Sikh groups step up pressure to arrest ex-police chief

Punjab Police on Thursday carried out searches for the fugitive ex-police chief Sumedh Singh Saini - a key suspect in the murder of Balwant Singh Multani in 1991.

New Delhi: Sikh organizations protested against Punjab Government for failing to arrest former DGP Sumedh Singh Saini who is wanted in alleged abduction, torture and murder of Balwant Singh Multani. The protestors also questioned the former Shiromani Akali Dal regime for protecting Saini. The protest comes after Mohali court on Saturday issued an arrest warrant against Saini and directed the police to produce him by September 25.

Manjit Singh GK, former Akali Dal leader and President of religious outfit JAGO led the protest at New Delhi near Punjab Bhawan. In a media interaction, he said, "We want Punjab Government to answer how a Former DGP with Z security from Punjab Police absconded. He is still elusive and Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by Punjab Police has failed to trace Saini. Saini has killed thousands of innocent Sikh boys during the 80's and '90s. The government is giving him time to escape".

"Both Akali Dal and Congress are helping Saini. Shiromani Akali Dal made him DGP during their regime by superseding five senior officials. Both parties should give an answer," he added. However, due to COVID-19 restrictions and Section 144 the protest was carried by maintaining social distance. Punjab Police on Thursday had raided hideouts in search of former Punjab DGP Sumedh Singh Saini in Delhi, an accused in the 1991 Balwant Singh Multani murder case. Saini on same day moved to the Supreme Court for anticipatory bail to avoid his arrest.Punjab Police had filed a caveat in Supreme Court to pre-empt Sumedh Singh Saini from getting any ex-parte relief from the top court which is likely to take up his plea this week. Balwant Multani, a JE with CITCO, was allegedly picked up by the police in December 1991 after a terror attack on Saini. A local court in Punjab had issued arrest warrants of Saini and asked police to arrest him and present in court on or before September 25.

READ: Punjab Police files caveat in SC before hearing of Sumedh Saini case

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday had dismissed Sumedh Saini's anticipatory bail plea in this matter. The high court had also dismissed Sumedh Saini's second petition that sought quashing of an FIR in the case or the transfer of investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

In May this year, the former DGP and six others were booked by the Mohali police for Multani’s ‘kidnapping’. The murder charge was added in August after two of the accused cops spilled the beans.

A special investigation team of Punjab Police on Thursday conducted raids in Delhi to search former DGP Sumit Saini who is accused in 29-year-old case of the alleged abduction, disappearance and murder of former IAS officer's son Multani.

As per information SIT team searched four places in Delhi. Total of seven search teams have been constituted by Punjab Police but so far Punjab Police is not able to reach him. Punjab Police conducted raids at Panchsheel Park but was Saini not available. Sumedh Singh Saini has Z security cover which raised the question on Punjab Police that despite security how he managed to escape.

Some opposition parties of Punjab has a legit that Police is not serious about San is arrest and is helping him. Sumedh Singh Saini is a 1982 batch India Police Service (IPS) officer who retired as Director General of Police as well as chairman of Punjab Police Housing Corporation on June 30, 2018, after putting in 36 years of service. He is alleged to have indulged in gross human rights violation and torture during his career, especially when he served as Senior Superintendent of Police in at least five districts in Punjab and as Chandigarh SSP.

The present-day case is of a son of then serving IAS officer D S Multani, Balwant Singh Multani (25) was a junior engineer with Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Development Corporation (CITCO) when he was allegedly picked up by the police in connection with a terrorist attack on Saini in 1991 in which he was injured and three policemen were killed.
READ: Punjab Police raid former DGP Sumedh Singh Saini's house