Cop awarded 4-yr jail for extortion

In both the cases,in connivance with two women,the gang made a woman ask for a lift in the victim’s car before taking him (victim) to her house and then Harnek reached the house and extorted the money threatening to implicate him in an immoral trafficking case.

On the complaint of Kot Fatta village resident Narinder Singh,a case under Sections of extortion and prevention of corruption act was registered on June 4,2008 against Harnek Singh at Nathana police station,where he was posted as SHO.

In his complaint,Narinder had alleged that when he was returning to his house on May 14,2008,one Raj Kaur sought a lift in his car. Raj Kaur took Narinder to her house and introduced her to Kuljeet Kaur and told Narinder that Kuljeet’s husband lived abroad and she needed company.

Raj Kaur asked Narinder to be “friendly” to Kuljeet Kaur,but Narinder “refused”.

Then Raj went to the kitchen to prepare tea and Kuljeet started embracing Narinder,when Harnek,allegedly entered the house along with one Randhir Singh alias Dheera and both started beating Narinder. Harnek Singh threatened to call a news channel and inform the family of Narinder about the incident if he did not pay Rs 40,000,said the complaint.

The complainant paid the amount after borrowing from a Kot Fatta-based commission agent.

Later,after he feared that Narinder would lodge a complaint against him,Harnek returned the money.

Narinder then approached then Bathinda SSP Naunihal Singh who marked a probe to DSP Davinder Singh and a case was registered against Harnek,Raj,Kuljeet and Randhir Singh on June 4,2008.

Randhir was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment and fined Rs 5,000 and Raj Kaur sentenced to 1 year and fined Rs 1,000.

District Attorney Chhinder Pal Singh Brar said during investigation Kuljeet Kaur was declared a proclaimed offender.

“She was,however,later arrested and her trial is pending,” Brar added.

Harnek was also convicted on October 29,2009 in a similar case and was awarded a sentence of three years and imposed Rs 12,000 fine.

At that time,Harnek Singh was attached with the security force of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.