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Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Colonel Bath assault: Top court upholds HC order on CBI probe
The Supreme Court on Monday told four Punjab Police cops accused of assaulting a serving army colonel to show some respect for the force which defends the borders in tough terrains and ensure citizens get to sleep peacefully as it dismissed their appeal and subjected them to a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation. The Supreme Court was initially inclined to impose a heavy cost of ₹ 10 lakh on the policemen while dismissing their petition. However, the court refrained from imposing the penalty as it dismissed their petitions. The alleged incident took place on the intervening night of March 13 and 14 this year when Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath and his son were eating at a roadside dhaba (eatery) in Patiala. The cops who claimed to have a good service record had approached the top court against the order of the Punjab & Haryana high court of July 16 when the probe was entrusted to CBI. Earlier, on April 3, a single-judge bench had transferred the probe out of Punjab and tasked an SP-rank officer of Chandigarh police to conduct investigation. Taking serious exception to the manner in which the police handled the case by allowing the four cops to remain at large since March 14, the top court was at pains to note the irony that during war, the officers of the army are glorified but when it comes to giving them justice, the state allows such 'lawlessness' against the men in uniform to go unpunished. A bench of justices Sanjay Kumar and SC Sharma said, 'They go to defend you and they come back wrapped in a national flag…Have some respect for the army people. You sleep peacefully in your house because that man at the border is serving you at minus 40 degrees Celsius.' The bench made this emotional pitch as it noted the facts of the case that despite the incident, it took eight days for an FIR to be lodged by Punjab Police. Later, when the cops applied for anticipatory bail, the same was rejected and yet the senior officers of Chandigarh Police entrusted with the probe, failed to arrest the accused. 'This kind of lawlessness is not acceptable. Your bail was dismissed and yet you are roaming freely. They have not been arrested till date. Let the CBI look into this,' the bench observed. Earlier, the high court had set a timeline of four months for completion of the probe. However, even after the expiry of the timeline, the accused cops were not arrested by Chandigarh Police. The four cops claimed that the case was related to a minor scuffle as Colonel Bath (in plain clothes) along with his son refused to move their car while having food at a roadside dhaba (eatery) enroute to Patiala. The cops claimed that the injuries were on non-vital parts that were not life-threatening. The lawyer appearing for the cops told the top court that the HC has taken a strict view of the matter when the incident involved a minor scuffle. The arguments were opposed by advocate Sumeer Sodhi appearing for the Army Colonel pointing out how the facts revealed a planned attempt to derail the investigation of the case. The bench said, 'When the war is going on, you glorify these officers and now your senior SP says, I am unable to arrest them in spite of their bail being cancelled, just because they are policemen.' Taking exception to such an approach, the court was initially inclined to impose a heavy cost of ₹10 lakh on the policemen while dismissing their petition. However, the court refrained from imposing the penalty as it dismissed their petitions observing, 'If you have nothing to hide, why feel shy of an independent enquiry.' The policemen claimed that they were victims of undue sensationalism as the colonel and his son were drunk and even the policemen sustained injuries during the scuffle.
Indian Express
31-07-2025
- Indian Express
Colonel assault case: Dept probe recommends no promotion for 3 years to 4 cops
A departmental inquiry against Punjab Police personnel, accused of allegedly assaulting a serving Army officer over a car parking issue, has recommendation action ranging from three years' deduction in service and denial of increments and promotions for the same time period to four inspectors and two others, it has been learnt. The inquiry was conducted by the Senior Superintendent of Police, Patiala, into the incident that took place on the intervening night of March 13 and 14, when Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath and his son were having food at a roadside dhaba near Government Rajindra Hospital in the district. Colonel Bath, on deputation with a central agency and his son, Angad Singh Bath, were allegedly assaulted by 12 Punjab Police personnel, including four inspectors. The incident resulted in severe injuries, including a dislocated arm for Colonel Bath and a fractured nose for his son. Colonel Bath had accused the police personnel of assaulting him and his son over a parking dispute and sought a transfer of the probe to an independent agency, preferably the CBI. He alleged that the assailants — four inspector-rank officers of the Punjab Police and their armed subordinates — attacked him and his son without provocation, snatched his ID card and mobile phone, and threatened him with a 'fake encounter', all in public view and under CCTV camera coverage. The case sparked outrage among ex-servicemen, Army veterans, and the public, leading to demands for accountability and justice. Later, the Punjab Police suspended the 12 police personnel and also initiated a departmental inquiry. The Patiala SSP has submitted the inquiry report to his superior officers and a show cause notice has been issued to the four inspectors and two other police personnel whose names and ranks have not been disclosed by the police department. It has been recommended that three years of service of six police personnel be deducted, besides they be denied increment and promotion for three years. It recommends that the suspension of these officers will continue, and they will remain posted out of Patiala. The inspectors were attached to Bathinda and Ludhiana Police Ranges when they rejoined duty after remaining absconding for several months during which time Patiala Police failed to arrest them. The