Punjab IGP among six given 8 months in jail for criminal conspiracy, obstructing public servant

However, the court acquitted all the accused for offences of kidnapping, house trespass, assault, criminal intimidation, and wrongful confinement.

The court noted that the oral and documentary evidence led by the prosecution proves “beyond reasonable doubt” that all the accused entered into a “criminal conspiracy” and on the night of August 26, 2014, “intentionally offered resistance, and illegally obstructed the lawful apprehension of Sumedh Gulati by the police officials, and forcibly took Gulati from the lawful custody of the police of police station phase 1, Mohali. …Further in pursuance to the criminal conspiracy obstructed police officials in discharge of the public functioning by this act”.

The events took place at the time of arrest of proclaimed offender Sumedh Gulati on August 26, 2014. It was alleged in the FIR that on the night of August 26, 2014 at about 10.45 pm, ASI Dilbagh Singh was performing as duty officer at Phase 1 police station. Head constable Ramesh Kumar brought Gulati, a proclaimed offender in a cheating and forgery case at the police station and produced him before the ASI.

At about 11 pm, Cheema, who seemed to be in an inebriated state, along with Chaudhary and others, came to the police station, and forcibly took Gulati in their private car after disclosing his identity as IG, Punjab Police.

Dilbagh and other police personnel followed them in a private car. Upon reaching Max Hospital in Phase 6, Mohali, the ASI found that Cheema, Sumedh Gulati PO and three-four other persons were present in Max Hospital where Kricpy Khera was admitted, the FIR said. It further mentions that Cheema in the presence of eyewitnesses forcibly kept Gulati there and threatened Khera to withdraw her complaints filed against him, otherwise, they had to face dire consequences. He also slapped Gulati. Dilbagh brought back Gulati at Phase-1 police station and arrested him, according to the FIR.