Panjabi University forgery case: IG replaces SIT member SP Rana

In an important development, Paramjit Singh Grewal, inspector general of police (IGP), Patiala Range, replaced superintendent of police (SP) (city) Daljit Singh Rana with SP (investigation) Paramjit Singh Goraya as a member in an special investigation team (SIT) formed last month to probe the case of forgery and cheating against Punjabi University’s physical education and sports director Raj Kumar Sharma.

In an important development, Paramjit Singh Grewal, inspector general of police (IGP), Patiala Range, replaced superintendent of police (SP) (city) Daljit Singh Rana with SP (investigation) Paramjit Singh Goraya as a member in an special investigation team (SIT) formed last month to probe the case of forgery and cheating against Punjabi University’s physical education and sports director Raj Kumar Sharma.

Confirming the move, Grewal told HT that Rana was replaced following a complaint by Bhupinder Singh (main complaint in this case) who did not expect fare probe in the case due to Rana’s close proximity with Sharma.

In his complaint dated October 12, Bhupinder stated that Rana was Sharma’s old student. As part of the evidence, Rana submitted Sharma’s CV to the University Grants Commission (UGC) at the time of his appointment as the sports director in 2004, citing that the SP was one of his students in his list of achievement.

The special investigation team was constituted by Grewal’s predecessor on September 7 this year under Rupnagar SSP Varinder Singh. Rana and Barnala DSP PS Cheema were two other members of the team to investigate Sharma’s alleged role in securing appointment — first as a lecturer with the state government in 1991 and then as the sports director with the Punjabi University in 2004 — using “fake” sports certificate.

After several inquiries, Sharma was booked on August 13 this year under Sections 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery for purposes of cheating) and 471 (using as genuine a forged document or electronic record).

However, more than a month after its formation, SIT has remained ineffective to arrest the Sharma, despite the Punjab and Haryana high court cancelling Sharma’s anticipatory bail

On the question of slow investigation, the IG said, “I don’t want to intervene in their investigation. It is for them to decide as how take their investigation further and arrest Sharma.”

When contacted, Paramjit Singh Goraya told HT that he had received the orders from the IG’s office on Saturday. “I will read all the case details, including the high court judgment, soon and accordingly move further under the Rupnagar SSP.”

As far as Sharma’s arrest is concerned, he said, “We will see whether the police have enough ground for his arrest.”

Meanwhile, the complainant wants a speedy action into the case. When contacted, Bhupinder said the development was welcome, but SIT should pace up with the investigation.