Taking stock of the dubious role played by two Punjab Police officers in investigating the mysterious death of a Ropar-based resident who was a sepoy in the Indian Army,the Punjab and Haryana High Court has handed over the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Justice K C Puri was hearing a petition filed by Mohan Singh,father of deceased Narender Pal Singh,alleging a cover-up on part of the Punjab Police. The role of Assistant Sub-Inspector Ravinder Pal and Sub-Inspector Sheetal Singh is under the scanner for allegedly converting the case of murder into that of suicide. The case dates back to May 26,2006,when Narenders body was found in the fields in Ropar. He was on leave at that time and was visiting home. While the deceaseds father alleged that it was a murder,suspecting the role of Narenders girlfriend,the Punjab Police claimed it to be a case of suicide. On September 9,2008,the Punjab Police filed a closure report in a Ropar court,terming it untraced. Mohan Singh then moved the High Court,which asked the Punjab Police to submit its report on his accusations. On May 5,2009,the then inspector general of police,Prabod Kumar,gave his report,stating that it was not a suicide,but a murder. He also held the two officers prima facie guilty of shoddy investigation. The departmental inquiry ordered by the court,however,exonerated the two. Expressing dissatisfaction with the conduct of the Punjab Police in the case,the High Court has now handed over the probe to the CBI.
