High Court declares former DGP Saini’s arrest as illegal; orders immediate release

Chandigarh: In a set back to Punjab police, Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Vigilance Bureau to release former Director-General of Police Sumedh Singh Saini within 24-hour after his arrest.

In a late night order on Thursday, court observed that Saini’s arrest was violation of Court’s previous order dated October 11, 2018 and September 23, 2020 and anticipatory bail order on August 12 this year in which court had directed the issuance of seven day advance notice to Saini in case action was contemplated against him.

The orders by Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi of the High Court came at about 11:40 pm after observing the case.

Earlier, court on September 23, 2020 had also extended the protection of order on October 11, 2018, to any incident pertaining to his entire service career.

Saini was arrested by vigilance on Wednesday in a corruption case after he went to the bureau to join the investigation.

A case under Sections 409, 420 and Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 and many other sections at Police Station,VB, Punjab at Mohali. He was produced in the local CJM court of SAS Nagar on Thursday to get his remand.