PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE /Dehradun
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has filed a chargesheet in the court of the judicial magistrate, Kashipur, in the Sukhwant Singh suicide case. The chargesheet is 29 pages long and names 12 accused. It also includes 58 witnesses.
Paiga village resident Singh had died by suicide on the intervening night of January 10–11 in a hotel in Haldwani. Before his death, he had posted a video on social media. In the video, he spoke about land fraud and alleged harassment by police. A suicide note was also found at the spot in which he blamed several people, including police officials, for his death.
After the incident, strict action was taken by the police. The then Udham Singh Nagar senior superintendent of police Manikant Mishra had suspended ITI police station in-charge Kundan Singh Rautela and SI Prakash Bisht. The entire Paiga outpost staff was also reverted to police line. The case was first investigated by the district SIT under superintendent of police Niharika Tomar. Later, a new SIT was formed under inspector general of police Nilesh Anand Bharne.
Kumaon commissioner Deepak Rawat was also given the responsibility of a magisterial inquiry. Earlier, a case was registered against 26 people. After 79 days of investigation, the SIT found enough evidence against 12 accused and filed the chargesheet. Official sources said that one person has been charged with abetment of suicide. Seven accused face charges of fraud and abetment of suicide, while four others have been charged with criminal intimidation.
The investigation is still not fully complete. Police said that the probe is ongoing against 12 more people, including some police officers. Further action will be taken if new evidence is found.
