Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi ordered anFIR in connection with the alleged leak of a letter written by a top policeofficial questioning the Special investigation Team probe in the drug case. Theletter that came as a major embarrassment for the Channi government indicatesthat its "Mission Akali Dal" has failed ahead of the Punjab assemblyelections.
The incident has raised some serious questions, like -Who leaked the letter? And, are there some leaders in the Punjab bureaucracywho back Shiromani Akali Dal?
Earlier, a letter penned by Additional Director Generalof Police S K Asthana as the head of the Bureau of Investigation to statepolice Chief Iqbal Preet Singh Sahota, highlighting legal hurdles in reopeningseveral drug cases against a senior Akali leader, surfaced on the internet.
Whatwas in the letter?
According to Asthana's December 11 letter, the chief ofthe Special Task Force investigating the drugs issue, ADGP Harpreet SinghSidhu, was a relative of Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia. Meanwhile,Majithia was accused of being involved in the Punjab drug trade.
However, STF chief Sidhu had denied that Majithia was arelative. “He is a cousin of my cousin. It doesn’t make him a relative or aclose family relative.”
“The facts regarding illegal activities and drugtrafficking are serious and should be investigated," he said.
Asthana raised eight such "questions" inrelation to the drug case stating that they will be answered as moreinvestigations are conducted.
Theseeight questions are-
Can further investigation be ordered in cases wheretrials have already been concluded?
Can reinvestigation/ further investigation be carried outin these cases by any other officer except the SIT appointed by Hon’ble HighCourt?
Would ordering further investigation in these cases notamount to completely ignoring the directions of Hon’ble High Court in CWP No.88 of 2014?
Would it be legally tenable to act upon the report of theHead, STF, when the same lies sealed in custody of the Hon’ble High Court…despite presumably requesting the Hon’ble High Court by the Advocate General,Punjab, to return the same, the same has not been returned back?
Would it be lawful to act upon the report of the Head,STF, when the same has already been superseded or merged with the subsequentreport of the committee constituted by the State of Punjab consisting of thenDGP and Additional Chief Secretary (Department of Home Affairs and Justice)?
Was Harpreet Sidhu, STF head, entitled to inquire about thealleged role of Bikram Singh Majithia despite having family relations?
What is the weight of the three statements recorded bythe Enforcement Directorate to further investigate the role of Bikram SinghMajithia, especially when the Enforcement Directorate itself chose not toproceed against him?
Can the latest legal advice of the learned AdvocateGeneral be relied upon in the light of the fact that the same may be completelycontradictory or in consonance to the previous legal advice/s tendered by formerAdvocate General/s, Punjab especially when this case has been deliberated uponsince a long period of time?
“I may place on record my apprehension that furtherinvestigation shall require appropriate order by a superior court, which in thepresent case is the High Court as the trials were conducted before the SpecialCBI Court, SAS Nagar.”
CMChanni’s on letter leak
While responding to media on "how the letter gotleaked," CM Channi said, "An FIR would be filed to find out how theletter got leaked." Without giving names, Channi stated that "bigfish" would not be spared."
The chief minister, on the other hand, stated that theleaked letter was only a "half version" of the original.
“Those who are scared of action and the big fish involvedin the drug racket and those who could not sleep are threatening our officers,”the CM added.
Embarrassmentto ruling Congress
As the state government was finally set to take action inthe drug case, the letter was leaked. Consequently, Congress biggest pre-pollpromise to put culprits of drug cases behind bars has once again taken abackseat and it has no clues whether who is behind this letter leak.
Majithia had filed a motion to be declared a party to thecase late last month, alleging that the Congress government was trying to framehim. The Akali Dal has been protesting, claiming that Majithia, Sukhbir SinghBadal's brother-in-law, might be detained at any time.
Now, the letter which alleges there are legal hurdles inreopening several drug cases against Majithia has been shared publically. TheCM had ordered an FIR.
But the major question is that whether the names ofthose, who leaked the letter will surface during the investigation. The letterleak also suggests that several government officials are well-wishers of AkaliDal, who are yet to be named.
The incident has damaged ruling Congress’ image ahead ofPunjab assembly elections. At the same time, the Channi government is beingaccused of taking kickbacks in SSP postings in the state.