MOHALI, Dec 25 — The Central Bureau of Investigation has filed a chargesheet against four Punjab Police inspectors in connection with the alleged assault on Colonel Pushpinder Bath, pressing charges of grievous hurt and wrongful restraint, officials said.
The chargesheet was submitted before a Mohali court and names Inspector Ronnie Singh as the main accused. The charge of attempt to murder, which was part of the initial police case, does not figure in the CBI’s final report.
“The investigation has found sufficient material to proceed against the accused police officials under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita,” a CBI official said, requesting anonymity because the matter is before the court.
The case stems from an incident that allegedly took place on the intervening night of March 13 and 14 near Rajindra Hospital in Patiala. According to the complaint, Colonel Bath and his son were standing beside their car at a roadside eatery when a group of men in civilian clothes approached them.
The family alleged the men, later identified as police personnel, asked the colonel to move his vehicle to make space for theirs. An argument followed, after which more than a dozen policemen allegedly assaulted the colonel and his son with rods and sticks, leaving them injured.
The Patiala Police had initially registered a first information report against inspectors Harry Boparai, Ronnie Singh and Harjinder Dhillon under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including attempt to murder, voluntarily causing hurt, wrongful restraint and criminal intimidation. A fourth inspector was later added under additional sections related to causing hurt and giving false information.
Following public outcry and demands for an independent probe, the case was handed over to the CBI.
The accused officials have not commented publicly on the chargesheet. The matter is scheduled to be taken up by the court in the coming days.
