The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has submitted a chargesheet in a Mohali court against four personnel of the Punjab Police. The case pertains to the alleged assault on Colonel Pushpinder Bath and his son. The agency has named Inspector Ronnie Singh as the principal accused in this high-profile incident.
From Attempted Murder to Grievous Hurt: Shift in Charges
In a significant development, the central investigative agency has decided not to pursue charges of attempted murder. Instead, it has invoked sections for 'causing grievous hurt' and 'wrongful restraint' against the accused. The chargesheet formally identifies Inspector Ronnie Singh, along with three other police personnel, for their alleged roles in the assault.
The incident traces back to the intervening night of March 13-14. Colonel Bath and his son were at a roadside eatery in Patiala when a dispute over parking space escalated violently. A group of men, later identified as policemen in civilian clothes, asked the Army officer to move his vehicle. The family alleges that this led to a physical attack where more than a dozen individuals assaulted the Colonel and his son with rods and sticks, causing injuries.
A Long Road to Justice: HC Intervention and Probe Transfers
The First Information Report (FIR) in this case was registered only eight days after the incident, based on Colonel Bath's complaint. Initially, the Patiala police named Inspectors Harry Boparai, Ronnie Singh, and Harjinder Dhillon in the FIR. The charges included attempted murder, causing hurt, wrongful restraint, and criminal intimidation under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Another inspector was added to the case on charges of rioting and insulting a religion.
Dissatisfied with the initial investigation, Colonel Bath approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The court, on April 3, transferred the case to the Chandigarh Police for a probe. However, the Colonel remained unconvinced. He filed a petition in the HC on July 14, accusing the Chandigarh Police's Special Investigation Team (SIT) of 'shielding' the accused officers.
The High Court agreed with his concerns. In a strongly-worded order on July 16, it handed over the investigation to the CBI. Justice Rajesh Bhardwaj remarked that the Chandigarh Police probe was 'tainted' and that there were 'no prospects of a free and fair investigation'. The judge stated that the investigating agency seemed to be creating 'craters' in the case to ensure the prosecution would 'hardly be able to crawl in court'.
Suspended Cops Resume Duty, Family Alleges Tactical Move
The aftermath of the HC's scathing observations saw another twist. Approximately a week after the court's order, the four accused policemen, who were under suspension, reported for duty at new postings. This occurred despite the police previously informing the court that all accused were 'untraceable'.
Colonel Bath's family criticized this development. They alleged that the officers had deliberately 'surfaced' to avoid being declared 'Proclaimed Offenders' (POs). This move added another layer of controversy to an already complex legal battle, raising questions about accountability within the police force.
The filing of the CBI chargesheet marks a crucial step in a case that has highlighted issues of police accountability and the pursuit of justice. All eyes are now on the Mohali court as it processes the chargesheet against the four Punjab Police personnel.
