Chandigarh: ‘Accused UT Police cops in Rs 5.26-crore ATM fraud case tried to mislead UP Police too’

On Wednesday, the Chandigarh Police arrested three of its personnel — Inspector Jasminder Singh, Head Constable Satish Kumar, and Senior Constable Samunder Singh — under Section 61 (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). According to the UT police, instead of following due process, the officials from District Crime Cell (DCC), in alleged collusion with Munish, planted firearms on the accused of the ATM heist and arrested them by registering a separate case at Police Station 39, Chandigarh,

In the latest development, the source revealed that although the FIR against the accused Rocky and Gaurav was registered on March 24 at 5:54 am, the suspended DCC officials had been in contact with them since March 23. When the UP Police initially inquired about the whereabouts of Rocky and Gaurav, the accused Chandigarh Police personnel falsely claimed that the two were in custody on a complaint of eve-teasing, according to the source.

However, the duo were eventually booked under the Arms Act through a scripted FIR.

Inspector Jasminder previously warned for misconduct

According to police sources, Inspector Jasminder Singh had previously faced allegations of accepting bribes to release a visa agent in an Arms Act case. Senior officers in Chandigarh had already warned him after he was allegedly found ‘favouring’ accused persons in multiple cases.

Meanwhile, the FIR registered against DCC officials said that the UT police personnel probe against Rocky and Gaurav had no eyewitnesses. It was based on a tip-off apparently from a “secret informer”.

According to the FIR, at 3:05 am, police were patrolling near Sector 56 A/B Road when an informer tipped them off about two individuals — Rocky and Gaurav — who were allegedly carrying a pistol and live cartridges while waiting for someone near a ground at Sector 56 A/B T Point. The police team conducted a raid and arrested the duo.

Upon searching them, police recovered a black-coloured country-made pistol from Gaurav and a live cartridge from Rocky. When asked to provide a licence for the weapon, both failed to do so.

The FIR further mentioned that a head constable on duty tried to find local witnesses to support the case, but no one agreed, citing their unwillingness to get involved. As a result, the police sealed the seized weapon and ammunition and prepared an official report.

Crime Branch also probing bribery angle

According to police sources, the Crime Branch, which is currently investigating the case, is not ruling out the possibility that bribery played a role in the accused policemen’s actions.

The Crime Branch, however, has not been able to recover any bribery amount so far, and the accused on questioning have denied the allegations of bribery.

Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police (SP) Crime, Jasbir Singh, stated that all angles are being probed in the case, and if any bribery angle is found, it would be verified and then action would be taken as per the law.

The duo, Rocky and Gaurav, meanwhile, have been taken into custody of UP Police.