Mahendra Singh Rattians
Moga, December 12
The state’s home department has approved the prosecution of a case against a senior police officer accused of taking bribe of 20 lakh rupees in the murder case of village Kot Sukhia (Faridkot) Dera Baba Harka Das head Baba Dayal Das. In the same case, approval is yet to be received to prosecute a case against a DSP, while the vigilance of a Thanedar has already received approval. DSP Vigilance Keval Krishna, the investigating officer of this much-discussed case, while confirming the permission to prosecute the case against the then Faridkot SP Gagnesh Kumar Sharma from the Home Department of the state, said that the approval of DSP Susil Kumar remains in this case and Thanedar Khem Chand. has already been approved. Sant Baba Dayal Das, head of village Kot Sukhia (Faridkot) Dera Baba Harka Das was murdered on 7 November 2019. Dera chief Jarnail Das (now deceased) of village Kapure in Moga district, named in this case, was acquitted by the police on 18 October 2021. The then IG Faridkot range formed a special investigation team based on the then DSP Jasjot Singh of Baghapurana along with the said three accused. Accused police officers are alleged to have asked for an alleged bribe of 50 lakhs to declare Sant Jarnail Das (now deceased) who had been acquitted earlier and the deal was fixed at 35 lakhs. 20 lakhs alleged bribe was to be taken first and 15 lakhs later. A case of Prevention of Corruption Act was registered against Sant Malkeet Das and contractor Jaswinder Singh Jassi, who arranged the large transaction, apart from the said accused police officers, after the vigilance investigation confirmed the taking of 20 lakhs. Meanwhile, Sant Malkit Das became a government witness of vigilance and Sant Jarnail Das was arrested by the police and died in police custody on 10 September 2023.