The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a notice to the Punjab government on the plea of former Punjab DGP Sumedh Singh Saini seeking anticipatory bail in a case of alleged abduction and murder of a Balwant Singh Multani in 1991. Saini shall not be arrested till further orders, but he has to cooperate with the investigation, said the top court.
During the hearing, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi appeared for Saini and said that this is a very serious matter. He said, “My client has risen from the ranks and became the DGP. He was a decorated officer and was in the thick of militancy in Punjab. He suffered five bullet injuries.”
“This FIR was registered in a mala fide fashion. Saini is retired now and was also granted anticipatory bail by the district court. The complainant who is the brother of the police officer chalked all of this. Now one district judge has recalled the order of the other district judge. How can this be done? It was noted that the bail was granted at a nascent stage. Is 30 years the nascent stage,” added Mukul.
Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra appeared for the Punjab government and said that post- registration of FIR, statement of approvers has been recorded. Witnesses in the police station have for the first time stated that the picture of Multani released which showed that he escaped from the prison was not Multani at all.
Punjab and Haryana High Court had noted that this man used to intimidate people. The court had also noted that a person succumbed to injury after he was inhumanely treated by the applicant. Saini has challenged the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s 7 September order dismissing his anticipatory bail plea in the Multani kidnapping and murder case.