Rape victim’s father moves HC against SHO suspension

On the day the Punjab Police suspended the SHO of Kharar police station for his role in the illegal detention of The Indian Express Principal Correspondent Gautam Dheer, the father of the Nayagaon rape victim—also the petitioner in the original case—filed an application in the High Court, saying the SHO’s suspension could hamper investigations.

Balkar Singh sought an HC directive that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) and the Investigating Officer, SHO Harbans Singh, be permitted to complete investigations as directed by the court on May 31. Balkar Singh’s petition, filed by advocates R S Bains and Gurmeet Singh, states that the SHO’s suspension was the handiwork of the accused in the case who were trying to ‘‘hamper investigations into the case which were at a crucial stage.’’

The petition further states that the SHO’s suspension interferes in the investigation and is tantamount to committing contempt of HC orders. The state of Punjab is expected to file its reply tomorrow.