Notice to Mohali SSP, SHO in fake vigilance trap case

The Mohali district court on Wednesday issued notice to the senior superintendent of police (SSP) Mohali and the (station house officer) SHO of Mohali police station Phase I for not registering an FIR in the infamous fake vigilance bureau (VB) trap case.

Special judge-cum-additional sessions judge Rajinder Aggarwal served the notice to the cops to explain by July 23 why an FIR has not been registered against those found guilty in the VB trap that was later found as fake.

It may be recalled that the VB had arrested an excise and taxation officer (ETO), Ranjit Singh, in March last year and the ETO had committed suicide after his arrest and subsequent release on bail.

Later, the state government had ordered a high level inquiry into the entire matter in which the VB sleuths, SP Amandeep Kaur and a head constable were found on a wrong footing.

The probe conducted by an IPS and an IAS officer had found the VB trap as fake that was carried out allegedly in connivance with two traders. The panel in its report, submitted to the state chief secretary in July last year, strongly recommended immediate suspension of the guilty cops and an FIR to be registered against them and the traders.

The deceased ETO's widow had lodged a complaint in Mohali against the SSP, Mohali and the SHO of Mohali city police station Phase I for not registering the required FIR and subsequent action to punish the guilty.

The complaint was lodged in the court under section 156 (3) of the (code of criminal procedure) CrPC act that explains a police officer's power to investigate cognizable cases.

INQUIRY REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS

SP (vigilance) Amandeep Kaur and head constable Harminder Singh be suspended immediately and be booked under sections 182 and 120 B of the IPC;

A separate case be registered against the SP and her conduit cop under Prevention of Corruption Act and probe to be conducted by a 'special investigation team (SIT)' or by 'an independent agency';

Assistant excise and taxation commissioner Harinder Kaur Brar (since promoted) be suspended immediately and a departmental inquiry be started;

Rajiv Sood and Rajinder Singh alias Gopi, who accompanied the SP during the false trap against ETO as complainants, be booked under sections 420, 465, 467, 468, and 471 of the IPC.