CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Police officials investigating the infamous Katia kidnapping and molestation case appear to have diluted the charges against all the accused, including Gurkirat Singh, a grandson of the Punjab Chief’ Minister, Beant Singh. In the challan filed before the Judicial Magistrate, Kharar, the police have dropped charges under certain Sections of the Indian Penal Code , which were recorded in the First Information Report (FIR), filed Soon after the incident on the fateful ‘night of August 31 last year. According to police sources, Section 366 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been dropped and a relatively milder Section 363 IPC, has been framed against the accused. While a trial under Section 366 is conducted by the District and Scissions Judge, trial under Section 363 IPC is conducted by the judicial magistrate only as it is a less serious offence. According to informed sources, the ‘challan’ presented affect completion of the investigation also does not have a copy of the identification report of the victim, Ms Katia Damand, The parade was conducted in Burail jail, here, The IPC slaps Section 366 against those who “kidnap or abducted a ‘woman to compel her into marriage or to cause defilement etc,” The punishment for those found guilty under this Section is 10 years rigorous imprisonment. However, Section 363 IPC pertains to “simple kidnapping” without any intention to defile etc. The imprisonment under this offence is seven years.
Ms, Katia Darnand, a 24ycarold French tourist, was allegedly kidnapped and molested by the seven accused including Gurkirat Singh, a grandson of the Chief Minister, from Mohali, Katia had during the identication parade ordered by the High Court, reportedly identified Gurkirat Singh, and his friends, Sukhwinder Singh and Manjinder Singh lias Don, as those who had kidnapped and molested her.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 5, 1995
