Chandigarh, June 16, 2021 (Yes Punjab News)
A 3 member Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted on the orders of Punjab & Haryana High Court for investigating 2015 Kotkapura firing incident has decided to visit former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to question him regarding the case.
The SIT has informed five-time Chief Minister and SAD veteran and patron that the team would be visiting his MLA flat in the state capital at 10.30 on the 22nd of June. The Akali leader has been asked to keep any evidence, that he may wish to produce before the SIT, handy.
The SIT headed by ADGP Vigilance LK Yadav, which has Ludhiana Police Commissioner Rakesh Aggarwal and DIG Ferozepur Range Surjit Singh as two members had earlier summoned the former Chief Minister to appear before it on Wednesday, June 16 at PSPCL Rest House in Phase-8 Mohali.
However, Badal had expressed his inability to appear before the SIT citing health reasons. He had stated that he will definitely appear before the SIT whenever he gets well. He had also requested the SIT to give him a fresh date for appearance. Badal had also informed the SIT that he was presently in Chandigarh at MLA Flat No.37 and would be available for questioning on a fresh date. The former CM had actually written a detailed letter to the SIT and also attached his Medical Certificate with the same.
Acting swiftly, the SIT has now informed the Akali leader in writing that they would be at his place on June 22. Sources said the SIT has taken the decision keeping in view the age and health of the Akali stalwart.
The letter written to SIT by the former CM citing his inability to appear on June 16 is reproduced below:
To,
The Chairman,
Special Investigation Team,
Kotkapura Case,
SAS Nagar, Mohali
Dated: 14 June, 2021
I am in receipt of your summon No. 211/SIT, dated 9.6.2021 under section 160 Cr.P.C. requiring my presence in the investigations of FIR No. 192, Dated 14.10.2015 PS City Kotkapura and FIR No 129, Dated 7.8.2018 PS City Kotkapura on 16. 06.2021 at PSPCL Rest House, Phase 8, SAS Nagar (Mohali)
I was similarly asked to join an identical investigation by the now defunct SIT. The investigations by that SIT were quashed by the Hon’ble Punjab and Haryana High Court.
With regard to my appearance before the new SIT headed by you, I wish to submit as under:
Although the entire process of investigations into the said case stands brazenly compromised through blatant and unapologetic political interference and although it reeks too strongly of political vendetta to inspire any confidence about a fair process of law, yet I have repeatedly and categorically declared my intent and commitment to cooperating fully with the law, as I have complete faith in the judiciary.
Accordingly, I wish to inform you that I will cooperate fully and whole heartedly with the process of investigations by the fresh SIT. I also hope that this SIT, unlike the previous one, would respect the law of the land and conduct a fair investigation, withstanding the political interference from the ruling dispensation which is known to be brazen in subverting the law for their personal political gains.
The present SIT had been set up in the wake of the brazen politicization of the previous SIT. The overtly political conduct of one of its members had allegedly subverted the entire investigative process. With a callous and contemptuous disregard for all the established procedures and norms, the officer completely usurped and appropriated to himself the entire functioning and designated role of all the other members of the SIT, including it Chairman , and rendered them totally redundant. In the process, all the other members of the SIT were reportedly not even a part of the investigative process. This was an unprecedented subversion of the legality, constitutionality and procedural propriety in the investigative process, turning the whole investigative exercise into an absurd political farce
Predictably, the Honourable High Court quashed the fictional narrative. There were reports, never contradicted, that the SIT findings had been authored jointly by half a dozen high profile members of the ruling party.
The Honourabe High Court made observations which are self speaking, before setting aside the investigation conducted by the previous SIT.
I hardly need emphasize that all through my long career as a servant of the people, I not only have been a law abiding citizen of the country but have always ensured that the law of the land is held in the highest esteem. As such, I am committed to cooperating with investigations underway.
However, my current state of health does not permit me to be available to join the investigation on the date specified by you. I have been advised complete bed rest of ten days by my physician; I am enclosing the Medical Certificate dated 8.6.2021.
As soon as my health gets better, I will be available to join the investigation as per law, at my current place of residence i.e. MLA Flat No 37, Sector 4, Chandigarh. Accordingly, I request you to reschedule the date for my appearance for the investigations.
I will look forward to hearing from you in this regard at the earliest.
(PARKASH SINGH BADAL)
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