Thapar varsity student’s death: Punjab does U-turn,disbands SIT

This time,however,the reason is different. Earlier,the Punjab government had refused to rely on the decision taken by its former Director General of Police (DGP),wherein he had overruled the investigation report of a DIG in the mysterious death of a youth. The then DGP had,showing no conviction in the investigation done by DIG Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh,constituted a SIT. While Pratap had termed it a case of murder,the SIT had dismissed the finding stating that it was a simple accident. Gagandeep,a 21-year-old student of Thapar University,had died under mysterious circumstances in Patiala in 2010.

His father,Gurbax Singh Bains,had moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court alleging murder after the Patiala Police had registered a case of rash and negligent driving.

Slamming the Punjab Police on April 30 this year,the High Court had raised eyebrows on the functioning of the force and directed the police to probe murder charges,as recommended by Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh.

The DIG had submitted a scathing inquiry report stating that “custodial interrogation” of those allegedly involved in the “accident” was required,and recommended registration of murder charges. Refusing to accept his recommendation report,the then DGP had constituted a SIT.

Taking note of this,O P Bhatia,Deputy Secretary,Home Affairs and Justice,Punjab,had said the constitution of SIT would “lead to tampering with evidence”. Therefore,he ordered that the SIT be disbanded immediately,upholding the DIG’s “recommendation” for registration of a murder case.

On July 20 this year,the Punjab government constituted a new SIT and,significantly,appointed Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh as its head. In an order passed by Principal Secretary (Home Affairs and Justice) D S Bains,the state had given liberty to Kunwar Vijay Pratap to take any official services if required.

This was informed to the Punjab and Haryana High Court in August. Satisfied with the move,Justice Rameshwar Malik of the High Court had given the newly constituted SIT three months to submit its report. The new SIT had started to “investigate” the murder charges.

Surprisingly,even this SIT has now been disbanded. As per available information,the father of the youth accused of “murdering” Gagandeep made representations to the Punjab government apprehending a biased probe since the DIG had already given an opinion earlier in his report that it was a case of murder.

The new SIT has been constituted without even informing or taking permission from the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Crying foul,the deceased’s father,Gurbax Singh Bains,told Chandigarh Newsline,“Propriety demands that the Punjab government should have informed the High Court before constituting a new SIT. It is evident that they want to save the accused who is highly influential. The probe should be handed over to the CBI.”

Asserting that with the help of Rajpura police,a case of rash and negligent driving and culpable homicide not amounting to murder was got registered against a truck driver who was not at fault,the petitioner alleged personal enmity between his son and the then SDM’s son was the motive behind the “murder”.