Supreme Court Refuses to Interfere with High Court's Order to Probe Alleged Assault of Army Colonel

Strategic Insights -

The Supreme Court has refused to intervene in the Punjab and Haryana High Court's order to conduct a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged assault of Colonel PS Bath and his son by police personnel near a dhaba on the Patiala-Samana Road on March 13-14 this year. The court castigated the Punjab Police for delaying the arrest of the accused personnel despite being denied anticipatory bail.

Key Takeaways:

  • The case pertains to the alleged assault of Colonel PS Bath, a serving Army officer, and his son by a group of Punjab Police officers near a dhaba on the Patiala-Samana Road.
  • The officer claimed the attack left him in a semi-conscious state, and despite multiple calls to the local police and the Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), no First Information Report (FIR) was initially registered.
  • The FIR in the case was registered at Civil Lines police station, Patiala, under several serious provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) on March 22, days after the alleged attack.
  • The Supreme Court bench, presided over by Justice Sanjay Kumar, was hearing an appeal filed by the accused personnel challenging the high court order.
  • Justice S C Sharma, who was part of the bench, stated, "When the war is going on, you glorify these Army officers... Your SSP says, I am not able to arrest them in spite of rejection of anticipatory bail because they are police officers... Eight days delay in lodging FIR?! Have respect for Army people."
  • The court eventually rejected the appeal, but stopped short of imposing costs on the appellants.

Statistics:

  • March 13-14: Days when the alleged assault took place
  • March 22: The FIR in the case was registered at Civil Lines police station, Patiala
  • April 3: The FIR was transferred to the Chandigarh Police based on a court order
  • July 17: The high court transferred the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)

Sources:

  • The Economic Times, "Supreme Court refuses to interfere with high court's order on Colonel PS Bath assault case". April 3, 2025

[Source](https://www.contify.com/?article=india-supreme-court-refuses-to-interfere-with-high-court-order-on-colonel-ps-bath-assault-case_apr_2023)

  • Indian Express, "Supreme Court rejects appeal against CBI probe in Colonel PS Bath assault case". April 3, 2025