Punjab Police on March 17 had suspending 12 implicated police officers, including inspectors Harry Boparai, Ronnie Singh, Harjinder Dhillon, and Shaminder Singh, along with assistant sub-inspectors, head constables, and constables. A departmental inquiry was ordered by then Patiala SSP Nanak Singh to investigate the allegations against these officers. The inquiry was initially assigned to Patiala SP (Headquarters) Harwant Kaur, with a directive to complete the probe within 45 days. The inquiry aimed to examine the conduct of the accused personnel, who were reported to be in civilian clothes and allegedly intoxicated during the incident. The family claimed the officers used abusive language, physically assaulted Colonel Bath and his son with baseball bats and sharp-edged weapons, and confiscated the Colonel's government ID card and mobile phone. The inquiry was intended to establish the facts, assess violations of police conduct, and recommend appropriate disciplinary measures. In addition to the departmental inquiry, other probes were initiated which include a magisterial probe ordered by the Punjab Home department on March 20 and led by IAS officer Paramvir Singh. This probe was rejected by the Bath family, who demanded a CBI inquiry. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was also formed on March 21 under ADGP SPS Parmar and later led by ADGP AS Rai. However, the family expressed distrust in the SIT's impartiality. The departmental inquiry faced several challenges with the Bath family accusing then SSP Nanak Singh of delaying the FIR registration, which was only filed on March 21 based on Colonel Bath's statement, instead of the initial FIR based on the dhaba owner's account. The names of all 12 suspended officers were not initially disclosed, fueling allegations of police shielding certain personnel, particularly those with accolades as 'encounter specialists.' The Punjab and Haryana High Court on July 16 had transferred the investigation into the case to the CBI. The CBI on July 25, re-registered two FIRs filed by the civil lines police station Patiala as its own separate cases, with one from Colonel Bath's side and the other from the dhaba owner in Patiala. The FIRs were filed under various provisions of the BNS, which also include the charge of attempt to commit murder.
News18
30-07-2025
- News18
Colonel assault case: Department inquiry recommends action against 4 cops
Patiala, July 30 (PTI) A departmental inquiry into the alleged assault on an Army colonel by Punjab Police personnel over a car parking issue has recommended action, including deduction in service and no promotion for three years, against four inspectors and two others, sources said on Wednesday. The department inquiry was conducted by the Patiala Superintendent of Police into the incident that took place on the intervening night of March 13 and 14, when Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath and his son were having food at a roadside dhaba in Patiala. Colonel Bath had accused 12 Punjab Police personnel of assaulting him and his son over a parking dispute and sought a transfer of the probe to an independent agency, preferably the CBI. He alleged that the assailants — four inspector-rank officers of the Punjab Police and their armed subordinates — attacked him and his son without provocation, snatched his ID card and mobile phone, and threatened him with a 'fake encounter", all in public view and under CCTV camera coverage. Following outrage over the incident, the Punjab Police suspended the 12 police personnel and also initiated a departmental inquiry. Following the inquiry, it has been recommended that three years of service of six police personnel will be deducted, besides they will get no increment for three years, the sources said. There will be no promotion for three years and there will be no salary additions for them, they said. The suspension of these officers will continue, and they will remain posted out of Patiala, said sources. The Punjab and Haryana High Court on July 16 had transferred the investigation into the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI ). The petitioner, Bath, had sought an independent probe, preferably by the CBI, into the matter. On July 25, the CBI re-registered two FIRs filed by the civil lines police station Patiala as its own separate cases, with one from Colonel Bath's side and the other from the dhaba owner in Patiala. The FIRs were filed under various provisions of the BNS, which also include the charge of attempt to commit murder. Before the probe was handed over to the Chandigarh Police, Bath had alleged that a fair investigation was impossible under the Punjab Police. PTI COR CHS VSD RT RT view comments First Published: July 30, 2025, 20:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
30-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Colonel assault case: Department inquiry recommends action against 4 cops
Patiala, A departmental inquiry into the alleged assault on an Army colonel by Punjab Police personnel over a car parking issue has recommended action, including deduction in service and no promotion for three years, against four inspectors and two others, sources said on Wednesday. Colonel assault case: Department inquiry recommends action against 4 cops The department inquiry was conducted by the Patiala Superintendent of Police into the incident that took place on the intervening night of March 13 and 14, when Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath and his son were having food at a roadside dhaba in Patiala. Colonel Bath had accused 12 Punjab Police personnel of assaulting him and his son over a parking dispute and sought a transfer of the probe to an independent agency, preferably the CBI. He alleged that the assailants four inspector-rank officers of the Punjab Police and their armed subordinates attacked him and his son without provocation, snatched his ID card and mobile phone, and threatened him with a "fake encounter", all in public view and under CCTV camera coverage. Following outrage over the incident, the Punjab Police suspended the 12 police personnel and also initiated a departmental inquiry. Following the inquiry, it has been recommended that three years of service of six police personnel will be deducted, besides they will get no increment for three years, the sources said. There will be no promotion for three years and there will be no salary additions for them, they said. The suspension of these officers will continue, and they will remain posted out of Patiala, said sources. The Punjab and Haryana High Court on July 16 had transferred the investigation into the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation . The petitioner, Bath, had sought an independent probe, preferably by the CBI, into the matter. On July 25, the CBI re-registered two FIRs filed by the civil lines police station Patiala as its own separate cases, with one from Colonel Bath's side and the other from the dhaba owner in Patiala. The FIRs were filed under various provisions of the BNS, which also include the charge of attempt to commit murder. Before the probe was handed over to the Chandigarh Police, Bath had alleged that a fair investigation was impossible under the Punjab Police. