Chandigarh, September 11
The Punjab Police, which went on a self-congratulatory spree after nabbing Maninder Pal Singh Kohli, is now under a cloud for allegedly demanding favours from a US-based NRI who is here in the hope of nabbing the killer of his wife and daughter.

The distraught NRI, Mr Vijay Narula, settled in California, USA, alleged that his son-in-law, Lovkesh Kumar, had killed his daughter Pooja (23) and wife Nirja (43) in January, 2003. Mr Narula believes that his son-in-law has escaped to India and is presently somewhere near Hoshiarpur. Mr Narula says Lovkesh even took away huge amounts of cash.

He today narrated how the Punjab Police wanted favours in cash and kind just to help him. The California Police had already issued a “ most wanted” notice against Lovkesh Kumar in February, 2003. Mr Narula claimed that Lovkesh has 11 different names and could be living under an assumed name which could be Lovkesh Vasudeva, Bobby or Chottu.

Mr Narula today said inspite of his numerous appeals to officials in Punjab Police and political leaders, he has failed to receive any positive response. “Instead, any person I approach for help, demands favours, in cash or kind. I have already spent more than Rs 2 lakh in tracing Lovkesh in India and abroad.” He claims to have the tape-recordings in support of his allegations, which he will disclose at an appropriate time, he said.

He said his appeals to the Prime Minister of India, the Chief Minister of Punjab, the Director General of Punjab Police and to the Human Rights Commission seem to have fallen on deaf ears. Except for the human rights commission, nobody has come forth to help him in tracing the murderer, he claimed.

Lovkesh Kumar (30) is believed to have brutally stabbed his wife Pooja and mother-in-law Nirja on January 9, 2003 at Clovis in USA. Lovkesh had then hacked their bodies with a butcher’s knife at their home in Ramona Avenue, California, while Mr Vijay Narula was away to India on a business trip. The bodies were found inside the home while Lovkesh had fled.

Mr Narula has announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for providing information regarding the whereabouts of the murderer. The Clovis police has also announced a reward of $ 5000 for anyone who helps in tracing the suspect.

Mr Narula alleged a Deputy Superintendent of Police and another man claiming to be an Inspector in the CBI demanded money from him. He alleged that he had given lakhs of rupees to the so-called CBI inspector, who had also demanded an imported revolver from him while DSP Uppal made a demand before him to settle his nephew in USA.

Disheartened by the callous attitude of the authorities Mr Narula says he is himself searching Lovkesh in Hoshiarpur district. Mr Narula, in his letter to the Prime Minister, complained against the Punjab Police and the state government for handling the case in a casual manner.

Mr Narula further said that Hari Dev Vasudeva, father of Lovkesh, resident of Nainowal Jattan village, in Hoshiarpur district, is an influential man.

“ He is in constant touch with his son,” said Mr Narula. He further said that he is afraid that Hari Dev Vasudeva is conniving with the local police and might implicate him in a false cases or try to eliminate him.

It is learnt that the Hoshiarpur police got information last year that Lovkesh was staying with his uncle in Shimla but the police could not find him.

Pooja and Lovkesh had a love marriage in June 1998 when the latter had come to USA, seeking political asylum.