Punjab and Haryana High Court not satisfied with Chandigarh Police investigation in Colonel Bath assault case, hope will be raised for the family of Jaspreet, who was killed in Mandaure police encounter.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has handed over the investigation into the alleged attack on Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath and his son in Patiala on the night of March 13-14, 2025, to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
This decision was heard by a bench of Justice Rajesh Bhardwaj on a petition by Colonel Bath, in which he had accused the Chandigarh Police of not conducting an “impartial and independent investigation”. The matter began when Colonel Bath and his family were allegedly attacked by some persons over a parking dispute at Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, near Jaswant Dhaba. The colonel alleged that the attackers included Punjab Police officers, who snatched his army I-card and mobile phone.
The names of the Punjab Police officers named in the Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath assault case are as follows:
● Inspector Ronnie Singh
● Inspector Harjinder Singh Dhillon
● Inspector Happy Boparai
● Inspector Rajvir Singh
● Constable Jai Singh
The Punjab Police registered an FIR on March 22, but the colonel demanded a CBI probe due to allegations of delay and lack of impartiality in the investigation. The High Court had earlier handed over the investigation of the case to the Chandigarh Police, but on July 14, 2025, Justice Bhardwaj expressed displeasure over the investigation of the Chandigarh Police, as the accused, who included four inspectors, were not arrested. The court held that the Chandigarh Police failed to conduct a fair investigation, due to which the investigation was transferred to the CBI.
Mandaur Police Encounter Linked to Colonel Bath Beating Case:
The Colonel Bath Beating Case is indirectly linked to the Mandaur Police Encounter. Regarding which the family of the slain youth has appealed in the High Court for a CBI investigation. The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued notice to the Punjab Government and the CBI on the petition of Jaspreet’s parents, and the demand to hand over the investigation to the CBI is being considered.
Jaspreet Singh, a resident of Sihan Dawood (Khanna, Ludhiana), was killed in the Mandaur Police Encounter (March 13, 2025). The police claim that Jaspreet Singh had hatched a conspiracy to kidnap 7-year-old child Bhavkirat Singh in Sihan Dawood on March 12, 2025 and demanded a ransom of Rs 1 crore. The police recovered the child within 24 hours near Mandaur (Nabha, Patiala), while Jaspreet was shot dead in an encounter.
According to the police, Jaspreet tried to flee in a Fortuner SUV and fired at the police, which in turn opened fire, killing Jaspreet. Three policemen were also injured in the encounter, including Constable Rupinder Singh and Home Guards jawans Shivji Giri and Baljinder Singh.
Some of the eight policemen involved in the Jaspreet police encounter (Harjinder Singh Dhillon, Harry Boparai, and Shaminder Singh) were the same ones involved in the attack on Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath and his son Angad. The attack took place at Jaswant Dhaba near Rajindra Hospital in Patiala, a few hours after the Mandaur police encounter on the intervening night of March 13-14. The involvement of joint officers in the Mandaure encounter and the Colonel Bath attack has raised questions about the impartiality of the police.
After the Mandaure police encounter, DGP Gaurav Yadav had announced a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh and promotions for the police team concerned [ Inspector Shaminder Singh (CIA Patiala in-charge), Inspector Harjinder Singh Dhillon (Special Cell), Inspector Harry Boparai, Constable Rupinder Singh, Home Guards Jawan Shivji Giri, Home Guards Jawan Baljinder Singh, Inspector Binny Dhillon (Special Branch in-charge)]. However, following the Colonel Bath case, protests by Colonel Bath’s wife and family against the alleged perpetrators of the Colonel’s assault and a complaint by Jaspreet’s family, 12 police personnel were suspended, eight of whom were also involved in the Mandaure encounter.
Colonel Bath’s wife said about the High Court’s decision…..
After the High Court verdict, Bath’s wife Jaswinder Kaur targeted the Punjab government and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, saying that the Chief Minister had addressed her as “daughter”, but the lack of impartiality in the investigation and attempts to shield the accused police officers disappointed her.
She expressed disappointment over the Chandigarh Police’s investigation, saying that they failed to arrest the accused police officers. She alleged that the investigation was weakened due to pressure from senior Punjab Police officials.
Jaswinder Kaur expressed satisfaction over the High Court’s order for a CBI investigation. Earlier, when the investigation was handed over to the Chandigarh Police on April 3, 2025, Jaswinder had considered it as the first step towards an “impartial investigation”, but after the inaction of the Chandigarh Police, she felt relieved to see her demand for a CBI investigation being fulfilled.
Jaswinder stressed that the guilty officers, including Inspector Ronnie Singh, Harjinder Singh Dhillon, Happy Boparai, Rajveer Singh and Constable Jai Singh, should be given strict punishment. He termed the court’s verdict as a victory for the soldiers and the general public.