Haryana Police probe against STF chief an eyewash

In the last one year,Haryana Police have not questioned Sheoran even once. Soon after his arrest,when Sheoran was remanded to police custody for custodial interrogation,he complained of ill-health and was admitted to the hospital,from where he was straightway sent to judicial custody. Though the chargesheet filed in the court last July contains Sheoran’s statement to the police,confessing the crime,it does not bear his signature.

During the investigation of the case,the police could not recover the mobile phones being used by the STF chief and most of his team members. In the absence of any mobile phone records,the prosecution failed to prove the accused’s location at the scene of crime in Panipat district. The chargesheet was totally silent on recovery of any mobile phone or sim card or memory card from Sheoran’s possession.

More shockingly,the Haryana Police could not even recover the allegedly extorted money – Rs 6 lakh – till date. All that the police recovered from the possession of one of the accused (STF member) was Rs 15,000 cash.

Soon after his arrest,Sheoran’s service weapon and cartridges allotted to him were to be officially withdrawn from his possession and deposited with the police department,which never happened. Sheoran had rather alleged that,after his arrest,his weapon was stolen from his residence. Interestingly,Sheoran’s previous service weapon was also reported stolen by him,and the same weapon was later used in the killing of an IPS officer Rajbir Singh,who was posted as ACP,Special Cell,New Delhi.

While the Haryana Police,in a reply to an RTI application,have failed to list any achievements to STF’s credit; the record of the STF raises eyebrows. In Bhiwani district,in 2009,STF had recovered six kilograms of heroin (valued at approximately Rs 1 crore per kg in international market); but during the course of trial,the seized heroin turned out to be urea.

When asked,Additional Director General of Police,BS Sandhu,said,“Whatever you are saying is right,but then we need to look at the other side of the investigation as well. It has been over one year,and the entire STF team,including Sheoran,is still behind bars. Moreover,there is a departmental inquiry going on against Sheoran and other accused involved in the case. In case,charges are proved against him and his team,stern action shall be taken by the department”.