Greeva Garg –
Published on August 27, 2021, at 10:50 IST
The Supreme Court of India deprecated Chhattisgarh Government over the alleged misuse of Sedition Law and restrained State Police from arresting suspended IPS officer, Gurjinder Pal Singh, in a sedition and amassing of disproportionate assets case.
The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice of India NV Ramana and Justice Surya Kant gave protection to Singh against his arrest looking at biased State affairs and directed him to cooperate with the agencies in the ongoing investigation.
“Filing of sedition cases when regimes change is a disturbing trend and the Police Department is also responsible for this. When a political party is in power, police officials take the side of the ruling party. Then when another new party comes into power, the Government initiates action against the Police officials. This needs to be stopped,” the Supreme Court observed.
The Bench asked the State Government to file their response to the two separate petitions within four weeks.
In the due course of next hearing Singh could be investigated in the cases without any arrest, the Apex Court directed the State Police.
Gurjinder Pal Singh, the 1994 batch IPS officer, served as the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP).
Singh was alleged in the amassing of disproportionate assets case following raids at his premises by State’s Anti-Bureau Corruption (ABC) and Economic Offences Wing (EOW).
The Sedition case was registered against Singh on the grounds of his involvement in promoting enmity and conspiracy against the Government.
The ACB and EOW registered FIR against Singh under provisions of Section 124 A and 153 A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on June 29.
Subsequent to his crimes, Singh was suspended from the post of Director of the State Police academy on July 5.
Looking at the situation of State affairs according to the biased conduct of the ruling party, the Court handed over the case investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and independent agency to ensure fair probe.
Click here to Read/Download the Order
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