Punjab and Haryana High Court grants bail to Jassi’s mother in honour killing case

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 26

It was around 9.30 pm on June 8, 2000. Sukhwinder Singh and his Indo-Canadian wife Jaswinder Kaur, aka Jassi, were coming on scooter when a car accosted them near a bridge. Four armed persons attacked the two after alighting from the vehicle. Jaswinder Kaur became the alleged victim of “honour killing” while Sukhwinder Singh was hospitalised. Among other, allegations were levelled against Jassi’s mother.

Two decades and several flicks later, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has granted bail to Jassi’s mother Malkiat Kaur Sidhu. The order by Justice Fateh Deep Singh came after the petitioner-mother underwent incarceration for more than seven years and eight months.

The foreign media has already covered the issue of “honour killing” with focus on Jassi’s case. After being the subject of no less than three documentary flicks, film ‘Murder Unveiled’ was also directed on the love-tragedy.

The mother had moved the High Court seeking regular bail in the FIR registered on June 9, 2000, for murder, abduction and other offences under Sections 302, 307, 364, 148, 149 and 120B of the IPC and the provisions of the Arms Act at the Amargarh police station in Sangrur district.

The complainant-husband, Sukhwinder Singh, had claimed that he entered into love marriage with Jassi on April 15, 1999, against her parents’ wishes. Residents of Canada, they had come to India on a vacation. He alleged the mother, perturbed over the solemnisation of marriage, hatched a conspiracy to eliminate the couple and paid Rs 5,00,000 to contract killers.

Her counsel PS Brar contended the petitioner had remained behind bars for more than seven years and eight months from the date of her extradition proceedings. The trial may be prolonged following the Covid outbreak. Opposing the bail plea, state counsel JS Ghuman submitted the petitioner was a Canadian resident. If allowed bail, she might abscond and also influence the witness. Justice Fateh Deep Singh asserted: “The only allegations against the petitioner are that she had been instrumental in the attack leading to death of one of the persons and injuries of others. The court was impelled to allow the petition subject to the furnishing of bail and surety bonds of Rs 20,00,000 with two local sureties. The order was passed after taking into consideration the substantial detention already undergone by her, along with her age and the fact that she was a woman.”