Chandigarh, July 12: The Punjab Crime Branch in its inquiry report had recommended registration of a Prevention of Corruption Act against former Moga SSP Kamal Jit Dhillon, yet he was posted in place of drug-tainted Moga SSP Raj Jit Singh.
The inquiry report, submitted recently to the Chief Minister and accessed by The Tribune, had indicted Dhillon and three policemen, including ASI Jarnail Singh Sub-Inspector Amarjit Singh and Head Constable Jasvir Singh, for corruption.
The report said Dhillon had been indicted for allegedly letting off the three policemen in a drug smuggling case in lieu of Rs40 lakh after which the FIR against the three was cancelled. The three had also been indicted for indulging in smuggling of poppy husk.
The report included transcripts of phone calls between police officials, including Dhillon, and some smugglers.
Officials in the police and Home Department said action on the inquiry report was pending with the Chief Minister. “A formal sanction of prosecuting Dhillon will have to be obtained first,” said a senior official. Sources said there was political pressure on the CM not to take action against Dhillon.
The inquiry report said Dhillon declined to give his voice sample for forensic examination of phone transcripts.
The three accused were posted at the Nathuwala police post. ASI Jarnail Singh had alleged that he paid Rs 40 lakh to Dhillon for delaying the challan and filing a cancellation report. He later got his money back with the intervention of some influential persons, he claimed.
While Dhillon could not be reached for comments, he had in a previous statement to The Tribune claimed he was a “victim of department politics”.
“The cancellation report was filed in February 2015, whereas I was transferred in April 2014. The case was cancelled due to political pressure. The accused ASI was inimical towards me because I caught him and ordered his dismissal from service.”
The case came to light in June 2017 when former IG-Bathinda MS Chhina recommended an inquiry by the Crime Branch against Dhillon.
He said the two witnesses in the case — SP (Traffic) Gurmeet Singh and Inspector Amarjit Singh — stood by their statement in the court that the police allegedly let the accused off the hook.
Chhina in his inquiry report said two DIGs — Ranbir Singh Khatra and Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill — had in their report concurred that the accused were let off in a dubious manner. They too said the accused cops had given a statement to them that they paid bribe to the SSP.
Source Tribune India
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