Meanwhile, despite making several efforts the STF in-charge could not be contacted as his cellphone was switched off.