Karnal: Investigation against SI for ‘framing’ man in four theft cases

Karnal: The Karnal police has initiated a departmental inquiry against an investigating officer, sub-inspector (SI) Devendra Kumar, after the court found that he had allegedly implicated a man in four transformer theft cases. Gharaunda DSP Manoj Kumar will conduct the inquiry ordered by additional sessions judge Dr Sushil Kumar Garg. The latter had directed the home secretary, Haryana DGP and Karnal SP to conduct an inquiry against Devendra or any other erring officer involved in filing the FIRs against a man named Indal. Indal was later acquitted in these cases. The court had observed a “flawed” investigation in the case, following which Indal was wrongly sentenced to two years of imprisonment.

“The sub-inspector had accused him of stealing transformers at Tarauri police station on March 2, March 11, March 27 and April 12, 2022 under Section 136 of the Electricity Act,” said Karnal court government counsel Sitender Kumar. However, Indal was remanded to police custody from April 18, 2019 to April 15, 2022 in Sonipat in another case registered on January 27, 2012 at Kundli police station under Sections 395 and 412 of the IPC. He was acquitted on April 15, 2022. The court observed these facts while passing judgement on the other four accused in these four FIRs – Karan, Shivam, Shiv Kumar and Manoj – in which Indal was also named as one of the accused but he was found not guilty. Karan, Shivam, Shiv Kumar and Manoj were found guilty and convicted. The court noted that Indal was acquitted on March 2, 2024 by the court of Additional Sessions Judge Rajnish Kumar on the application of Karnal DSP (women safety). “The court found that the incidents of theft took place when Indal was lodged in Sonipat jail. “The court’s direction for investigation came after reviewing these details,” government lawyer Sithinder said.