Alleged kidnapper8217;s mother arrested

JHAJJAR, January 1: Kashalya Devi, mother of Vishal who was allegedly involved in the kidnapping of Sant Lal Pahwa, a petrol pump owner o...

JHAJJAR, January 1: Kashalya Devi, mother of Vishal who was allegedly involved in the kidnapping of Sant Lal Pahwa, a petrol pump owner of Jhajjar district on October 1 last, was arrested on the charge of offering Rs 50,000 as bribe to Superintendent of Police, Jhajjar, Navdeep Singh Virk for not implicating her son in the case. According to the SP, Kaushlaya came into his office yesterday with a packet wrapped in a newspaper and told him that she has brought 8220;sweets8221; for him on New Year eve.

Suspecting foul play, the SP asked her to wait for some time.

The SP in the meantime informed Deputy Commissioner Arun Kumar and DSP Jhajjar Sat Parkash Ranga about Kaushalya8217;s suspected motive and a team consisting of the DSP, SDM Jhajjar Radha Kishan and a lady assistant sub-inspector hid themselves behind the curtains in his office.

All the above were witnesses to the bribe. Kaushalya was arrested along with the money.

Later in the evening, she was produced in the court of the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate Jagdev Singh who remanded her to judicial custody till January 13.

Kaushlaya had earlier moved a Habeaus Corpus petition in the High Court, alleging that her husband, Mohinder Singh, was being kept in illegal custody by the Jhajjar police. A warrant officer appointed by the High Court, on visiting the Jhajjar police station had found the allegations false. In fact, Mohinder Singh tried to sneak into the police station along with the warrant officer.

The petition was therefore, dismissed. Investigations have revealed that Vishal had given shelter to the main accused Baljeet Singh and fearing arrest, he was now absconding. The local court has declared him proclaimed offender.

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The police are keeping a watch on Vishal8217;s possible hide-outs, the SP informed.

It may be recalled that Sant Lal Pahwaa was kidnapped while on his morning walk on October 1 last. The Jhajjar police and commandos of National Secuirty Guards NSG in a joint swoop, had recovered him from his captivity in a room in the nearby Kilrodh village. Four alleged kidnappers 8211; Wazir of Jind, Dilsher of Panipat, Satish of Hisar and Sunder Lal,owner of a pig farm in Kilrodh village, were arrested while Baljeet and Balwan were absconding.