CBI To Probe Assault Of Colonel By Punjab Police

The CBI re-registered both FIRs initially filed by the Civil Lines Police Station in Patiala as its own cases, following an order issued earlier this month by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The agency has assigned the investigation to its Special Crime Unit, officials said on Friday.

According to the complaint, Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath and his son were having a meal at a roadside eatery, 'Harbans Dhaba', in Patiala when a group of seven to eight individuals allegedly assaulted them after a dispute over car parking. The colonel and his son were travelling from Delhi, where he is currently posted, to Patiala when they stopped for food.

Colonel Bath alleged that the attackers included four Punjab Police officers of inspector rank and their armed subordinates. He claimed they assaulted him and his son without any provocation, snatched his ID card and mobile phone, and threatened him with a "fake encounter", all in public view and under CCTV surveillance.

In a second FIR, now also under CBI investigation, the dhaba owner alleged that a car had been parked in the middle of the road, and its occupants were drinking when a "minor scuffle" broke out between them and passersby, as well as individuals in an unknown vehicle.

Following Colonel Bath’s petition, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had earlier transferred the case to the Chandigarh Police on April 3, directing them to complete the investigation within four months.

However, acting on a fresh plea from the officer, Justice Rajesh Bhardwaj handed over the investigation to the CBI and directed the Chandigarh Police to transfer all related case files and records to the central agency.

“The complainant kept running from pillar to post, but no FIR was lodged at his behest. Eventually, an FIR was filed eight days after the incident, on March 22, 2025. As the accused were police officials, the complainant feared a biased investigation and filed a plea (CRM-M-16421-2025) seeking a transfer of the case,” Justice Bhardwaj noted.

The judge further observed that although the case had been moved outside Punjab to ensure impartiality, no substantial progress had been made. “Without completing the investigation, the agency dropped the charge under Section 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (equivalent to Section 307 IPC). This clearly reflects the investigative agency’s approach,” he stated.

He criticised the investigative conduct, remarking, “The agency is not just creating loopholes but digging craters in the investigation, making it nearly impossible for the prosecution’s case to stand in court.”

Weighing all facts and legal principles, the court concluded that there was no scope for a free and fair investigation by the Chandigarh Police and therefore entrusted the case to the CBI.