Patiala, March 20
Murder charges were framed against Bibi Jagir Kaur and six others for killing Harpreet Kaur, the former SGPC President’s daughter, in a local court here today.

Additional Sessions Judge Inderjit Kaushik framed charges against Bibi Jagir Kaur and six others, including her confidant Dalwinder Kaur Dhesi, landlord Paramjit Singh Raipur, personal security officer Nishan Singh, servants Satya Devi and Sanjeev Kumar and driver Harwinder Kumar under Sections 302 (murder), 364, 365 (kidnapping), 344 (confinement), 213 (using poisonous substances to do away with someone), 201 (deliberately destroying legal evidence) and 313 (forcible abortion).

All accused were present in the court. While Bibi Jagir Kaur and five others are on bail, Bibi’s security in charge Nishan Singh is in judicial custody. The judge fixed the next date of hearing for April 26 and 27 for recording of evidence.

Harpreet Kaur was killed because she had married a person of her choice in Kanwaljit Singh and had become pregnant. Harpreet Kaur was done to death on the intervening night of April 20-21, 2000. Harpreet wanted to marry Kanwaljit but Bibi was opposed to the move.

The former SGPC chief took the help of her confidants Dalwinder Kaur Dhesi and Paramjit Singh Raipur and gave a sedative to Harpeet following which her baby was aborted by a doctor- B.S. Sohal, who has now become approver in the case. The abortion look place on March 20,2000. It is said when the condition of Harpreet deteriorated she was not given timely medical aid which ultimately resulted in her death.

It was also claimed by the CBI that the former SGPC chief tried to tamper with the evidence by cremating the body in undue haste the same day. Her ashes were also immersed the same day. The CBI claimed that there was no need to act in such a manner in case the death was normal.