Faridkot, February 8
Four days after former Punjab DGP Sumedh Singh Saini and suspended IGP Paramraj Singh Umranangal approached the court of District and Sessions Judge, Faridkot, seeking anticipatory bail in apprehension of their arrest on February 9 here, the court deferred the hearing on their application for February 11.
Accused in a murder and attempt of murder case, the former DGP and IGP have been summoned by the court of Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Faridkot for their presence before the court on February 9.
Fearing them being arrested on February 9 during their appearance before the court here, both accused police officers want to avail the benefit of anticipatory bail. However, as the court has deferred the decision on the anticipatory bail application for February 11, so the threat of arrest will keep looming large on the accused on February 9.
Both Saini and Umranangal are accused in a criminal case registered under Section 302, 307, 34, 201, 218, 166A, 120B, 34, 194, 195, 109 of IPC and 25, 27 of Arms Act at Bajakhana police station of Faridkot. This case was registered on October 21, 2015, a week after two protesters were allegedly killed in police firing at Behbal Kalan on October 14, 2015 in the aftermath of sacrilege incidents at Bargari and Burj Jawahar Singh Wala.
In this case, Saini and Umranangal were chargesheeted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Punjab police on January 15 and they were summoned by the Court for February 9.
Saini has already approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court, seeking the quashing of this chargesheet.
The public prosecutor today opposed the anticipatory bail to Saini, claiming the Punjab and Haryana High Court had already granted blanket bail to Saini in October 2018 and it was challenged by the state government. The court has summoned the record of this blanket bail to Saini for February 11.
In the October, 2018 blanket bail order it was mentioned that “in case the petitioner (Saini) is sought to be arrested in Kotkapura sacrilege case or in case involving Aman Skoda of Moga or in any case pertaining to an incident of the period while the petitioner remained as State Vigilance Head or Inspector General of Police, Intelligence, Punjab or Director General of Police Punjab, then one week’s advance notice shall be afforded to the petitioner before effecting his arrest so as to enable him to have recourse to remedies available to him”.
Further, in November 2020, High Court had allowed the continuation of this order till pronouncement of the judgement in this case.
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