ROHTAK: Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal made a “secret” visit to Rohtak Central Jail recently after filing his nomination papers for the Rohtak parliamentary seat.

Reliable sources on condition of anonymity said Mr Devi Lal met Daya Singh one of the four assassins of a former Punjab Chief Minister Mr Pratap Singh Kairon.

Unconfirmed reports say Mr Devi Lal is also alleged to have met some militants of Punjab in the jail.

The Supreme Court recently commuted the death sentence of Daya Singh.

A Division Bench comprising Mr Justice L.M.Sharman and Mr Justice J.S. Verma commute the death sentence while allowing a writ petition of Daya Singh filed from Alipur (Calcutta) jail.

Daya Singh had challenged the death sentence on the ground that the delay in the execution of death sentence could be seen as reason enough for commuting the sentence to life imprisonment by citing a Supreme Court judgment in Triveni ban case

Daya Singh was sentenced to death several years ago along with three others for the murder of Mr Pratap Singh Kairon.

During his 30-minute stay at the jail Mr Devi Lal is alleged to have met Mr Summan Singh and others accused in the Ajit Singh murder case. Ajit Singh a supporter of Mr Anand Singh Dangi was murdered at Meham on April 2. Mr Summan Singh is alleged to be a staunch supporter of Mr Devi

Lal newsmen asked him about the whereabouts of Mr Devi Lal who was scheduled to go to the rest house immediately after filing his nomination papers.

Mr Devi Lal’s visit to Rohtak itself had an “air of secrecy”. The “Tau’s” visit was not officially intimated to the district administration till 7 p.m. on Wednesday just a day before the visit.

Mr Devi Lal was scheduled to come in via Madina village to Rohtak from Hisar. Instead he diverted from Meham and came via Kharkhara village on Jind road. Senior party leaders including Mr Sirikishan Hooda Mr Dhirpal Singh (both former ministers) and Mr K.K.Deepak denied that Mr Devi Lal had come to Rohtak after filing his nomination papers for the Ghirai assembly constituency. Mr Deepak in fact stressed that Mr Devi Lal had come to Rohtak straight from Chautala village.

The Tribune

Article extracted from this publication >> May 17, 1991