Seek govt sanction to prosecute IGP accused of graft: Court to complainant

The court of Special Judge Faridkot today asked the complainant in the 2019 Kotkapura dera head murder case to approach the appropriate government authority to seek sanction under Section 19 of the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act to take cognisance of offences against a senior IPS officer, the then Inspector General of Police (IG), Faridkot Zone.

Sant Gagan Dass, the complainant in the case, had filed an application in the court of Special Judge Faridkot, urging it to take cognisance of offences under the Act against the officer.

Next hearing on June 4

The matter has been adjourned to June 4, pending the outcome of the sanction application. The court made it clear that if no application was filed within a reasonable period, the cognisance application would be decided accordingly.

The complaint is tied to a murder case registered in November 2019 under serious charges, including Sections 302, 120-B and 201 of the IPC, and Arms Act provisions. It pertains to the murder of Sant Dayal Dass by alleged shooters hired at the behest of Baba Jarnail Dass, head of another dera. While the investigation led to the arrest of shooters, identified as Lakhwinder Singh, alias Lakha, and Amrik Singh, alias Sheru, the accused Baba Jarnail Dass was initially exonerated based on a DIG-level inquiry. However, after further legal proceedings, Baba Jarnail Dass was summoned to face trial.

The complainant alleged that the IPS officer had demanded a bribe of Rs 50 lakh to give a favourable report to re-implicate Baba Jarnail Dass.

A status report submitted by the DSP, Vigilance Bureau, Faridkot, revealed that Sant Malkiat Dass, now an approver, testified that Rs 15 lakh of the bribe money was to be allegedly exchange hands at the IPS officer’s residence. Despite these claims, no challan has yet been presented against the officer by the Vigilance Bureau while investigating the bribery charges, even as an SP, a DSP and an SI were booked under the PC Act.

The court, citing Section 19 of the PC Act, observed that prosecution of a public servant required prior government sanction. The court ruled that no cognisance could be taken without such sanction. The court of Special Judge today granted liberty to the complainant to approach the appropriate government authority and seek the required sanction. The matter has been adjourned to June 4, pending the outcome of the sanction application. The court made it clear that if no application was filed within a reasonable period, the pending cognisance application would be decided accordingly.

Punjab