CBI registers case against Sumedh Saini, IPS

Chandigarh, Jul 4 (UNI) On the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the CBI has registered a case against senior Punjab IPS officer Sumedh Singh Saini on charges of kidnapping and torturing of some people in 1991.

Saini, acting chief director State Vigilance Bureau, and some other police officers have been booked on charges of kidnapping and torturing some people, including Balwant Singh Multani, son of retired Punjab IAS officer Darshan Singh Multani, in 1991 who never returned home thereafter, amid apprehensions of their death in false encounters or police custody.

The case has been registered here at the CBI police station under sections 120-b, 364, 343, 330, 167 and 193 IPC.

The investigation was ordered by the High Court on the plea of Multani who submitted he feared his son was eliminated.

Among others picked up and reported missing was Balwant Singh Bhullar, the father of Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar who was the key accused in the abortive attempt on Saini's life in 1991 in Chandigarh. Balwant Bhullar was picked up from Dialpuir Bhaike village in district Bathinda in December 1991.

Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar was later convicted in the bomb attack on former Indian Youth Congress president Maninderjit Singh Bitta and sentenced to death. He is currently on death lodged in Tihar jail in Delhi.

The copy of the FIR of the CBI case against Saini was submitted today before the divison bench of Justice Mehtab Singh Gill and Justice Harbans Lal during resumed hearing after extension of four months was granted to CBI for completing investigation.

Other officers against whom the case has been registered include Baldev Singh, the then DSP in Chandigarh Police who later retired as SP, Punjab Police. Harsahai Sharma, the then Sub Inspector and now an SHO in Chandigarh Police, Jagir Singh, the then Sub Inspector and now Inspector in Chandigarh Police and some other unknown police officials of Chandigarh and Qadian (Gurdaspur district) have also been booked in the case.

UNI XC MA SY KN1906