CBI probe sought into Sangrur Dalit man's death after alleged pressure over Cheema remarks

The son of a Dalit man who died after allegedly consuming poison in Sangrur has approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into his father's death.

The petition was filed on Monday, weeks after the man's death on September 8. His family has alleged that he came under pressure after questioning Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema about the availability of drugs in his village during a public interaction.

The petition was taken up by a high court bench and, following a request from the petitioner's counsel, was directed to be listed along with a public interest litigation filed by a Mohali resident on September 16. The PIL is scheduled to be heard on September 29.

The petitioner has argued that an independent investigation by the Punjab Police may not be possible because allegations have been made against a serving minister.

Petition seeks preservation of call records

The plea seeks to implead Cheema as a party in the case and calls for the preservation of call detail records of the minister, the senior superintendent of police and the station house officer concerned.

According to the petition, the deceased had confronted Cheema during the minister's September 6 visit to Toor Banjara village in Sangrur. He had reportedly raised the issue of drugs in the area and cited his own son's addiction while questioning the minister about the availability of narcotics.

The petition alleges that later that evening, several people associated with the ruling party came to the man's home, insulted and threatened him and asked him to apologise for his conduct.

It further alleges that he could not bear the alleged harassment and humiliation and subsequently consumed a poisonous substance. Before his death, he reportedly recorded a video naming Cheema and some other people and attributing his extreme step to the alleged pressure.

The allegations in the petition have not been established, and the investigation into the circumstances of the man's death is continuing.

Police case and SIT investigation

Police had earlier registered a case against five people from Toor Banjara village under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, relating to abetment of suicide, along with provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

A special investigation team was subsequently constituted after the victim's family sought a probe into the circumstances surrounding his death. Four people were initially arrested in connection with the case, according to police.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court had earlier sought a status report from the Punjab government on the investigation after a separate PIL sought transfer of the case to an independent agency or the CBI. The court deferred the matter for further hearing on September 29.

Cheema denies allegations

Cheema has denied allegations of wrongdoing and accused opposition parties of attempting to frame him. He has said he possesses evidence relating to the matter and would present it after the investigation is completed.

The minister has also said that the allegations against him should not be treated as established merely on the basis of the deceased man's statement.

The case has meanwhile become a political controversy in Punjab, with opposition parties demanding an independent investigation and accountability over the circumstances surrounding the man's death. The high court is expected to consider the status of the existing investigation and the pleas seeking an independent or CBI probe on September 29.