Colonel Assault Case: High Court Summons SIT Head In Plea To Transfer Probe To CBI Over Alleged Inaction Of Chandigarh Police

The Punjab & Haryana High Court today summoned the Special Investigation Team (SIT)'s head of Chandigarh Police, constituted to investigate the case wherein a Colonel was allegedly brutally assaulted by the Punjab Police in March. The plea was filed seeking the transfer of the probe to the CBI, alleging failure to conduct a fair investigation.

Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath, who was posted at the Army headquarters in New Delhi, alleged that on the night of March 13, four Inspector-rank officers of Punjab Police and their armed subordinates attacked him and his son without any provocation in Punjab.

Justice Rajesh Bhardwaj issued notice to the UT Chandigarh and adjourned the case to July 16.

In April, the High Court had directed the Chandigarh Police to investigate the Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath assault case and complete the probe within four months.

The Court, while hearing the previous pleas, had pulled up the Punjab Government for delay in arresting the Punjab Police Personnel allegedly involved in the assault of an Army Officer.

Later, the Court ordered that the investigation be led by an IPS officer from the AGMUT cadre, ensuring no officer from the Punjab cadre is involved. 

Recently, the High Court, calling it a “horrific, gut-wrenching incident”, rejected the pre-arrest bail of Punjab Police Personnel accused in the case. 

During the hearing, the petitioner's counsel stated that despite the dismissal of the accused's anticipatory bail petition on May 23rd, no effort had been made to arrest the accused or progress the investigation. The counsel alleged that the UT police seemed to be protecting the accused, who are police officials, and that senior police officials might be involved. 

The UT counsel informed the court that a coordinate bench had granted them four months to complete the investigation, which would expire in the first week of August. However, the bench expressed displeasure with the lack of progress in the investigation and directed the UT counsel to file the police file.

While adjourning the case, the Court directed the SIT head to remain present in the Court with police files. 

Title: Colonel Pushpendra Bath v UT Chandigarh