The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday had given a deadline till September 22 to Punjab Police to arrest Gurjit Singh. The directions were passed on a petition filed by the Lawyers for Human Rights International (LFHRI) through its General Secretary, Advocate Navkiran Singh.

A proclaimed offender, convicted for life in a case of murder and a parole jumper. These are some of the “qualifications” of Gurjit Singh, Punjab Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) who stands dismissed from service. Since 2007, when Gurjit Singh had come out on parole but never returned to jail, Punjab Police has not been able to arrest the dismissed DSP.

From murder, abduction with the intention to murder, custodial death, criminal conspiracy and escaping from confinement, Gurjit Singh has been charged with several offences in three separate cases. Not only does he stand declared a proclaimed offender but his property too was attached in July by a special Court of the Central Bureau of Investig-ation (CBI), Patiala. Gurjit is also wanted by the CBI in a case of abduction with the intention to murder.

For over four years Punjab Police has not been able to arrest the dismissed police officer who is also allegedly involved in flesh trade. Of the three cases, Gurjit stands convicted in two cases.

Custodial death case

A case of custodial death, FIR number 70, was registered against Gurjit Singh on March 27, 1990 at Police Station Kotwali, Bathinda. Gurjit Singh was convicted by the Court. After the petition was filed in February this year, a special investigating team (SIT) was constituted by the Punjab Police, which had investigated and registered a case against the DSP and his son.