Mohali, December 5, 2024 (Yes Punjab News)
In a high-profile case dating back to 2018, a Mohali court has acquitted gangsters Dilpreet Singh, alias Dilpreet Baba, and Sukhpreet Singh, alias Budha, of extortion charges filed by popular Punjabi singer and actor Rupinder Singh, better known as Gippy Grewal. The court granted the acquittal on the grounds of insufficient evidence, giving the accused the benefit of the doubt.
Details of the Case
The case was initiated when Gippy Grewal lodged a complaint alleging that he had received multiple extortion messages via WhatsApp, including threats to his life, demanding ₹10 lakh as protection money.
Grewal stated that the threats came from different phone numbers, including a foreign number. Baba had allegedly warned Grewal that he could face the same fate as slain singer Amar Singh Chamkila or Parmish Verma, who had been attacked by gangsters in April 2018.
Following the complaint, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered on June 1, 2018, at the Phase-8 police station under Sections 387 (extortion) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the IT Act. Subsequent investigation led to the inclusion of Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 201 (destruction of evidence).
Court’s Decision
The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate (Ist Class) Shweta Dass acquitted Baba and Budha, citing the prosecution’s failure to provide sufficient evidence, including the absence of voice messages and chat records. Both accused appeared before the court via video conferencing and stated that they did not wish to present any defense evidence.
The court’s ruling read:
“Arguments heard, accused namely Dilpreet Singh Baba and Sukhpreet Singh Budha are acquitted of the offences leveled against them in the charge-sheet by giving them the benefit of the doubt. Their bail bonds and surety bonds stand discharged.”
It further stated that the case property would be dealt with as per legal procedures and that both accused be released if not required in any other case.
Background of the Accused
1. Dilpreet Singh (Dilpreet Baba): Baba was arrested in July 2018 after an encounter with Punjab and Chandigarh Police near the Sector-43 inter-state bus terminal in Chandigarh.
2. Sukhpreet Singh (Budha): Budha, wanted in over 20 cases of murder, robbery, and ransom across Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, was deported from Armenia in 2019. His name also surfaced in the attack on Punjabi singer Karan Aujla in Canada in 2019.
Additional Developments
During the proceedings, Renu, the wife of gangster Lucky Padiala and a native of Uttarakhand, was declared a proclaimed offender for her alleged involvement in the conspiracy. She failed to appear in court despite repeated summons.
Impact on the Case
The acquittal raises questions about the effectiveness of the investigation, as the lack of conclusive evidence, such as chat records and voice messages, weakened the prosecution’s case. The ruling has been met with mixed reactions, highlighting the challenges of prosecuting high-profile cases involving organized crime.
FAQs
1. What was the Gippy Grewal extortion case about?
Punjabi singer Gippy Grewal alleged that gangsters Dilpreet Baba and Sukhpreet Budha threatened him and demanded ₹10 lakh as protection money.
2. Why were Dilpreet Baba and Sukhpreet Budha acquitted?
The court acquitted them due to insufficient evidence, including the absence of chat records and voice messages, giving them the benefit of the doubt.
3. What charges were initially filed against the accused?
The charges included Sections 387 (extortion), 506 (criminal intimidation), 120-B (criminal conspiracy), and 201 (destruction of evidence) under the IPC and the IT Act.
4. Who are the accused in the case?
The accused are Dilpreet Singh (alias Baba), involved in multiple criminal cases, and Sukhpreet Singh (alias Budha), a gangster deported from Armenia in 2019.
5. What role did Renu play in the case?
Renu, wife of gangster Lucky Padiala, was accused of conspiring in the extortion case. She was declared a proclaimed offender after failing to appear in court.
6. What happened to the case property?
The court ordered that the case property be dealt with according to legal procedures after the expiration of the appeal or revision period.
7. How did the court deliver its ruling?
The accused appeared via video conferencing, and the court ruled that they did not wish to present defense evidence. The court discharged their bail and surety bonds.
