M A I N   N E W S

Patiala Mayor, two relatives booked for murder
Tribune News Service

Patiala, February 23
Patiala Mayor Jaspal Singh Pardhan along with his two close relatives was today booked on charges of murder following a complaint by a 29-year-old murdered woman’s father.

The complainant has alleged that his daughter, who is Mayor’s daughter-in-law from his second marriage, was assaulted, strangulated and later poisoned by the accused. The police was yet to arrest the accused, who denied that he was related to the deceased or her husband.

The police said the victim, Parampreet Kaur, was a resident of Toba Kashmira in the old city and was brought to the Government Rajindra Hospital this afternoon. The doctors declared her brought dead.

Patiala SP (Detective) Pritpal Singh Thind said a case under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC had been registered against Jaspal Pardhan, Paramjeet Kaur and her son Harpreet Singh following a complaint by the victim’s father, Amarjit Singh.

Victim’s relatives alleged inaction on part of the police for not making any arrests despite serious charges against the Mayor.

The complainant alleged that his daughter was being tortured by her in-laws over dowry and was assaulted several times. Amarjit claimed that Jaspal Pradhan, his wife from second marriage Paramjeet Kaur and their son Harpreet Singh murdered his daughter by strangulating her and later forcibly making her consume poison.

“The three accused were present at the scene when I reached my daughter’s house in the morning. They prevented us from talking to my daughter or shifting her to the hospital. My daughter’s neck bore a strangulation mark and her lips were blue,” he claimed.

A minor scuffle was witnessed between members of the two sides, led by Mayor’s son Preetinder Singh, a youth Akali Dal leader, and the victim’s relatives, at the Government Rajindra Hospital.

“Preetinder attacked us with goons at the hospital after Jaspal Pardhan killed my sister over dowry. The police should ensure that the accused are arrested for murder,” alleged Gurpreet Singh, victim’s brother.

Sources in the police department said Harpreet had not been named as Jaspal’s son in the FIR as they were reluctant to do so following his stature. But documents with the victim’s family confirmed that Jaspal was Harpreet’s father and married to Paramjeet. A voter’s list confirmed Jaspal’s relation with the other two accused.

Preetinder denied the allegations against his father, saying: “My father is not related to the deceased. Harpreet’s father is dead and he was brought up by my father,” he said, adding that an application to rectify the voter’s list was pending with the administration.

He claimed that his father had nothing to do with Parampreet’s murder and that she was already dead when he and his father arrived at the scene. “Our political opponents within the party are trying to malign our image and they attacked us inside the hospital,” he claimed.

Patiala SSP Gurpreet Singh Gill said a case of murder had been registered against Mayor Jaspal Singh Pardhan, his wife Paramjeet Kaur and their son Harpreet Singh on the statement of the victim’s father.

“The case needs to be probed to ascertain the role of those present at the scene of the crime,” he added. A case under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC has been registered.