Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday summoned the IPS officer heading the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Chandigarh Police, which is probing the alleged assault on Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath by Punjab Police personnel in Patiala earlier this year.
Justice Rajesh Bhardwaj directed the officer to appear before the court on Wednesday with the entire case record, following a petition filed by Colonel Bath, who has accused the SIT of deliberately shielding the accused police officers.
Colonel Bath Seeks Transfer of Probe
In a fresh petition, Colonel Bath – currently serving as Deputy Secretary at the Cabinet Secretariat – requested the transfer of the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or to a senior Chandigarh Police officer, other than the current investigating officer (IO). He further demanded that the investigation be conducted under court monitoring, citing a lack of impartiality.
“The IO has shown reluctance to impartially and fairly investigate the matter,” the petition read, alleging that the Chandigarh Police is bending over backwards to keep the accused in a safe haven.
Three Months Without Progress
Colonel Bath voiced deep disappointment over the pace and direction of the probe. He highlighted that more than three and a half months have passed since the First Information Report (FIR) was registered, and it has been over three months since the case was handed over to the Chandigarh Police.
Despite this, the petition points out, “not a single accused has been arrested, nor even associated with the probe.” Bath described himself as a “hapless victim of extreme brutality and high-handedness” at the hands of Punjab Police, and accused authorities of deliberate inaction.
Background of the Case
The case involves an alleged physical assault on Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath by Punjab Police personnel in Patiala, sparking public and legal concern over inter-state police conduct and accountability. The matter was initially registered by local authorities and later transferred to the Chandigarh Police SIT for investigation.
Colonel Bath’s petition has raised serious questions over the neutrality and effectiveness of the SIT, prompting judicial intervention.
Court to Hear Matter on Wednesday
The High Court has now asked the SIT head, an IPS officer, to present himself in person along with all relevant case documents for review. The outcome of the hearing on Wednesday could determine whether the probe remains with Chandigarh Police or is reassigned to an external agency like the CBI under judicial oversight.
