Talwandi Sabo, March 7
Baljinder Singh, a son of Giani Kewal Singh, former Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib and main accused in the dowry death case registered against him along with his father and another kin Joginder Kaur, surrendered in the court of Subdivisional Judicial Magistrate, Harsh Mehta here today.

Baljinder Singh, who along with Giani Kewal Singh and Joginder Kaur, are facing trial under Sections 304-B and 34 of the IPC, non-bailable warrants, issued against them were to be executed by March 19, 2002. The magistrate remanded Baljinder Singh in judicial custody upto March 19, 2002.

Earlier Additional Sessions Judge, Karnail Singh, disallowed bail to Giani Kewal Singh, Baljinder Singh, son and Joginder Kaur on January 23, 2002 in a criminal case registered against them in connection with the dowry death of his daughter-in-law Sharnjit Kaur in 1997.

Though non-bailable warrants had been issued against these three accused for the past more one month, the police authorities concerned failed, so far, to arrest them. They have been facing trial in the court of Judicial Magistrate, Talwandi Sabo, which issued non-bailable warrants against them again.

Giani Kewal Singh had to resign on January 10 under intense pressure after the registration of a case against him to quit the post of Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib. The Sikh circles had argued that if Bibi Jagir Kaur could be asked to quit as SGPC chief, after the registration of a case against her, why not the Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib?

Giani Kewal Singh was booked in a criminal case along with his son Baljinder Singh and another relative Joginder Kaur under Sections 304-B and 34 in connection with death of his daughter-in-law Sharnjit Kaur on the direction of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, when the brother of deceased, Mr Amarjit Singh approached it after he failed to get justice from police authorities after the death of his sister under abnormal circumstances.