Abduction: Supreme Court had quashed FIR eight years ago

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 7

The past has caught up with Sumedh Singh Saini, once again. The FIR registered by the Punjab Police against its former DGP comes eight years after the Supreme Court on “technical grounds” quashed an earlier FIR registered by the CBI in the 1991 abduction case.

The FIR was then registered on the Punjab and Haryana HC directions, before the state and Saini went into an appeal. The SC, at the time, made it clear recourse to fresh proceedings could be taken to, if permissible in law — a fact mentioned in the FIR now registered.

In August 1991, Saini was the Chandigarh SSP when his cavalcade was attacked, leaving him injured and three policemen dead. Saini and his team then allegedly picked up suspects. Among those booked by the Chandigarh Police was Davinder Singh Bhullar.

As he was not available, UT Police allegedly took his uncle and subsequently his father into custody. In the meantime, an Additional Sessions Judge acquitted him and at least two others.

The UT challenged the orders and the matter was placed before a Division Bench. The HC noticed that some accused had been declared proclaimed offenders. Expressing dissatisfaction with the police efforts, the HC asked the CBI to track down the POs.

Meanwhile, a former IAS officer approached the court alleging elimination of his son Balwant Singh Multani. Bhullar also moved court alleging torture and elimination of his father and uncle, as he was an accused in the blast case.

Bhullar sought permission to hand over evidence regarding alleged elimination of Multani, Navneet Singh and Manjit Singh. Bhullar alleged his father Balwant Singh Bhullar and maternal uncle Manjit Singh were abducted by the Chandigarh Police, when Multani was picked up.

Indicting Saini for his alleged involvement in the torture of Multani and Balwant Singh Bhullar in connection with the attack on him, the CBI registered the case.