Court rejects former UT cops’ application to become approver in alleged disappearance of Balwant Singh Multani

Sanjay Bumbroo

Tribune News Service

Mohali, August 7

The local court here on Friday rejected the applications of co-accused former UT inspectors to become approvers and be pardoned in the of Balwant Singh Multani case.

The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Deepika Singh, while pronouncing the judgement, opined that the investigating agency — Special Investigation Team (SIT) — can make a request to the court for tendering for pardon for the accused.

Three former UT cops, Inspector Jagir Singh, Sub-Inspector Harsahai Sharma and Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Kuldeep Singh, co-accused with former DGP Sumedh Singh Saini in the disappearance of former CITCO employee Balwant Singh Multani, had filed an application in the court seeking permission to turn approvers and be pardoned in the ongoing probe against them.

Former DGP Saini is the main accused in the case.

The court of CJM Deepika Singh, in its order, further opined: “However, in the present scenario, it would be proper if the investigating agency independently applies its mind and moves an application for grant of pardon that no direct evidence is available with them. The investigating agency should consider as to if it can collect the pieces of evidence so as to put all the accused to trial or the investigating agency if feels the necessity of making some of the accused as approvers and, if so, how many accused and which particular accused needs to be made approver keeping in view role in the commission of the offence. After carrying out this exercise, the investigating agency can make a request to the court for tendering of pardon to those particular accused.”

Sources said now on behalf of the three accused, the SIT will file an application to become approvers in the case.

All three co-accused UT cops had recorded their statements under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) before the judicial magistrates on different dates in Mohali recently.

Both Anokh Singh and Jagir Singh are also co-accused in the previous FIR registered at Mataur police station against former DGP Sumedh Singh Saini in the alleged disappearance of Balwant Singh Multani. Anokh Singh and Jagir Singh are on bail in this case.

It is worth mentioning that former Inspector Jagir Singh is also co-accused, along with Inspector Anokh Singh, in another FIR registered at Kharar police station (Sadar) on July 27 on the charges of fabricating evidence.

They were booked under Section 195-A of the IPC on the complaint of Inspector Sukhvir Singh, SHO, Kharar police station (Sadar). Anokh Singh was arrested by Mohali police against the fresh FIR and after taking him on three days police remand, he was sent to judicial custody.

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