In an affidavit submitted by DGP Gaurav Yadav, it was revealed that two then-supervisory officers, retired Superintendent of Police (SP) Sewa Singh Malhi and SP Ashok Kumar, were issued show-cause notices on December 7, the same day the FIR was lodged at the Passiana police station in Patiala.
Punjab: On Tuesday (10th Dec), Punjab’s police chief informed the High Court that Sikh preacher Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale has been named in an FIR for a 2012 case involving the alleged rape and murder of a woman in Patiala.
In an affidavit submitted by DGP Gaurav Yadav, it was revealed that two then-supervisory officers, retired Superintendent of Police (SP) Sewa Singh Malhi and SP Ashok Kumar, were issued show-cause notices on December 7, the same day the FIR was lodged at the Passiana police station in Patiala.
The FIR accuses Dhadrianwale, head of Parmeshwar Dwar Gurdwara in Sheikhpura village, under IPC Sections 302 (murder), 376 (rape), and 506 (criminal intimidation). Dhadrianwale is a prominent preacher with a large following both in Punjab and among the Punjabi diaspora overseas.
BRIEF FACTS
The case was reopened after a petition filed by the victim’s brother alleged that his sister was raped and murdered in 2012, but police failed to investigate due to external pressure. According to the petition, the woman became a follower of Dhadrianwale in 2002 and frequently visited his dera. Her brother alleged that she was poisoned after being raped.
The court, presided over by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu, raised concerns about the absence of an FIR in a cognizable offense and demanded an explanation. Earlier, the SSP’s response was deemed unsatisfactory, leading to a directive for the DGP to provide a detailed account of actions taken against the officers who approved the earlier closure report.
According to the DGP’s affidavit, the woman was found unconscious near the dera gate on April 22, 2012, and later died in a hospital without giving any statement. Her mother initially stated she suspected no foul play, and subsequent family testimonies pointed to the woman consuming poison. The case was closed after the inquest report was approved in 2014. However, the deceased’s sister had filed complaints in 2012 seeking action against Dhadrianwale, which were initially investigated but not pursued further.
The DGP’s affidavit noted that crucial records up to December 31, 2014, were destroyed in October 2020 as per standard practice. In addition, the petitioner’s brother recently complained of threats from individuals allegedly linked to Dhadrianwale, which was referred to local authorities.
Dhadrianwale, in a video statement, denied the allegations and expressed willingness to cooperate with the investigation. Referring to the post-mortem report, he claimed it showed no evidence of rape or murder, and the case was closed based on the family’s earlier statements.
He stated, “I am ready for the investigation and confident of coming out clean. The family’s doubts should be clarified through proper inquiry.”
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