Crusader for human rights, who exposed fake encounters

Advocate Sarabjit Singh Verka, a commerce graduate from Verka in Amritsar, is widely recognised for his tireless fight for human rights over the past two-and-a-half decades. As a Principal Investigator with the Punjab Human Rights Organisation, he exposed several high-profile scams through his exceptional investigative skills.

He has fought approximately 70 cases involving fake encounters and disappearances of youth during the militancy period in the state. Out of these, convictions were secured in 61 cases. The convicted individuals included high-ranking police officials and other influential figures.

Sarabjit’s family moved from Delhi to his maternal grandparents’ village, Verka, in the aftermath of the 1984 anti-Sikh genocide. At the time, he was pursuing his studies and planning to move to the United States of America. However, in 1992, he was falsely implicated in a terror-related case.

“The police suspected that young boys from families affected by the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi might be drawn to militancy. I was targeted and framed in two separate cases,” he recalls. He was acquitted in both cases, in 2000 and 2007 respectively.

In 2008, he filed a case seeking compensation for the torture he endured in police custody. In January 2013, the court ruled in his favour, ordering the state government to pay him Rs 10 lakh as compensation. Later, in September 2019, authorities disbursed Rs 14.85 lakh, including 6 per cent annual interest.

These false cases changed the trajectory of his life. He began working as an investigator with the Punjab Human Rights Organisation, under the leadership of Justice Ajit Singh Bains. Later, he pursued a degree in law and began practicing as an advocate in 2009.

Over the past two decades, Sarabjit and his organisation have uncovered several major scams, including the Amritsar kidney racket, City Cable scam, Voluntary Disclosure of Income Scheme (VDIS) scam, fake bail bond scam, immigration fraud, corruption scandal during SAD regime, and investment scams. In 2012, he filed a PIL against unauthorised commercial activities and hotel construction around the Golden Temple. The case remains sub judice.

He also assisted the Canadian government in the Air India bombing case and played a role in securing compensation for the victims’ families. Sarabjit is actively involved with the free legal aid and vigilance cell of the Amritsar Bar Association, the Insaff Organization (UK) and the Punjab Advocacy and Documentation Project.

Recently, on Baisakhi, he was honoured with the ‘Guru Ka Lal’ award by an organisation in Cheecha Bhakna.

Punjab