The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted interim protection from arrest to former Punjab SGP Sumedh Singh Saini in the 1991 case of alleged murder of a junior engineer Balwant Singh Multani.
A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, RS Reddy and M R Shah sought response from Punjab government on Saini’s plea challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court order refusing to grant him anticipatory bail in the case. The bench posted the matter for hearing after four weeks and said that Saini is not to be arrested till further orders and he shall cooperate in the investigation.
During the hearing, the bench questioned the senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for the Punjab Government that what is the hurry in arresting Saini after 29 years of the case. Luthra replied that the former DGP having “Z” plus security is absconding.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Saini, said that he is a decorated officer who had suffered bullet injuries and risen from the ranks.
He said Saini was the Superintendent of Police who went on to become the state’s
DGP and did commendable service during Punjab militancy.
