Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 21: In a significant order, High Court today directed Director General of Police and Senior Superintendent of Police, Jammu to produce the entire record of enquiry conducted into the allegations of Forest Guard Kewal Krishan Sharma against the then Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand.
Kewal Sharma on July 26, 2013, in a press conference, had leveled allegations against the then Deputy Chief Minister that the latter was involved in murder of three persons, corruption and immoral activities. Moreover, Kewal had also expressed apprehension over his elimination at the hands of the then Deputy Chief Minister.
Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed appearing for the petitioner Bharat Bhushan, submitted that the complaint of the petitioner dated October 18, 2013 seeking constitution of SIT to probe the allegations leveled against the then Deputy Chief Minister was closed arbitrarily by the then SSP Jammu Atul Goel after the Additional PRO to the then Deputy Chief Minister took U-Turn to the press conference held by him.
He further submitted that Atul Goel, the then SSP Jammu succumbed to the pressure emanating from the Deputy Chief Minister and closed the preliminary enquiry mechanically even without associating the petitioner who had lodged the complaint.
Advocate Ahmed strenuously argued that the preliminary enquiry was closed on the sole statement of so called whistleblower Kewal Krishan Sharma, who denied the allegations leveled during the press conference held on July, 26, 2013. He further submitted that the then SSP Jammu in a secret enquiry recorded the statement of K K Sharma on February, 25, 2014 wherein he took a complete U-Turn and deposed that the allegations were leveled during the press conference on being prompted by political opponents of the then Deputy CM including one Pawan Kumar who belongs to Chamb constituency.
“The then SSP treated the statement of Kewal Sharma as gospel truth and did not deem it proper to identify the so called political opponents of Tara Chand including one Pawan Kumar who had prompted Additional PRO to level allegations”, Advocate Ahmed further submitted.
The counsel for the petitioner further submitted that notices be issued to Ministry of Home Affairs and Director General NIA as Atul Goel is not fit to continue in NIA as he succumbed to the political pressure generated by the then Deputy Chief Minister.
After hearing counsel for the petitioner, Justice Bansi Lal Bhat issued notices to the Commissioner Secretaries of General Administration Department, Home Department, Director General of Police, Senior Superintendent of Police Jammu and Atul Goel, the then SSP Jammu and presently on deputation to National Investigation Agency (NIA) requiring them to file detailed response within three weeks from today.
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