NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused any relief from surrendering to a convict in a dowry death case of his wife on the ground that he was a Black Cat Commando and participated in 'Operation Sindoor', holding that this doesn't give him immunity from committing atrocity at home.
A bench of Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and K Vinod Chandran told categorically to the petitioner, Baljinder Singh to surrender before the trial court within two weeks, also saying 'Operation Sindoor' was over.
An appeal was filed against an order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which had dismissed the man's appeal and upheld his conviction and sentence.
During the hearing, the bench made it clear that it is not keen to grant exemption to the man.
The petitioner’s counsel emphasised on his client’s military background.
The counsel contended that he had participated in Operation Sindoor. “For last 20 years, I have been a black cat commando posted in Rashtriya Rifles,” the man said.
The bench observed that this doesn't give him any immunity to commit atrocities at home.
"This goes to show how physically fit you are and the manner in which you alone could have strangulated your wife,” the bench said.
So far as his plea for exemption from surrender was concerned, the bench noted that such protection was reserved for offences carrying lighter punishments only.
“This is gruesome. The manner in which you strangulated your wife, exemption from surrendering is in cases where punishment is for six months, one year,” the bench said.
Having heard submissions from the petitioner’s counsel, the bench said it can issue notice on the appeal but would not entertain the prayer for protection from surrender. Petitioner’s counsel sought time to surrender.
On his repeated request, the bench said, “Alright. Two weeks’ time granted to the petitioner to surrender. There is no 'Operation Sindoor' now,” the bench said.
The court declined the request to extend the time any further.
