Multani disappearance case: Strict law enforcer of his time, Saini, now becomes a fugitive from the law

Multani disappearance case: Strict law enforcer of his time, Saini, now becomes a fugitive from the law

Harshabab Sidhu
Nabaz-e-Punjab Bureau, Mohali, September 7:
Former DGP Sumedh Saini, who is facing serious charges of mysterious disappearance of Balwant Singh Multani, son of a former IAS officer and junior engineer (JE), after abducting him, 29 years ago, has been embroiled in controversy since the beginning.
During his tenure as SSP of Chandigarh three decades ago, he has been a target of the Sikh and militant movement and allegations of bullying and injustice have not gone unnoticed even after he became DGP of Punjab.
On the other hand, the accused cop, who made the common people and the elders strictly follow the law, has now become a fugitive from the same law. Saini has gone into hiding to avoid arrest. There is also talk in the political circles that he has taken refuge in the house of an influential person in Delhi. Due to which the long hands of the police are not reaching towards Saini and no officer is ready to open his mouth in this regard. Efforts are on to arrest Saini, but the matter is being avoided.
A case of abduction of a Sikh youth was earlier registered against him at Mohali’s Mataur police station but later on the appeal of the victim’s family and the government, the Section 302 offense against the former police officer was added and the Mohali court remanded him to police custody. The bail application was rejected as a result, he is now hiding from the law for fear of being arrested. There was a time in Punjab when even the elders were shaken by Saini’s terror, but when he became the DGP, he became so dwarfed by the politicians that the politicians put him in their pockets. He has also been accused of killing Sikhs during the previous government and there have been widespread calls for Saini to be removed from the post of DGP, but the then rulers retained his post against the wishes of the people.
Karnail Singh Peer Mohammad, General Secretary and Chief Spokesperson of Shiromani Akali Dal (Taksali), Ravinder Singh Brahmpura, Former MLA and Makhan Singh Nangal, Former Member SGPC and Gursev Singh Harpalpur, Senior Leader Shiromani Akali Dal (Democratic) said the police looks non serious on this matter. They said there were serious allegations against Saini. Therefore, he should be taken into custody and questioned. Commenting on Saini’s abandonment of Z Plus security and going into hiding, the leaders said that if high officials would run away from the law or be allowed to flee, the confidence of the general public in the law would be shaken.
The leaders said that at present the eyes of people all over the world especially Sikhs are on the Saini case. People are wondering how far Saini will confuse the law. They added that Sumedh Saini, who calls himself the guardian of the law, should now surrender himself before the court or the police and face legal action. Because he has been oppressing the youth in Punjab for a long time under the guise of this law.