Chandigarh, April 3 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday transferred the investigation into the alleged assault on Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath by 12 Punjab Police personnel in Patiala to Chandigarh Police.
Justice HS Brar directed Chandigarh’s director general of police (DGP) to form a special investigation team (SIT) within a week, with the probe to be completed in four months. The court’s detailed order is awaited.
Colonel Bath, in his petition, alleged that four Punjab Police inspectors and their armed subordinates assaulted him and his son over a parking dispute outside a Patiala eatery on the night of March 13-14. He claimed the officers took his identity card and phone, threatening him with a “fake encounter.” His wife, Jaswinder Kaur, was allegedly pressured into a compromise, and some personnel admitted over a video call to being intoxicated at the time.
Despite the family being the first to report the incident, an FIR was initially registered on March 14 based on the eatery owner’s statement, while a second FIR based on Colonel Bath’s statement was only filed on March 22.
Earlier, Justice Sandeep Moudgil had twice heard the case, questioning Punjab Police over the delayed FIR and the non-arrest of accused officers. However, on Thursday, the case was reassigned to Justice Brar’s bench for reasons that remain unclear.
During the hearing, Justice Brar asked Punjab whether it preferred a CBI probe, an SIT, or Chandigarh Police to handle the case. After deliberations, the court ordered the case to be investigated by Chandigarh Police.
Read more: Colonel Bath’s Family Meets Punjab CM Over Police Assault
