Punjab cop fails to appear before trial court in narcotics case twice, HC orders protective custody
The order was passed by the bench of Justice Rajbir Sehrawat.
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Ruldu’s counsel informed the high court that only eight prosecution witnesses out of the 12 cited have been examined by the trial court. (Express file photo)The Punjab and Haryana High Court recently ordered that a Punjab Police sub-inspector be taken into protective custody. The cop had twice failed to appear before a trial court as a witness in a narcotics case.
The order was passed by the bench of Justice Rajbir Sehrawat while hearing the bail plea of accused Veeryodh Singh alias Ruldu.
Ruldu’s counsel informed the high court that only eight prosecution witnesses out of the 12 cited have been examined by the trial court.
The counsel for the petitioner produced copies of orders passed by the trial Court as per which SI Paramjeet Singh did not appear before the trial court as a witness despite having been summoned twice.
Thereafter, the high court ordered, “The petitioner cannot be kept in custody only for default of the police officials in not appearing as a witness before the trial court. Hence, the coercive action against this witness has become imperative.”
The bench further said that “SI Paramjeet Singh be taken into protective custody within a period of one week and be kept in Central Jail, Kapurthala… to produce him before the trial court on the next date fixed before that court.”
“It is further ordered that till his examination and cross-examination is completed, he shall remain in custody,” the HC said.
“Senior Superintendent of Police, Kapurthala shall ensure the arrest of aforesaid SI Paramjeet Singh and shall file a report to this effect before this Court,” it said, adjourning the matter to April 24, 2024.
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