Amritsar cops bust gang that helped undertrials get bail

A numberdar is supposed to verify that he knows the guarantors in a bail case and attest that they are from his village. “The accused who act as guarantors would put their photographs on documents but would change their names and address. They attach fake revenue records like Jamabandi and others to stand guarantor for the undertrial. The fake numberdar would then testify that the guarantors are genuine. The gang has helped some 200 undertrials get bail over the past year and a half,” an investigating officer in the case,assistant sub-inspector Parminder Singh posted at Ghanupur Kale police post told The Indian Express. “They would charge anything between Rs 7,000 to Rs 15,000 for their efforts,” Parminder added.

Sources said that the undertrials have a free run once they get bail as it becomes difficult to trace the fake guarantors. “This can explain the large number of proclaimed offenders in Punjab. When an undertrial knows that a person who is fake has stood guarantor for him,he can always jump bail,” Parminder said. “It is simple,there is no risk of losing property if the undertrial jumps bail as the documents are fake. It also becomes difficult to trace the guarantors,” he added.

“ Jidan mare dangar kol ilaan aa jaandian (Just like vultures come to eat dead flesh),” Parminder said,when queried on how the gangs come in contact with prospective undertrials. Parminder said police would launch comprehensive investigation to get at the bottom of the racket and to nab all those involved in similar acts. Police have recovered as many as eight different numberdar identity cards from Gurdip and 19 other blank cards. “The gang operated in courts in Amritsar,Jalandhar,Hoshiarpur,Tarn Taran and even far off place like Patiala,” the investigating officer said. He further said that while Gurdip was arrested on Friday,the kingpin Sharanjit Singh and other gang members Lucky,Sona,Kaka,Billa and about seven unknown people are yet to be arrested and police are conducting raids to nab them.