Uttarakhand: SIT will investigate the case against former DGP Sidhu, there are allegations of fraud
The government has ordered formation of SIT to investigate the case of cheating registered against former DGP BS Sidhu. Sidhu is accused of fraudulently purchasing reserved forest land and cutting down 25 trees of Sal species. The SIT will be headed by DIG Law and Order P Renuka Devi and SP Crime Sarvesh Panwar has been made the investigating officer. Two other officers will also be included in this.
Former DGP BS Sidhu started facing allegations of corruption and fraud in the last days of his tenure. The matter was raised by BJP leader Ravindra Jugran at several levels. There were allegations that in the year 2012, he had fraudulently got about nine bighas of land in the reserved forest area located at Veergirwali on Old Mussoorie Road in his name. Sawing was also done on 25 trees of Sal species standing there. At that time also applications were given for registration of FIR against Sidhu but no action was taken. In the year 2016, an inquiry was conducted against him at the government level.
After investigation, a charge sheet was handed over to him just a day before his retirement. The case was still not registered. In October 2022, after 10 years of fraud, the matter arose again and the Divisional Forest Officer, Mussoorie, filed an application for an FIR against Sidhu at Rajpur police station. On 23 October 2022, a case was registered against Sidhu and others involved in this conspiracy under the Prevention of Cheating, Criminal Conspiracy and Corruption Act. But, till now no action has been taken in this case. In such a situation, BJP leader Ravindra Jugran gave an application to the Chief Minister to constitute the SIT.
In this sequence, Special Secretary, Government of Uttarakhand, Riddhim Agarwal has issued orders to set up SIT under the chairmanship of DIG Law and Order P. Renuka Devi in the matter. In this, SP Crime Sarvesh Panwar of Dehradun has been included as the investigation officer. Apart from this, orders have been given to include two more other rank officers and employees. His government has sought details from the SIT chairman as soon as possible.
Sidhu got a stay on his arrest
After the case was registered, former DGP BS Sidhu took refuge in the High Court. He got a stay on his arrest. However, earlier he had also pleaded for quashing of the FIR. However, the court rejected his demand. Now after the formation of SIT, the difficulties of BS Sidhu may increase again. It remains to be seen whether the SIT gets to the bottom of the matter or will spend time like the previous investigating officers.
The demand for investigation by another agency was turned down
The investigation of this matter was handed over to the then CO Mussoorie. He had also issued several notices for questioning but none of the accused went for questioning. In such a situation, the CO had written to the police headquarters and the government that the matter should be investigated by some other agency. However, both the headquarters and the government had rejected the demand of the police questioning its justification.
