Congman Birmi accuses cop of illegally letting off accused in dowry case

Former Cong ress minister Malkiat Singh Birmi, who recently joined Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), has accused a sub-inspector of Sarabha Nagar police station of violating the law by releasing his daughter’s father-in-law Maninder Singh Heera, main accused in a dowry case registered against him and his family members.

The accused was ar rested from Amritsar following registration of an FIR on Birmi’s daughter Sonia’s complaint.

Birmi’s lawyer Harpreet Sandhu, in an application submitted in the court regarding non-production of the accused before the cour t, stated that on May 20, a police party from Sarabha Nagar police, headed by sub-in specto r Nav deep Singh went to Amritsar and apprehended one of the dowry harassment accused, Maninder Singh Heera, from Heera farm house, Ajnala Road, Amritsar.

The police also recovered a Chevrolet Cruze and certain dowry articles from the spot. But instead of producing the accused in the court, the investigating of ficer released him against any such provision under the law, Sandhu submitted.

Sandhu further submit-ted that Heera was politically well-connected and his client apprehended that Heera might be released, leading to injustice to the complainant.

The court on Thursday directed Sarabha Nagar station house officer (SHO) to place on record the report before chief judicial magistrate regarding non-production of Heera.

In his reply, investig ating officer Navdeep Singh said they had released Heera keeping his ill health in mind, adding that however, they taken from him in writing that he would be available for investigation as and when required.