This is an archive article published on December 22, 2022
Kundli-based activist badly tortured by police, kept in illegal confinement, confirms report submitted in HC
The high court had directed Deepak Gupta – the then District and Sessions Judge posted at Faridabad – to hold an inquiry with regard to the allegations of illegal detention and custodial torture of Shiv Kumar.
Kundli-based activist badly tortured by police, kept in illegal confinement, confirms report submitted in HC
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An inquiry report on the allegations of illegal detention and custodial torture of Shiv Kumar – president of Kundli-based Mazdoor Adhikar Sangathan – submitted by the then District and Sessions Judge of Faridabad (Deepak Gupta) before the Punjab and Haryana High Court has confirmed that the police had kept the activist in illegal confinement and also badly tortured him in January 2021.
Deepak Gupta is, at present, a judge at the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The inquiry report has concluded: “Shiv Kumar was picked up by the police on January 16, 2021, and was kept in illegal confinement till January 23, 2021 … He was shown to have been formally arrested at about 8.40 pm and was produced before the learned Magistrate, Sonipat. Shiv Kumar was badly tortured by the police, causing numerous injuries on various parts of his body, including fractures.”
The matter will come up for hearing before the high court on January 27, 2023. The inquiry had been marked by the high court in the matter on March 16, 2021, while hearing the petition filed by Shiv Kumar’s father, Rajbir, who – through his counsel Advocate Arshdeep Singh Cheema – had contended that his son was subjected to police torture and was illegally picked up, detained for seven days before producing him before the magistrate.
The high court had directed Deepak Gupta – the then District and Sessions Judge posted at Faridabad – to hold an inquiry with regard to the allegations of illegal detention and custodial torture of Shiv Kumar.
During the inquiry, statements of 15 witnesses – including policemen of Haryana, victim Shiv Kumar, Rajbir (Shiv Kumar’s father), Nodeep Kaur (labour activist), doctors of Sonipat Civil Hospital, doctors of GMCH (Government Medical College and Hospital) Chandigarh – were recorded by the inquiry officer.
“Prior to the medical examination of Shiv Kumar conducted on February 20, 2021, the medical board of GMCH, Sector 32, said that Shiv Kumar was examined as many as five times from January 24, 2021, to February 2, 2021, but none of the doctors of the Government Hospital, Sonipat, or the doctor deputed in jail performed their duty and they apparently danced to the tune of the police officials,” the inquiry report stated.
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The inquiry report stated, “Apart from the failure of the said medical officers at Government Hospital, Sonipat, and at District Jail, Sonipat… even Vinay Kakran, who was posted as JMIC Sonipat at relevant time, appears to have not performed his duty as was required… It appears that either Shiv Kumar was not physically produced before the Magistrate and was made to sit outside in the police vehicle, or if produced, he was not in a position to speak anything to the Magistrate due to the threats given by the police, as he had already been subjected to torture right from January 16, 2021, onwards till he was produced before the Magistrate. Had the learned Magistrate seen the accused Shiv Kumar in person, he could have noticed the injuries visible on his body.”
The inquiry report further stated, “SI Shamsher Singh – who was Additional SHO of Police Station Kundli and was the IO of all the three cases and who had taken the police remand of Shiv Kumar – is directly responsible for the torture meted out to Shiv Kumar, along with the other police officials associated with him. It was his duty to ensure that there was no physical harm to the accused during the period of police remand. Instead of keeping a check on this, he was one of the perpetrators of the torture inflicted upon Shiv Kumar.”
The inquiry officer has stated that Inspector Ravi, who was SHO of Police Station Kundli at the relevant time, cannot escape from his responsibility. He was heading the police party on January 16, 2021, which picked up Shiv Kumar and kept him in illegal confinement.
Jagpreet Singh Sandhu is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. He is a veteran reporter with over a decade of experience, specializing in legal, crime, and environmental reporting across the tri-city area (Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula).
Professional Background
Core Beat: He primarily covers the Punjab and Haryana High Court, District Courts, CBI Courts, and Consumer Commissions. His legal reporting is known for breaking down complex judgments and tracking long-standing criminal cases.
Environmental Reporting: Jagpreet has become a key voice in reporting on the deteriorating air quality and weather patterns in the Punjab-Haryana region.
Crime & Technology: He frequently reports on cybercrime, digital arrest scams, and the intersection of technology and law enforcement, such as the development of citizen-centric policing apps.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
His late 2025 coverage has focused on significant judicial verdicts, major financial scams, and public health concerns:
1. Legal & CBI Court Verdicts
"12 years on, CBI court acquits Haryana judge, parents in wife’s death case" (Dec 17, 2025): Detailed coverage of the acquittal of a judicial officer in a high-profile dowry death case from 2013.
"‘Wicked & evil mind’: Court gives man 30-year term for kidnapping, sexually assaulting 8-year-old" (Dec 16, 2025): A report on a stern judgment from a Chandigarh district court in a POCSO case.
"Man acquitted in rape case after victim found ‘very happy’ in wedding reception" (Dec 9, 2025): Covering a unique legal observation regarding consensual relationships and age verification.
2. Investigative & Scams
"CBI registers FIR in Rs 1.14-cr Patient Welfare Grant scam at PGIMER" (Dec 19, 2025): An exposé on how funds meant for poor patients were siphoned off through forged documents and a photocopy shop inside the PGIMER campus.
"Month-long torture, Rs 85 lakh transfers: How ‘Innocence Certificate’ led to a ‘digital arrest’ of an elderly couple" (Dec 12, 2025): Detailing a sophisticated cyber fraud targeting senior citizens in Chandigarh.
3. Environment & Public Safety
"Panchkula air turns ‘very poor’, fourth worst in country" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on the sudden spike in pollution levels in Panchkula compared to neighbouring cities.
"Soon, you can snap that overspeeding car, and report to Chandigarh Police" (Dec 16, 2025): Breaking news on a new mobile application being developed to allow citizens to report traffic violations via geo-tagged photos.
4. Gangster Culture & Crime
"City Beautiful in the crosshairs of gangsters" (Dec 14, 2025): A feature analysis of how Chandigarh has increasingly become a staging ground for extortion and rivalries between gangster modules.
"Shooters wanted for Parry murder held by Delhi Police Special Cell" (Dec 18, 2025): Following the developments in a high-profile murder case in Chandigarh’s Sector 26.
Signature Style
Jagpreet is recognized for his tenacious follow-up on cold cases and his ability to report on courtroom drama with a focus on victim rights. His work often highlights administrative lapses, whether in the handling of patient welfare funds or the enforcement of environmental standards. ... Read More
