In a significant development, a special CBI court has handed down sentences to former Deputy Inspector General of Police Dilbag Singh and former Deputy Superintendent of Police Gurbachan Singh for their involvement in a fake encounter case dating back to 1993. The court sentenced Dilbag Singh to seven years in prison, while Gurbachan Singh received life imprisonment for their roles in the abduction and killing of a fruit seller named Gulshan Kumar.
The incident occurred on June 22, 1993, when Gulshan Kumar was abducted from his residence and subsequently held in illegal detention for a month. Tragically, he was killed in a staged encounter on July 22 of the same year. Three other individuals implicated in the case passed away during the trial process.
The gravity of the crime was underscored by the court’s decision to categorize it as ‘rarest of rare’, thereby ruling out any leniency in sentencing. Despite appeals for mercy from the accused, the court determined that such heinous acts could not go unpunished.
The case was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 1995 following orders from the Supreme Court. After extensive investigations, the CBI filed charges in 1999. However, it was not until February 7, 2020, nearly 21 years later, that the charges against the accused were formally framed.
Throughout the trial, the CBI presented a compelling case supported by 32 witnesses, including eyewitness testimonies. This verdict marks a crucial milestone in the pursuit of justice and serves as a stern warning against abuse of power and extrajudicial actions within law enforcement agencies.
