Youth Dies After Alleged Custodial Torture In Punjab: High Court Transfers 2021 Probe To Haryana Police

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has transferred investigation into death of a youth, who passed in 2021 after alleged custodial torture at Budhlada police station in Punjab's Mansa district, to IPS officer Himadri Kaushik, currently posted as DCP in Haryana's Panchkula. Justice Vinod S. Bhardwaj said, "This Court has noticed the stand of the respondents but it has nowhere explained the presence of 23 injuries on the deceased and all of them below the abdominal area. The SIT constituted later also does not give any reasonable explanation and seem to be an eye-wash." While noting that the post mortem report reflected as many as 23 injuries on the person of deceased Manpreet Singh @ Billa which "have not been satisfactorily explained", the Court said that the "matter requires proper investigation." "The entire record of the case shall be transferred by the respondent-State of Punjab within a period of two months from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order whereupon the officer assigned the investigation shall conduct an independent investigation, without being prejudiced by the investigation already conducted by the respondent officials," it ordered.