Punjab and Haryana High Court orders probe after cop who killed four gets parole for over two years

The Punjab and Haryana High Court recently ordered a probe against a murder convict who managed to stay out of prison on parole for over two years by allegedly forging medical records..Justice Manisha Batra noted that the convict Shalinder Singh, who has been sentenced to 25 years of imprisonment for four murders, made all endeavours to remain out of prison and in that process placed forged medical documents on record.“Since it is apparent that the petitioner has mislead this Court by forging and fabricating medical records, this Court is of the considered opinion that an enquiry be made against him and he be put on trial for giving false evidence to control the menace and hoodwinking the criminal justice system by such unscrupulous person,” the Court said..Accordingly, the Court directed the Registrar (Vigilance) to hold an enquiry in this regard and submit a report. The order was passed while hearing Singh’s petition seeking an extension of his medical parole for four months on the ground that he was suffering from multiple diseases. Singh, a former police official, in 2007 had murdered four persons including his wife and a child. The High Court in 2011 upheld the conviction but modified Singh’s sentence to 25 years imprisonment without any remission..While considering Singh’s plea for an extension of parole, the Court noted that he had initially filed a petition in 2021 for the grant of medical parole for two months. The petition was allowed and he was granted parole for six weeks.Thereafter, Singh moved two more petitions for an extension of parole which were also allowed. He then moved the present petition last year and from time to time, interim orders were passed to extend his parole.During the final hearing of the present plea, Singh’s counsel submitted that he had been still suffering from several diseases and that if he is sent back to prison, he cannot be medically taken care of..However, the State said that Singh has been out of prison since 2021 on medical grounds but was not as seriously ill as claimed by him. It also alleged that medical documents submitted by Singh were forged by him to seek an extension of parole.On perusing the status report filed by the State, the Court found that after an order was passed in January this year to verify Singh’s claim of being admitted in hospital, he had himself gone to the medical facility but was discharged the very next day as there were no serious health problems.The report received from a civil hospital said that Singh had got himself admitted for treatment of diarrhea and vomiting, but the copy of the OPD card which was placed on record was fake..With regard to the medical documents from PGI Chandigarh, the Court noted that they pertain to only this year whereas Singh has been on parole since 2021. “A perusal of the OPD Card issued by the PGIMER, Chandigarh in March, 2024 shows that the petitioner had visited the hospital with the complain of only chest pain and other documents are relating to subsequent medical investigations prescribed by the doctor. The same nowhere discloses that the petitioner is having any serious health issue, for which, he has been frequently visiting PGIMER," the Court found. .The Court also perused the Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act, 1962 and found that a prisoner can be granted parole for a maximum of six weeks only, on any ground.However, Singh had been on parole for the last about 2 years and 8 months and was still seeking an extension of the same on the ground of deteriorating health, the Court said..Concluding that Singh has been avoiding the execution of his sentence for years, the Court said parole cannot be endlessly continued on the ground of bad health, that too by forging medical documents.Thus, the Court dismissed Singh’s petition and ordered him to surrender before the jail authorities on or before May 29..Advocate Akashdeep Miglani represented the petitioner (Shalinder Singh).Additional Advocate General AS Samra represented the State of Punjab.