Colonel accuses Chandigarh cops' SIT of shielding 'assaulters'; Haryana and Punjab high court summons IPS officer

CHANDIGARH: Punjab and Haryana high court on Monday summoned the IPS officer heading Chandigarh Police SIT probe into the assault on Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath in Patiala, allegedly by Punjab Police personnel. The officer has to present himself in court on Wednesday with the case record.

Justice Rajesh Bhardwaj gave the directive on a plea filed by Colonel Bath , who accused the SIT of "shielding" accused cops. In a fresh petition, Colonel Bath sought the transfer of the investigation to CBI or a senior Chandigarh Police officer, other than the present IO, under court's monitoring.

The IO has shown "reluctance to impartially and fairly investigate the matter", said the petition, alleging Chandigarh Police is "bending over backwards to keep the accused in a safe haven". Colonel Bath, deputy secretary at cabinet secretariat, said he is a "hapless victim of extreme brutality and high-handedness of the Punjab Police".

He expressed "utmost disappointment" that over three-and-a-half months since registration of FIR, and three months since probe was handed to Chandigarh Police, not a single accused has been arrested, nor even been "associated with the probe".