Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, October 25
The state of Punjab today moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court for examining the status and other reports submitted by the special investigation team headed by DGP S Chattopadhyaya, including a report furnished singularly by him in connection with the drugs case. The reports are currently lying in a sealed cover with the Registrar (Judicial). Directions were also sought to pass “appropriate order” for enabling the investigating agency to proceed further in the matter.
Reports in sealed cover
- The first status report dated Jan 30, 2018, submitted by Chattopadhyaya-headed SIT, was opened and perused
- It was followed by second report on March 15, 2018 and final report on May 8, 2018, along with another report
- As no effective order has been passed in this case since May 23, 2018, the investigating agency could not proceed against the delinquent officers/persons
In its application placed before the Bench of Justice Augustine George Masih and Justice Ashok Kumar Verma in the ongoing drugs case, the state submitted there was exigency to file the present application in public interest “so as to control drug mafia operating in Punjab on an urgent basis so as to bring the delinquents to book”.
Going into the background of the matter, the state submitted a direction was issued to the special task force headed by Harpreet Singh Sidhu to examine the “complicity of SSP-rank officer Raj Jit Singh to find the nexus between the law enforcement agencies and the drug traffickers”.
The direction was issued considering the nature and gravity of allegations of Raj Jit Singh conniving with accused Inspector Inderjit Singh in a matter. The High Court on December 15, 2017, constituted an SIT comprising Chattopadhyaya, ADGP Probodh Kumar and then IGP Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh after Raj Jit Singh moved an application expressing apprehensions of personal malice against Sidhu. The High Court made it clear that its order was “to the extent that the complicity of Raj Jit Singh in respect of his alleged association with Inspector Inderjit Singh be inquired into by the SIT”.
The first status report dated January 30, 2018, submitted by SIT headed by Chattopadhyaya in a sealed cover, was opened and perused. It was followed by second report on March 15, 2018. The SIT submitted the final status report dated May 8, 2018, in sealed cover, along with another sealed report by Chattopadhyaya. It was not signed by the other two SIT members. The reports were presently in the Registrar-General’s custody.
“In view of the fact that no effective order has been passed in this case since May 23, 2018, due to myriad reasons, the investigating agency could not proceed against the delinquent officers/persons, whose role has been inquired into at the asking of the HC,” the state added.
State moves HC, wants SIT reports examined
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