Rape case: Punjab former minister Sucha Singh Langah surrenders, gets five-day police custody
Langah had expressed fear in his surrender application that he might be tortured in police custody.
The court on Wednesday instructed the police to conduct medical examinations on Langah every day.
Ending his dramatic run from police, former Punjab Cabinet minister Sucha Singh Langah surrendered at a Gurdaspur court on Wednesday afternoon after which he was sent into police remand for five days. Langah was booked in a rape case last Friday and was evading arrest since then. The rape victim had also levelled allegations of financial fraud against Langah.
The former Akali Dal leader managed to appear before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Mohit Bansal on Wednesday before police could reach him. He was last seen at a Chandigarh court on Monday where he had spent more that one and half hour though police was searching for him.
Police had also issued a look-out notice in four states against the accused. He, however, travelled all the way to Gurdaspur and appeared in court.
Court has now instructed police to conduct a medical examination of Langah on daily basis. Langah had expressed fear in his surrender application that he might be tortured in the police custody. While police had demanded ten days police remand from the CJM, they were only granted five days.
Langah appeared at the Gurdaspur court complex at around 2:15 pm. He reached with his son and other supporters in three cars. It took him around five minutes to reach the court room from the parking place. Police didn’t attempt to arrest him as he made his way to the court.
After hearing the surrender application, the judge delivered his order in around half an hour. Police, meanwhile, took Langah in custody. In its remand plea, police said it would need to take Langah to all the places related to the crime mentioned in the FIR. The rape victim had mentioned places in Gurdaspur and Chandigarh, including Kisan Bhavan in her complaint. Police also told the court that it needed the remand to recover the money the victim was allegedly duped of. According to the victim, Langah had played a broker to sell one acre agriculture land owned by her for Rs 30 lakh, adding that she had only received Rs 4 lakh. She also alleged Langah also used Rs 7-8 lakh loan availed on her name from a Cooperative Bank in Jatta village, Gurdaspur.
“The sale dead of land was registered in front of revenue officer and Langah was not present when the sale deed mentioned in complaint was executed. Money is given in front of revenue officer. Langah was neither the buyer nor seller in that deed. How money could be given to him,” said Langah’s lawyer in court. He added, “Second allegation was that Langah duped the amount of loan given by a bank on the name of lady, who made the complaint. It is impossible. Money is always sent to the account of the person who takes the loan. Why will the bank give the money to Langah.”
After securing Langah’s remand, SSP H S Bhullar said: “We had demanded ten days remand and got five days. But it is not a setback for us. We will again ask for remand in case we feel the need for it after five days… It will depend on the investigation.” Langah was brought out of court premises amid heavy security. Some Sikh activists present outside court raised slogans against Langah. Some of them even chased police vehicles with swords in their hands.
Satikar Committee president Balbir Singh Mushal said, “Langah was SGPC member and a baptised Sikh. His acts have hurt religious feelings of Sikhs. We want police to register case against Langah for hurting religious sentiments.”
Parallel Jathedars excommunicate Langah
A day before a meeting called by official Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh to take action against Sucha Singh Langah, parallel Sarbat Khalsa appointed Jathedars excommunicated him from the Sikh community. Langah was booked for rape last Friday. “Sucha Singh Langah is excommunicated from community. His acts are intolerable. He has brought disgrace to community. No Sikh should have any kind of relationship with Langah from today onwards. He should be socially boycotted,” reads a press note issued by Jathedars Dhian Singh Mand, Amreek Singh Ajnala and Baljit Singh Daduwal. Official Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh has called meeting on Thursday to take action against Langah.
Share
