High court dismisses Punjab ex-DGP Sumedh Singh Saini’s bail plea in Multani case

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court on Tuesday dismissed the anticipatory bail plea filed by former Punjab DGP Sumedh Singh Saini pertaining to the alleged abduction and murder of Balwant Singh Multani in 1991.
Justice Fateh Deep Singh of the HC, who had reserved its verdict on Monday after a marathon hearing of the case for around four hours, pronounced the order on Tuesday morning. The judge has also dismissed Saini’s second petition seeking quashing of the FIR.
The copy of the judgment was not released till the filing of this report. Sources, however, confirmed that Saini would challenge the order before the Supreme Court.
While seeking bail, the counsel appearing for Saini had contended that the former DGP was earlier granted anticipatory bail in the same case by a local court in Mohali and he should have been granted bail even after the addition of murder charges in the same case. His plea also mentioned that in the same matter, a FIR was registered by the CBI in 2008 but the same was set aside by the apex court.
Objecting to Saini’s plea, the counsel representing the Punjab police had submitted that initially Saini was booked under Section 364 of the IPC for abduction and an investigation in the case was at the initial stage.
Need custody for quizzing, state tells HC
The state had argued that later the special investigation team (SIT) probing the case had gathered more evidence against Saini regarding the custodial death of Multani. The HC was also informed that the custodial investigation of Saini is needed to gather information about involvement of more officials involved in the crime and about the disposal of the body of the deceased.
HC was also informed about the pendency of a criminal case against Saini before special the CBI court, Delhi.
Saini and six others were booked on the complaint of Multani’s brother Palwinder Singh Multani, who is a resident of Jalandhar. The case was registered against them in May this year under sections 364 (kidnapping or abducting in order to murder), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence), 344 (wrongful confinement), 330 (voluntarily causes hurt) and 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC.