PATIALA: A tip-off provided by a man who himself is facing criminal charges has led to the busting of a
Medico-Legal Report (MLR) scandal being run by a cop in connivance with a junior doctor posted at the
Government Rajindra Hospital.
Named in a
criminal case that was registered in September last year, Madan Singh of Kalar Bhaini village in the district was taken aback when one of the cops, who was investigating his case, approached him and asked him to pay Rs 50000 for not adding Section 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapon) of the IPC against him while seeking medical opinion from a forensic expert over MLR before filing chargesheet in the matter.
It is to be mentioned that Madan Singh got involved in a feud with Gurjant Singh of his village over some issue and cross FIRs were registered against the two under sections 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed with a common object) 354 (outraging modesty of women) and 427 (mischief) of IPC Act.
Instead of succumbing to the pressure tactics being played by the cop, Madan decided to report the matter to the vigilance bureau. On receiving the complaint, the VB asked him to strike a deal with the cop, who had been identified as Baljinder Singh, a constable posted at PS Pasiana, Patiala.
As directed, Madan managed to coax Baljinder into accepting Rs 30,000 from him for not adding Section 326 against him and making the required changes in the Medico-Legal Report. Bajinder then assured Madan that he was in touch with a junior doctor, who would help him change the MLR so that Section 326 is not incorporated in the FIR registered against him.
After the deal was struck, the VB sleuths laid a trap and accompanied Madan to Police Station Passian, where he handed over Rs 25,000 to the Baljinder Singh and while he was pocketing the money, the sleuths caught him red-handed and also recovered the powder coated money. on being washed, the constable's hands turned red implying that he had taken the money from the complaint.
Investigation officer Pritpal Singh said during interrogation, Balwinder revealed that he had managed to involve junior resident Dr Charan Kamal of the government Rajindra Hospital in the racket. He told his interrogators that he was supposed to pay 50% (Rs 15000) of the bribe for which the deal had been struck to Dr Kamal for making the needed changes in the MLR.
SSP Jaspreet Singh Sidhu said there was strong possibility that the cop had managed to blackmail many others also and these details were yet to be investigated. He said the VB has sought records from the concerned police station and hospital related to the case which would be used to further strengthen the case against the two. He said the case against the two had been registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC act.
While the constable had been arrested from the spot, Dr Kamal was later nabbed by the VB team.
While the constable had been arrested from the spot, Dr Kamal was later nabbed by the VB team.