M A I N   N E W S

File reply by Jan 5, SC tells Bibi

NEW DELHI, Jan 2 (PTI) — The Supreme Court today gave time till January 5 to former SGPC President Bibi Jagir Kaur for filing reply to CBI’s special leave petition challenging the grant of bail to her by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in her daughter’s murder case.

Bibi Jagir Kaur, who had to relinquish the office of SGPC chief amidst the allegation of abetment in the mysterious death of her daughter Harpreet Kaur, had been served the notices issued by the apex court, Solicitor General Harish Salve informed a Bench comprising Mr Justice D. P. Mohapatra and Mr Justice Shivaraj V. Patil.

Her counsel Jaspal Singh sought time till Friday to file an affidavit on behalf of his client, while the court adjourned hearing on the CBI’s petition till January 9.

The court had also sought reply from her on a petition by Kamaljit Singh, who claims to be Harpreet’s husband, challenging the granting of anticipatory bail to her by the high court.

Seeking the cancellation of the bail, the CBI in its SLP said the pre-arrest bail should not have been granted to her by the high court, who allegedly had been evading arrest and causing damage to the material evidence.

Mr Salve on last hearing had stated that by granting bail to her, the CBI was deprived of the opportunity to interrogate her in custody. This could result in other accused getting benefit of statutory bail as the mandatory 90-day period for filing the chargesheet would be over on January 3.

Harpreet Kaur had died on the night of April 20 last year and the CBI alleged that her body was cremated in a hurry.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court had directed the CBI to probe the case following a public interest litigation.

As other accused in the case were arrested, Jagir Kaur moved the sessions court in Patiala seeking anticipatory bail but it was rejected.

However, the high court granted her anticipatory bail on November 15 with the direction that she should appear before the investigating agency on November 17.