Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday called for a status report in the investigation into the attack on Sikh preacher Sant Baba Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale. The directions came less than a month after Sant Baba Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale had filed a petition in High Court seeking CBI probe into the attack.
Taking up a similar petition, the vacation Bench of Justice A.B. Chaudhari issued notice of motion to the State of Punjab, the State Director-General of Police with other respondents for July 7, while attaching the case with the earlier filed petition by Sant Dhadrianwale.
Demanding CBI probe into the incident, the petitioners Jasvir Singh and another have raised serious questions on the police investigation. Their petition through counsel Anmol Rattan Sidhu and G.P.S. Ghuman contended that the attitude of the police was not fair even at the time of registration of FIR and it was recorded hesitantly. The petitioner contended that the FIR did not mention material facts, dictated by the complainant.
Terming Harnam Singh Dhumma to be the main conspirator, the petitioners have alleged that he had admitted in a Press conference that Dhadrianwale had made a speech against him was to be taught a lesson.
Accusing police of not investigating the matter properly, the counsel for the petitioners submitted that the police was not recording even the statements of the witnesses. The court was told that the damaged vehicles in the incidents had not been recovered by the police.
On June 2, High Court had issued notice to CBI and State of Punjab on Dhandrianwale’s petition seeking CBI probe. Dhandrianwale in his petition has claimed himself to be a victim of grave persecution at the hands of ruling Government.
Dhadrianwale had contended the ruling Government and the local police were acting at the behest of Harnam Singh Dhumaa, who is a very close associate of the Shiromani Akali Dal. The petitioner alleged that Dhumma enjoys very good relations with the Deputy Chief Minister who also happens to be the Home Minister of Punjab. The High Court will now take up both the petitions together on July 7.
