Rajput in judicial custody till Aug 14

According to the prosecution, the accused were required for interrogation as the mobile phone smuggled into the jail premises was to be recovered and the source of money pumped into the prison was to be uncovered.

Today, seeking police remand for Rajput, investigating officer D.S. Chandel said that more time was required for interrogating the accused. He could not be questioned as Dhillon’s examination continued till late in the evening. Further, Rajput had not admitted his involvement, nor could any recovery be effected from him, the IO added.

Opposing the plea, the defence counsel said the police had the entire evening, night and morning to interrogate Rajput. Remanding him to police custody would not be justified as the Punjab Police had already questioned him regarding the mobile phones. He was being "harassed and victimised" as he had filed a suit for recovery against the Punjab DGP, the counsel added. Meanwhile, Rajput’s bail application and revision petitions against the issuance of warrants and his police remand will come up before UT District and Sessions Judge B.S. Bedi on August 4.

It may be recalled that the police had accused Rajput of being instrumental in the purchase of the mobile phone and the SIM cards.

He had allegedly referred suspected co-conspirator in the case, Jaswant Singh, to a shop located adjacent to his office in Sector 22 for purchasing the mobile phone. Jaswant had allegedly met Rajput on "hardcore militant" Jagtar Singh Hawara’s directions, the police had alleged.

The international SIM card, also smuggled into the jail, was purchased in name of one Lahkwinder Singh, a helper in the shop, allegedly on Rajput’s request. The lawyer, while sending Jaswant to purchase the card, had told the shopkeeper regarding his having two or three cards in his name, the prosecution had added. Dhillon, on the other hand, had distributed over Rs 3.2 lakh to the families of the militants through Assistant Jail Superintendent S.P. Mishra and constable Jaswinder Singh, on Hawara’s behest. The pizzas were also ordered from Rs 23,000 handed over to Mishra by Dhillon, he added.