The Tribune, January 31, 2003

SHO, Tehsildar convicted

Sirsa, 30 January
The Additional Sessions Judge, Sirsa, Mr Virendra Singh has convicted Sub-Inspector Rajbir Singh, SHO, Dabwali Sadar Police Station and Satbir Singh, Tehsildar-cum-Executive Magistrate, Dabwali, under Section 58 (1) (c) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, for falsely implicating a resident of Chautala village in the district 5 kg opium.

According to information received today, Hanuman of Chautala village was arrested by the police on August 7, 2002, for allegedly possessing 5 kg opium. The matter was taken up in court, and it was found that the SI/SHO and the Tehsildar had conspired to implicate him in a false case, as no such seizure was made by the police. The case was, in fact, used as a tool to pressurise the son of the accused namely, Satpal, to abandon his tenancy rights over land measuring 75 kanals, which was earlier owned by Ms Bakhtawari, a big land-owner. But the land was subsequently purchased by Ms Rami Devi and others having close links with the leadership of the state.

After about 16 months' trial, the court found Hanuman innocent and falsely implicated in the case. It was mentioned that even the official record was manipulated by the then Tehsildar-cum-Executive Magistrate Satbir Singh and SHO Dabwali Rajbir Singh. The court of Virender Singh, Additional Sessions Judge, observed in his judgment that both these officials had misused their lawful authority. The judge convicted both for the commission of an offence punishable under section 58 of the NDPS Act 1985 and ordered their arrest. The court also ordered the two officials to be produced before the court on of February 8 for hearing on the quantum of sentence.