The Uttarakhand High Court intervened on Friday by staying the arrest of petitioners connected to a farmer's suicide case in Kashipur. The court clearly directed the accused individuals to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation into this tragic incident.
Court Issues Notices and Forms Special Team
Justice Ashish Naithani, presiding over a single bench, issued formal notices to both government and private respondents involved in the case. These parties must now file their detailed replies within a strict two-week timeframe as ordered by the court.
Meanwhile, the state government informed the High Court that authorities have established a Special Investigation Team (SIT). This dedicated team will conduct a thorough probe into all aspects surrounding the farmer's death and the subsequent allegations.
Petitioners Challenge FIR and Arrest
Legal counsel representing petitioners Kulwinder Singh, Divya Pandey, and others presented their arguments before the court. They specifically requested a stay on their clients' potential arrest and sought the complete quashing of the First Information Report (FIR) filed against them.
The petitioners' lawyers maintained that their clients faced false implication in this case. They argued there was no legitimate basis for the criminal charges leveled against the accused individuals.
Origins of the Case: A Farmer's Tragic Suicide
This legal proceeding originates from the heartbreaking suicide of Sukhwant Singh, a resident of Kashipur. The farmer allegedly shot himself with a pistol at a hotel located in Kathgodam area of Haldwani on Saturday night.
Before taking his own life, Sukhwant recorded and released a video on social media platforms. In this disturbing footage, he made serious allegations against several opposition leaders and local police officials.
Serious Allegations in Social Media Video
In his final video message, Sukhwant Singh claimed he had been defrauded of approximately Rs 4 crore in a significant land deal transaction. He detailed how he believed he lost this substantial amount through deceptive practices.
The deceased farmer further alleged that police authorities failed to take appropriate action on his formal complaint regarding the fraud. Instead, he claimed they subjected him to intimidation and threats rather than providing assistance or justice.
Case Registration Against Multiple Individuals
Based on the content of Sukhwant's video and a formal complaint lodged by his grieving brother, authorities registered a case against 26 people. The FIR was officially filed at Kashipur's ITI police station, naming multiple individuals in connection with the incident.
The court's intervention now places a temporary halt on arrest proceedings while ensuring the investigation continues through proper legal channels. All parties must now comply with the judicial directives as the case moves forward through the legal system.
