Punjab ex-DGP Sumedh Saini gets interim anticipatory bail

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 12

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today granted interim anticipatory bail to Punjab’s former DGP Sumedh Singh Saini in a corruption case, subject to his joining investigation within a week.

FIR filed on Aug 2

Former DGP SS Saini was seeking anticipatory bail in a case registered on August 2 under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and IPC.

“Though there is an apprehension raised that the petitioner was ploughing back the black money, but the allegations are based upon documentary evidence and banking transactions. For joining loose ends, if any, with regard to the documentary evidence or banking transactions, this court is of the opinion that custodial interrogation of the petitioner is not required,” Justice Avneesh Jhingan asserted.

Saini, through senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi and APS Deol, was seeking anticipatory bail in an FIR registered on August 2 under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Sections 109 and 120-B of the IPC at the Vigilance Bureau police station in Mohali.

The FIR followed a vigilance inquiry initiated against Nimrat Deep Singh, Executive Engineer, PWD (B&M), and his father Surinderjit Singh Jaspal. The basis of the inquiry was amassing of assets disproportionate to known sources of income by Nimrat Deep Singh.

Justice Jhingan asserted it would not be appropriate at the current stage to deal with the contentions raised by Saini’s counsel regarding political vendetta.

It was not a disputed fact that the vigilance inquiry was initiated against Nimrat Deep Singh. During the inquiry, the rent agreement and agreement to sell house number 3048, Sector 20-D, Chandigarh, surfaced. The nomination of the petitioner in the FIR was on the basis of two agreements and transactions between the petitioner and Jaspal. There was an attempt by the petitioner to explain the sources of payments made to Jaspal. Taking note of the facts of the matter, Saini’s antecedents and his having Z-plus protection, Justice Jhingan observed there was no chance of him absconding. Fixing October 7 as the next date, Justice Jhingan asked the state to file a status report.