Former DGP Sumedh Singh Saini arrested in corruption case

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 18

Punjab Vigilance Bureau sleuths today arrested former DGP Sumedh Singh Saini in connection with an ongoing case of corruption against him and an undisclosed case.

Saini, who faced allegations of human rights abuse during terrorism in Punjab, is also facing two murder cases. Despite immense pressure on the Capt Amarinder Singh government from public and within his party to deal with Saini strictly, he was never arrested.

Also read: Hours before arrest Sumedh Singh Saini moved High court for relief

He managed to give the slip to teams of the Vigilance Bureau on several occasions. Saini’s name also figures in the Behbal Kalan/Kotkapura police firing cases. His arrest is likely to trigger a political flurry in the state as he was considered close to the Shiromani Akali Dal.

Locked in room while being questioned

• A Vigilance official said Saini reached the VB office around 8 pm to join probe in the corruption case
• He had not informed officials about his visit. Later, the officials ordered his arrest during questioning
• Saini’s lawyers reportedly accompanied him to the Vigilance office. They were, however, asked to wait outside, while officials locked Saini in a room

A Vigilance official said Saini reached the VB office around 8 pm to join investigation in the corruption case. He had not informed officials that he would visit the Vigilance office. After questioning, the officials ordered his arrest. Saini’s lawyers reportedly accompanied him to the office. They were later asked to wait outside, while officials locked Saini in a room.

“We have arrested Saini. He has a corruption case against him besides another one,” a senior official confirmed, refusing to disclose details of the other case against him. “These will be known in due time,” he said.

On Tuesday, Saini’s petition, seeking directions to the investigating officer not to arrest him for “any other additional offences” in the corruption case against him was dismissed as withdrawn by the Punjab and Haryana HC. He was directed to join the probe within a week.

Saini had also sought directions to the investigating officer to seek the court’s prior permission if the petitioner was sought to be arrested for “those additional offences”.

The Bench was told that the HC had granted interim bail to the petitioner in connection with FIR dated August 2 under the Prevention of Corruption Act, along with Sections 109 and 120-B of the IPC at the Vigilance Bureau police station in Phase-I, Mohali. He added there was reasonable apprehension of a definite nature that the VB was likely to detain/arrest the petitioner for additional offences at the time of his joining the investigation in compliance of the interim order.