Justice Manisha Batra highlighted that the convict, Shalinder Singh, who has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for four counts of murder, allegedly submitted fraudulent medical documents as part of his efforts.
Punjab: The Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered a probe against a murder convict who managed to stay out of prison for over two years by allegedly forging medical records.
The convict, Shalinder Singh, was sentenced to 25 years of imprisonment in 2011 for the murder of four people, including his wife and a child. However, Singh manipulated the system by repeatedly obtaining medical parole extensions under the pretext of suffering from various health issues.
Justice Manisha Batra, in her order, noted that Singh “made all endeavors to remain out of prison and in that process placed forged medical documents on record.”
The court found that the medical documents submitted by Singh were either fake or did not substantiate his claims of serious health problems.
“Given the evident deception evident in the petitioner’s actions of forging and fabricating medical records, the Court deems it necessary to initiate an inquiry against him. Furthermore, the Court firmly believes that the petitioner should face trial for presenting false evidence, as such actions not only undermine the integrity of the legal process but also pose a threat to the effectiveness of the criminal justice system.”
The case highlights the urgent need to address the issue of convicts exploiting loopholes in the parole system to evade their sentences. Justice Batra rightly observed that such “unscrupulous” behavior must be curbed to maintain the integrity of the criminal justice system.
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The court has directed the Registrar (Vigilance) to conduct an inquiry into Singh’s actions and file a report.
During Singh’s plea for a parole extension, the Court noted his initial petition in 2021 for a two-month medical parole, which was granted, extending to six weeks. Subsequently, Singh filed two more petitions for extensions, all of which were approved. In his latest plea, Singh’s counsel argued his ongoing medical issues, asserting inadequate care if returned to prison.
During the final hearing of Singh’s plea, his counsel argued that he still suffered from multiple illnesses and wouldn’t receive adequate medical care in prison. However, the State countered, asserting that Singh, who has been out of prison on medical grounds since 2021, wasn’t as severely ill as claimed. Furthermore, the State alleged that Singh had forged medical documents to prolong his parole.
Upon reviewing the State’s status report, the Court discovered that Singh had visited a medical facility after an order in January to verify his hospital admission claim. However, he was discharged the next day due to the absence of serious health issues.
Regarding the medical documents from PGI Chandigarh, the Court observed that they are limited to this year, whereas Singh has been on parole since 2021.
“After examining the OPD Card issued by the PGIMER, Chandigarh in March 2024, it was found that the petitioner had visited the hospital with complaints of chest pain, and the other documents relate to subsequent medical investigations prescribed by the doctor. However, nowhere in these documents is it disclosed that the petitioner is suffering from any serious health issue that would necessitate frequent visits to PGIMER,” the Court concluded.
The Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act, 1962, which governs the granting of parole, clearly states that a prisoner can be granted parole for a maximum of six weeks on any ground. However, Singh had been on parole for nearly three years, a clear violation of the law.
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Despite being on parole for nearly 2 years and 8 months, Singh persisted in seeking further extensions due to declining health, according to the Court.
The Court concluded that Singh had been evading his sentence for an extended period, emphasizing that parole cannot be indefinitely prolonged on health grounds, especially through the submission of falsified medical documents.
Consequently, the Court dismissed Singh’s petition and instructed him to surrender to the jail authorities by May 29th.
