38.6c New Delhi, India, Friday, October 31, 2025
Top Stories Supreme Court
Political NEWS Legislative Corner Celebstreet International Videos
Subscribe Contact Us
close
Judiciary

Punjab and Haryana HC convicts DSP in 1995 custodial death case [Read Order]

By Saket Sourav      10 September, 2024 04:23 PM      0 Comments
Punjab and Haryana HC convicts DSP in 1995 custodial death case

Punjab: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has delivered a significant order, convicting a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) for murder in a 1995 custodial death case, overturning his earlier acquittal.

A Division Bench comprising Justices Sureshwar Thakur and Sudeepti Sharma allowed appeals filed by the State of Punjab and the complainant against the acquittal of DSP Gursewak Singh and other accused police officers.

The court noted that one Gamdoor Singh was brutally tortured in police custody in November 1995 and later succumbed to his injuries.

Rejecting the trial court’s reasoning for acquittal, the High Court held, “The demise of the deceased was homicidal, not natural. Resultantly, the appellants-accused are liable to be convicted for an offence punishable under Section 302 of the IPC, apart from the offences for which they are already convicted.”

The court relied on medical evidence and the testimony of a key witness to conclude that the death was caused by injuries inflicted in custody. It observed, “Even if, assumingly, opinion Ex.PG was made after a period of three months elapsed since the autopsy on the body of the deceased, yet unless cogent evidence was adduced by the defence, suggesting that the said opinion was falsely made and/or not based upon any concrete tangible material, the said opinion was required to be revered.”

Expressing its view on the DSP’s role, the court stated, “DSP Gursewak Singh has been named by Baghel Singh (PW-3); thereupon, even if the log book entries suggested that he was not at Sangrur at the relevant time, the said log book entries did not hold any vigor, nor did they undercut the unrebutted incriminatory statements made against DSP Gursewak Singh by PW-3.”

The court convicted DSP Gursewak Singh along with three other police officers—Harbhajan Singh, Kirpal Singh, and Jaswant Singh—for offences under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC.

In conclusion, while overturning the acquittal, the High Court directed that the accused be taken into custody and produced before it on September 12, 2024, for a hearing on the quantum of the sentence.

 [Read Order]



Share this article:

About:

Saket is a final-year law student at The National Law University and Judicial Academy, Assam. He has...Read more

Follow:
Linkedin


Leave a feedback about this
Related Posts
View All

Punjab and Haryana High Court Recommends Departmental Action against Magistrate for Violating High Court direction. Punjab and Haryana High Court Recommends Departmental Action against Magistrate for Violating High Court direction.

"The expression and reasoning contained in the impugned order do not show that the disobedience of the direction by this Court was erroneous as claimed in the explanation, therefore, the same is not worth acceptance", Justice Bajaj noted.

Police protection to fund manager alleging threat from Kirron Kher & aide: Punjab & Haryana HC [Read Order] Police protection to fund manager alleging threat from Kirron Kher & aide: Punjab & Haryana HC [Read Order]

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed Chandigarh Police to provide security for a week to fund manager Chaittnya Aggarwal and his family who claimed to have received threats from Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) Member of Parliament (MP) Kirron Kher and her political aide Sahdev Salaria. What is the case about? Find out here.

Most interested witness being the father of deceased, SC upholds acquittal of 6 accused for murder [Read Judgment] Most interested witness being the father of deceased, SC upholds acquittal of 6 accused for murder [Read Judgment]

Explore the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the acquittal of six accused in a murder case. Delve into the intricacies of the case involving the father of the deceased as a key witness, and understand the legal rationale behind the verdict.

Supreme Court Collegium approves new Chief Justices for five key High Courts in India [Read Recommendations] Supreme Court Collegium approves new Chief Justices for five key High Courts in India [Read Recommendations]

The Supreme Court Collegium approves new Chief Justices for Allahabad, Jharkhand, Gauhati, Punjab & Haryana, and Rajasthan High Courts. Read about the appointments.

TRENDING NEWS

sc-hints-at-pan-india-guidelines-on-timeline-to-frame-charges
Trending Judiciary
SC hints at pan-India guidelines on timeline to frame charges

SC mulls pan-India guidelines to curb delays in framing charges; notes cases where charges aren’t framed even after years despite BNSS mandate of 60 days.

30 October, 2025 12:22 PM
limitation-for-continuous-breach-runs-only-till-contract-expiry-kerala-hc-clarifies
Trending Judiciary
Limitation for Continuous Breach Runs Only Till Contract Expiry: Kerala High Court Clarifies [Read Judgment]

Kerala HC clarifies that for continuous breach of contract, limitation under Article 55 starts when breach ceases; once contract ends, breach cannot continue.

30 October, 2025 01:37 PM

TOP STORIES

sc-quashes-uapa-arrests-holds-remand-courts-explanation-cannot-replace-written-grounds-of-arrest
Trending Judiciary
SC Quashes UAPA Arrests, Holds Remand Court’s Explanation Cannot Replace Written Grounds Of Arrest [Read Order]

Supreme Court quashes UAPA arrests, ruling that remand court’s explanation cannot substitute the mandatory written grounds of arrest.

25 October, 2025 11:10 AM
ngt-orders-probe-into-illegal-tree-felling-in-delhis-civil-lines-directs-action-within-three-months
Trending Environment
NGT Orders Probe into Illegal Tree Felling in Delhi’s Civil Lines, Directs Action Within Three Months [Read Order]

NGT directs Tree Officer to probe illegal tree felling in Delhi’s Civil Lines and take action under the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994.

25 October, 2025 11:28 AM
gauhati-hc-quashes-fir-against-cnn-news18-anchor-akansha-swarup-over-kamakhya-temple-remarks
Trending CelebStreet
Gauhati HC Quashes FIR Against CNN-News18 Anchor Akansha Swarup Over Kamakhya Temple Remarks [Read Order]

Gauhati HC quashes FIR against CNN-News18 anchor Akansha Swarup, ruling her Kamakhya Temple remarks were careless but lacked malicious intent.

25 October, 2025 11:43 AM
delhi-hc-upholds-divorce-on-cruelty-grounds-denies-alimony-to-financially-independent-wife
Trending Judiciary
Delhi HC Upholds Divorce On Cruelty Grounds, Denies Alimony To Financially Independent Wife [Read Judgment]

Delhi HC upholds divorce on cruelty grounds, denies alimony to IRTS officer wife, ruling that alimony is for need-based justice, not enrichment.

25 October, 2025 12:10 PM

ADVERTISEMENT


Join Group

Signup for Our Newsletter

Get Exclusive access to members only content by email