Chandigarh, September 7
Acting in a petition filed by Punjab’s former minister Tikshan Sood for protecting life, liberty and property and providing permanent security cover, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has rapped a special investigation team (SIT) of the Punjab Police for not functioning up to its due capability.
Not up to mark
Even after two months since the written statement was filed, the state has not been able to arrest or interrogate the main accusedhellip; the facts only go on to show that the SIT is not functioning up to its due capability. — High Court Bench
The Bench observed a perusal of the state’s reply went on to show that a SIT had been constituted, comprising Hoshiarpur SSP, in addition to providing protection to the petitioner regarding an FIR registered on January 1 for criminal intimidation and other offences under Sections 506, 323, 148 and 149 of the IPC.
“It is a matter of surprise that even after two months since the written statement was filed, the state has not been able to arrest or interrogate the main accused, who has been named specifically in the FIR and the petitioner has also placed photographs along with other electronic evidence on the file. The facts only go on to show that the SIT is not functioning up to its due capability,” the Bench added.
Before parting with the case, Justice GS Sandhawalia also directed the filing of a fresh status report by the SIT head on active steps taken during the course of the investigation. The case will now come up for further hearing on November 10.
Sood, through counsel KS Dadwal, had submitted that he did not make, nor intended to make, any statement hurting the feelings of protesting farmers. But political opponents twisted the facts, attributing to him a statement that protesters had no knowledge of the farm laws and were going to Delhi for picnic. Dadwal added threats were being extended to the petitioner.
On January 1, several persons armed with batons came in a tractor-trolley, used abusive language and threatened Sood and his servants. They forcibly entered his house before unloading a dung-laden trolley at the gate. After the incident, an FIR was registered. — TNS
HC raps SIT on Tikshan Sood’s petition for security
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