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Hindustan Times
26-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
CBI registers 2 FIRs in Col Bath assault case
Patiala: Eight days after the Punjab and Haryana high court transferred the probe into the alleged assault on Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath and his son by Punjab Police personnel to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the agency on Thursday registered two separate FIRs in the case. Eight days after the Punjab and Haryana high court transferred the probe into the alleged assault on Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath and his son by Punjab Police personnel to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the agency on Thursday registered two separate FIRs in the case. The army colonel and his 21-year-old son Angad were allegedly assaulted by cops over a parking dispute outside a roadside eatery (dhaba) near Government Rajindra Hospital in Patiala on March 13. The army officer, in his complaint, alleged that the cops in civvies asked him to move his car, as they had to park theirs. When the colonel objected to their rude tone, the officers thrashed him and his son. The FIRs — one from Colonel Bath side and other from the dhaba owner—were lodged under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which also include charges under attempt to murder. The CBI has re-registered both the FIRs filed by the Civil Lines police station, Patiala, as its own separate cases on the orders of the Punjab and Haryana high court earlier this month. The agency has tasked its special crime unit to probe the case, said officials. Punjab Police inspectors Ronnie Singh, Harjinder Singh and Harry Boparai and sub-inspector Surjeet Singh and constable Rajvir Singh have been booked under Sections 115 (2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 351 (2) (criminal intimidation), 109 (attempt to murder), 310, 117 (1) (voluntarily causing grievous hurt), 117 (2), 126 (2) (wrongful restraint) and 190 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, reads one of the FIRs registered by CBI in New Delhi, of which HT has the copy. According to the FIR, Colonel Bath and his son were having food at a roadside dhaba in Patiala when a group of seven to eight men (cops) and their armed subordinates attacked him and his son over an altercation over parking a car without any provocation. He alleged that they (cops) snatched his ID card and mobile phone, and threatened him with a fake encounter, all in public view and under CCTV camera coverage. The father-son duo was on its way from Delhi, where the colonel is posted, to Patiala in their car and had stopped at Harbans Dhaba for a meal when the alleged incident took place. The second FIR was registered on the statement of the owner of the dhaba alleging that the occupants of a car had parked their vehicle in the middle of the road and were drinking when a minor scuffle took place between them (occupants of the car) and some passersby. The FIR was registered by the CBI's Delhi unit instead of the regional unit of CBI in Chandigarh as Colonel Bath's family had expressed apprehensions over the impartiality of the probe. On March 27, Col Bath filed a plea in Punjab and Haryana high court seeking transfer of probe to the CBI. On March 30, Col Bath's family met defence minister Rajnath Singh and expressed lack of faith in the Punjab Police probe. The high court on April 3 transferred the investigation to the Chandigarh Police and ordered the constitution of a new SIT, besides setting up a four-month deadline to complete the probe. However, on July 14, Colonel Bath filed a fresh petition alleging the SIT's 'reticence and reluctance' to impartially investigate the FIR, and sought directions for the CBI probe. Following this, the HC on July 16 transferred the probe to the CBI. 'From the overwhelming circumstances of the case, the court is convinced that the investigating agency is not only trying to create loopholes in the investigation, but trying to make craters in the investigation so as to ensure that once the chargesheet is filed before the court, the case of the prosecution should hardly be able to crawl in the court,' the bench of justice Rajesh Bhardwaj said while ordering CBI probe into two connected FIRs registered in Patiala. The court while entrusting the probe to CBI said that it cannot be a mute spectator to the conduct of the investigating agency in conducting the probe in a 'tainted manner'. The offence of attempt to murder has already been deleted by the SIT even as investigation is not complete, which 'substantiate the apprehension' of the petitioner that the SIT is proceeding in a tainted manner to give benefit to the accused, it recorded. It added that other offences in the FIR are also non-bailable, but the SIT has no answer regarding its conduct in not arresting the accused and if they are not traceable, taking other measures to bring them to justice. Jasvinder Kaur Bath, wife of Colonel Bath, said: 'First, the accused cops managed the Punjab Police investigation. Thereafter, they managed investigation by the Chandigarh Police as the UT cops requested the Punjab and Haryana high court to drop the attempt to murder charges and did not arrest them. I am hopeful that the CBI will soon arrest the accused cops.' She added that the accused cops should surrender before the CBI instead of bringing further disgrace to the Punjab Police.
