Nabha murder case reveals more murky deals
Almost two years after the brutal murders of four family members in Nabha, the dirty deals between the investigation officer and the accused are unfolding layer by layer.
Almost two years after the brutal murders of four family members in Nabha, the dirty deals between the investigation officer and the accused are unfolding layer by layer.
The police claim to have found some vital clues in the case that reveal a murky collusion among the police, officials, accused, witnesses and even some family members.
The investigation officer had struck a bribe deal for Rs 1 crore to secure the release of the main accused from the charges of murder by presenting a weak challan. The inquiry reveals that the then SHO Nabha, DSP Harbhajan Singh, had not only taken a cash of Rs 30 lakh as advance bribe money, but had also sought share in the family business and agricultural land holdings of Amritbir Singh.
A local court acquitted Amritbir, the main accused, in April this year because the police failed to prove the theory of murder. The information accessed by the Hindustan Times reveals that Chamkaur Singh, the brother of the deceased Jaswinder Kaur, had submitted an affidavit with the police claiming that the complainant in the case, Bhagwan Singh, brother-in-law of the deceased Iqbal Singh, was also hand-in-glove with the SHO.
Mantu and his mother, two close relatives of the deceased Jaswinder, were also part of the conspiracy. As per the deal, the SHO was paid Rs 20 lakh in two installments and Rs one lakh more for securing favourable statements from Lal Chand and Piara Singh, both prosecution witnesses.
Tehsildar Harinder Sharma and ASI Satnam Singh also got monetary benefits. The retired DSP Harbhajan has already been booked for presenting a faulty challan.
Amritbir was held under charges of murder of his father Iqbal Singh, mother Jaswinder Kaur, grandfather Hamir Singh and sister Gurmanbir Kaur. He was acquitted in April this year for the lack of evidence.