Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 5: In a petition filed by Ex-MLA Baldev Sharma seeking direction to transfer the investigation and all other proceedings in relation to FIR registered against Swaran Singh Salaria, who allegedly purchased Rs 300 crore property on fake PRC, from the local police to Crime Branch, High Court has directed Deputy SP Headquarters Reasi to submit the status report with regard to the progress made in the FIR by or before the next date of hearing.
In the petition filed through Advocate Ajay Bakshi it has been submitted that the petitioner had called the status report vide application dated 28-02-2018 in FIR No.4/2011 under Section 467, 468, 471 and 420 RPC before the JMIC Reasi. “The status report filed by SSP Reasi reveals that no step has been taken to complete the investigation”, the counsel for the petitioner said, adding “till date the inquiry regarding the PRC is pending and the original PRC has not been seized from the private respondent”.
After hearing Ex-MLA Baldev Sharma in person, Justice Sanjeev Kumar observed, “the grievance projected by the petitioner is that an FIR against Swaran Singh Salaria was registered in the Police Station Reasi on 06.01.2011 and police after concluding the investigation submitted a closure report before the court”, adding “the petitioner claims that he lodged a protest petition before the court which was accepted and the case was sent back for re-investigation to be conducted by an officer not below the rank of DySP”.
“The allegation of the petitioner is that the investigating officer is going slow because of the influence of Swaran Singh Salaria”, High Court said, adding “police authorities are under an obligation to investigate the matter with promptitude and submit the final report/closure report as the case may be before the competent court of law without any wastage of time”.
High Court issued notice to respondents and directed DySP Hqrs Reasi to submit status report on next date of hearing.
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