SUBE SINGH Vs. STATE OF HARYANA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) AN undated letter from the petitioner, received by this Court on 19-11-1998, alleging illegal detention, custodial torture and harassment to family members was registered as a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution of India. The State of Haryana and its Director General of Police, were arrayed as respondents 1 and 2 and the six Police Officers referred to in the letterpetition were arrayed as respondent Nos. 3 to 8. PROLOGUE (According to Police)

(2.) ON 10-3-1998, at about 10 a.m. Dharam Singh ASI, Police Post Dhamtan Saheb (Narwana Tehsil, Jind District), along with Police constables (Ramesh Chand, Jaldhir Singh and Baljit Singh), while patrolling near Dhamtan Saheb Bus Stand, received information that one Joginder Singh (son of petitioner) and his associates were conspiring in his house, to apply pressure on some tender-bidders. When the police party proceeded towards Joginder Singh's house, they saw two young men coming from the opposite side, on a motorcycle. ON seeing the Police party, the motorcycle suddenly turned back. ON suspicion, the Police party gave chase and stopped the motorcycle near a petrol-pump. The ASI asked the motorcyclist and the pillionrider to identify themselves. The motorcyclist gave his name as Amrik Singh. The pillion-rider gave his name as Joginder Singh, a Palledar at Tohana. When the ASI asked Joginder Singh as to whether he was the same Joginder who had jumped parole in a case, Joginder Singh started running. When the Police party chased him, Joginder Singh turned back, whipped out a pistol and fired at them. Baljit Singh, one of the Constables, was hit and collapsed. In the ensuing confusion, both Amrik Singh and Joginder Singh escaped. The injured Constable succumbed to the bullet injuries. In this connection, FIR No. 112 dated 10-3-1998 under Section 302/307/ 352/186 IPC was registered in P.S., Garhi, against Joginder Singh and Amrik Singh. ON receiving information of the death of constable, the SP and the DSP rushed to the hospital and later, went to the Dhamtan Saheb Police Post. In the meantime, the Police party which had gone to the house of Joginder, in search of him, did not find him and brought his father Sube Singh (Petitioner) to the Police Station. According to police, the SDM and the Chairman of Zila Parishad, Jind, were also present at the Police Post at that time. The petitioner denied any knowledge of the whereabouts of his son Joginder. The SP made some enquiries with the petitioner and left. After inquiries, the petitioner was released.

(3.) NOT being satisfied with the reply-affidavit filed on behalf of the State, in regard to the letter-petition, this Court on 9-11-2000 directed the Chief Secretary of the State of Haryana to file a detailed affidavit in regard to the steps taken on the allegations made by the petitioner. In view of it, the State got the matter inquired into by Dr. John V. George, Inspector General of Police, (Law and Order), Haryana. He submitted a report dated 10-3-2001 stating that the allegations of the petitioner relating to police torture, illegal detention, harassment to wife and daughters, and removal of cash/licensed weapon/jewellery were not substantiated. The said report, however, confirmed that petitioner and his brother were called to the Police Station couple of times for interrogation regarding the whereabouts of Joginder. NOT being satisfied with the said report, this Court on 17-10-2001 directed the CBI to inquire into the matter with reference to the allegations made in the letter as also the subsequent affidavits filed by the petitioner and his relatives and the reply affidavits filed by the respondents.