Punjab and Haryana High Court seeks report on false drug cases by ‘delinquent’ officials

Less than a fortnight after the Punjab Police was rapped for highhandedness, harassing innocent citizens and falsely implicating them in drug cases, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has called for a report on the number of cases investigated by “delinquent police officials” in one such matter. Justice Kirti Singh of the high court also asked for details of cases in which the accused were discharged or acquitted or cancellation report was filed.

The direction came in a case where the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report confirmed that the capsules seized from a person simply contained acetaminophen or paracetamol. Among other things, the Bench, on the previous date of hearing, made clear its intent to impose exemplary cost on the erring officials before asking the state Director-General of Police to look into the issue.

The matter was brought to Justice Kirti Singh’s notice after the accused filed a petition for regular bail in the case registered on June 26 under the provisions of the NDPS Act at the Sultanpur Lodhi police station in Kapurthala district.

As the case came up for resumed hearing, Kapurthala Senior Superintendent of Police Vatsala Gupta, present in the court, stated that the accused was discharged after a cancellation report in the matter was accepted by the competent court

Justice Kirti Singh’s Bench was also told that IPS officer and Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Administration, CPO, Dr S Boopathi had been asked to verify the investigation conducted in the case, including the facts and circumstances leading to the registration of the case, before submitting a comprehensive report at the earliest.

“This court also deems it appropriate to call for a report detailing the number of cases that have been investigated by the delinquent police officials, who are involved in the FIR, along with the details of cases in which the accused have been discharged/acquitted or cancellation report has been filed. Arshdeep Singh Cheema, advocate, present in the court is hereby appointed amicus curiae to assist the court in this case,” Justice Kirti Singh asserted before fixing the case for further hearing in October last week.

The Bench had earlier observed that the misuse of the NDPS Act in such a manner undermined public trust in law enforcement and diverted the attention from genuine efforts to combat drug-related crimes, “highlighting the routine need for reforms and stricter oversight to protect the rights of citizens”.