CHANDIGARH: Amidst the continuing anti-corruption drive within the state, Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Thursday arrested absconding Inspector Khem Chand Prashar from Ferozepur in reference to a bribery case of Rs 20 lakh for re-nominating an individual— who was given a clear chit, in a 2019 homicide case of Mahant Dayal Das. This is a second arrest within the case. Notably, the latter was shot useless by two unknown individuals at Dera Baba Harka Das in village Kotsukhia in Kotkapura on November 7, 2019.
Following this, the homicide case was registered at Police Station Sadar Kotkapura in opposition to two unknown individuals and Sant Jarnail Das Kapurewale and others on the grievance of Sant Gagan Das, who’s a disciple of Sant Baba Haridas. Later, accused Sant Jarnail Das was given a clear chit by DSP HQs Moga Ravinder Singh. Later, Punjab and Haryana High Court had summoned IGP Faridkot Range Pardeep Kumar Yadav to file an affidavit within the case. Thereafter, the IGP had constituted a particular investigation crew (SIT) headed by SP (D) Faridkot Gagnesh Kumar comprising members together with DSP Faridkot Sushil Kumar, DSP Baghapurana Jasjot Singh and Inspector Khem Chand Prashar.
Disclosing this right here at the moment, an official spokesperson of the VB mentioned that in November 2022, SP Gagnesh Kumar, DSP Sushil Kumar and Inspector Khem Chand had demanded Rs 50 lakh as a bribe from Sant Gagan Das to re-nominate and arrest Sant Jarnail Das Kapurewale and to assist him (Gagan Das) on this case. The deal was settled at Rs 35 lakh and the mentioned officers had taken Rs 20 lakh in two instalments— Rs 15 lakh and Rs 5 lakh on November 9, 2022 and November 11, 2022 respectively.
In this regard, an FIR no. 64 Dated 02.06.2023 underneath sections of 07, 07-A, 08, 13-1 (B) of Prevention of Corruption Act and 120-B of IPC was registered in opposition to SP Gagnesh Kumar, DSP Sushil Kumar, Inspector Khem Chand Prashar, Sant Malkiat Dass, Dera Bir Sikhan Wala and Contractor Jaswinder Singh Jassi at Police Station Sadar Kotkapura on the enquiry of DIG, Ferozepur, he added.
The spokesperson mentioned that the Police groups from Vigilance Bureau Ferozepur Range have already arrested DSP Sushil Kumar and now, he’s in judicial custody. Baba Malkiat Dass additionally surrendered within the court docket of Addition District Judge, Faridkot on 23-08-2023. Today VB has arrested absconding Inspector Khem Chand Prashar and he shall be produced within the court docket tomorrow.
The VB crew has launched a manhunt to arrest the remaining accused of the case on the earliest, he added.