[Maur Mandi Blast] Accused Persons Not Arrested Even After Repeated Opportunities: Punjab & Haryana High Court Expresses Displeasure With Probe

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has expressed displeasure at the pace of the investigation conducted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the 2017 Maur Mandi blast that took place in Punjab's Bathinda, ahead of the state assembly elections. The blast resulted in the deaths of seven persons and left several injured.

During the investigation, the police named the three accused who were stated to be followers of Dera Sacha Sauda, namely Gurtej Singh, Amrik Singh and Avtar Singh.

In 2020, perusing the status report, a division bench of the Court remarked that, "the investigation so far carried out in the matter is tardy and slow." 

Acting Chief Justice G.S Sandhawalia and Justice Lapita Banerji said, "In spite of repeated opportunities given, it is apparent that neither Gurtej Singh, Amrik Singh nor Avtar Singh have been apprehended. On 17.09.2020, the Coordinate Bench had also expressed its displeasure. Almost a period of four years has gone by, but situation remains the same."

The Court was hearing Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Gurjeet Singh Patran and another in 2018 seeking an investigation by an independent agency in the Maur Mandi Bomb Blast incident. Patran alleged that the probe has slowed down ever since the names of some Dera Sacha Sauda followers have come up in the case.

The plea was disposed of by the High Court in the same year after it expressed satisfaction with the probe. However, while disposing of the plea, the Court said that "the right to get this petition revived by making an application is kept reserved with the petitioners in case they find that no tangible progress is being made in the investigation or SIT is lacking in effort."

Accordingly, the plea was revived on account of the slow pace of investigation done by SIT.

Previously, it was submitted by the police that the accused persons have been declared proclaimed offenders and their properties have been attached.

In the present proceeding, the Court noted that "As per the status report dated 20.10.2023 filed by Shri Gulneet Singh Khurana, IPS, Senior Superintendent of Police, Bathinda, the attachment has been done of the property of Amrik Singh of plot...at village Shahpur Begum."

"The latest status report filed by Shri Deepak Pareek, IPS, Senior Superintendent of Police, Bathinda gives the details as such of various raids carried out on the family members, relatives/friends of the said persons between 10.10.2023 to 04.04.2024, but without any success," it noted further.

The Court remarked, "The said affidavit does not depict whether any steps were further taken for going ahead with the sale of the attached property."

While listing the matter for July 3, the Court said, "Let, a detailed affidavit be filed as to what steps have been taken under Chapter-VI of the Cr.P.C. in this regard."

Mohinder Singh Joshi and Ravneet Joshi, Advocates for the petitioner.

Saurav Khurana, Addl. AG, Punjab.

Click here to read/download the order