Punjab: HC seeks reply from Sumedh Saini by October 7 on plea challenging his release
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday issued a notice to former Punjab Director General of Police Sumedh Singh Saini on a recall petition filed by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau justifying the arrest of Saini in an FIR registered in the Vigilance Bureau police station Mohali last year.
Sumedh Saini was arrested by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau on August 18 and was released the next day after the High Court observed the arrest "illegal" and against various directions issued by it. Saini has been asked to file a reply on a petition on October 7, the next date of hearing.
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The Punjab Vigilance Bureau had approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court demanding the cancellation of bail granted to former Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Sumedh Singh Saini in a corruption case. The plea was taken up on September 6 (Monday).
Earlier on August 12, the Punjab and High High Court had granted protection from arrest to Sumedh Singh Saini and directed him to join the probe within seven days.
The former Punjab DGP was arrested on August 18 in a cheating case, when he had gone to the Punjab Vigilance Bureau office to join the probe in the corruption case as directed by the High Court on August 12. However, a day later, the court termed his arrest illegal and ordered his release.
Disproportionate assets case
On August 12, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had granted interim anticipatory bail to Sumedh Saini in a disproportionate assets case registered against him and six others on August 2. However, the court directed him to join the probe within a week.
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The case was registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act and criminal conspiracy against the former DGP, along with six others, including public works department executive engineer Nimratdeep Singh and his father Surinderjit Singh Jaspal, who owned a house in Chandigarh’s Sector 20. The VB alleged Saini had acquired the said house in a fraudulent deal with fake documents and questionable financial transactions.
-PTC News
