High Court Orders DGP Inquiry into Ludhiana Police's Handling of 16-Year-Old FIR
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued a stern directive to the Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) to investigate the handling of a 16-year-old First Information Report (FIR) by the Ludhiana police. The court, expressing grave concern over the prolonged delay, has mandated the submission of a detailed status report within two weeks, highlighting what it termed a "sorry state of affairs" in the investigation process.
Contempt Petition Reveals Allegations of Shielding Accused
Justice Vikram Aggarwal passed this order on a contempt petition filed by Dr. Sumeet Sofat, a resident of Ludhiana. Dr. Sofat alleged that despite over 16 years having elapsed since the FIR was registered on June 24, 2010, under sections 382, 341, 363, 307, 601, 328, and 511 of the Indian Penal Code at Police Division Number 5 in Ludhiana, the police have failed to conduct a fair and thorough investigation. The petition accuses the authorities of willful disobedience and non-compliance with a court order dated April 9, 2014, from the Court of Judicial Magistrate First Class in Ludhiana.
Judicial Magistrate's Observations on Cancellation Reports
In 2014, the Judicial Magistrate had rejected an initial cancellation report filed by the investigating agency and ordered a re-investigation. However, after 11 years, another cancellation report was submitted, which the magistrate found to be a verbatim reproduction of the earlier report. In an order dated February 25, 2026, the magistrate noted that this report did not mention any aspects of the investigation conducted pursuant to the 2014 directive. Consequently, the report was sent back to the concerned police station with instructions to file a fresh one detailing the investigation steps taken.
High Court's Directive and Upcoming Hearing
The High Court, taking note of these events, observed that the sequence indeed depicts a deplorable situation, with clear allegations that there is an effort to shield the accused. To address this, the court has called for an affidavit from the DGP, who must personally look into the matter and ensure a comprehensive status report is filed within the stipulated two-week period. The case has been listed for further hearing on April 9, 2026, where the court will review the progress made.
This development underscores ongoing concerns about police accountability and judicial oversight in criminal investigations in Punjab. The High Court's intervention aims to bring transparency and justice to a case that has languished for over a decade and a half, raising questions about the efficacy of law enforcement mechanisms in the region.
