NEW DELHI: The case of the Khalistan ideologue Bhai Kanwar Singh took an interesting tum with the Supreme Court directing the District and Sessions Judge, Ropar, for have him examined by a team of doctors from the Post Graduate Institute (PGI) of Medical Sciences, Chandigarh. The order was passed on April 9, at a special sitting by the Division Bench of Justice S .Mohan and Justice Faizan Uddin following a habeas corpus petition filed by Bhai Kanwar’s sister, alleging that her brother would be tortured as he had embarrassed Punjab Police Chief K.P.S. Gill by debunking the police theory of his “surrender” before media persons.

 She said Gill had gone “berserk with anger” after the incident.

On Friday, petitioner’s ‘ counsel R.S. Sodhi sought to raise the matter before the Division Bench of Chief Justice M.N. Venkatachaliah and Justice Mohan. But the judges refused to hear the petition, stating that a similar writ was pending before the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

But since the petitioner had contended that Bhai Kanwar Singh would be “tortured,” the judges directed that he be medically examined under the supervision of the Ropar District of Sessions Judge.

 It is charged into the petition that Bhai Kanwar, who was arrested on May 17, 1993, had been “repeatedly tortured” by the Punjab Police.

 She said the “surrender” was Stage-managed to boost the image of Director-General of Police K.P.S. Gill. However, Bhai Kanwar Singh refused to buckle under pressure and exposed the So-called “surrender before media persons on March 29.

Article extracted from this publication >> April 15, 1994