Chandigarh [India], April 9 (HBTV): The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday directed the Chandigarh Police to investigate the assault case involving Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath.

The directions were issued in response to a petition filed by Col Bath, who alleged that 12 Punjab Police personnel assaulted him and his son during a parking dispute. He had requested the court to transfer the investigation to the CBI or another independent agency.

‘Our plea to the court was to shift the investigation from Punjab Police to an independent body like CBI and this has been authorised. Now Chandigarh Police will be investigating the case without the interference of Punjab Police,’ said Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath’s lawyer, Bisman Maan.

‘The specific instructions are to submit the report within four months. None of the Punjab Police personnel will be a part of the investigating team... This was the final order on this petition,’ she added.

Colonel Bath’s wife, Jaswinder Kaur Bath, welcomed the court’s decision. ‘I am happy with the Court's order. We had two demands – an independent investigation or CBI. The court has ordered an independent investigation in which no personnel of Punjab Police will be involved... When the CM gave assurance, I believed him, but later, he did a kind of “comedy” with me. I did call him many times but didn’t receive a single call back... I will ask Bhagwant Mann to teach basic courtesy to his officials and not to do things just to show off,’ she said.

Col Bath approached the High Court last week, seeking an impartial investigation into the incident.

He was allegedly assaulted by Punjab Police personnel outside a dhaba in Patiala on the night of March 13, which led to the registration of an FIR and a police inquiry.

The officer was initially taken to a civil hospital for treatment, later shifted to the military hospital, and eventually received further treatment at the Command Hospital in Chandimandir.

On March 21, an FIR was registered at the Civil Lines police station based on Col Bath’s complaint, which named the police officials involved in the assault.

On March 22, four Patiala police officers were suspended, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted to probe the incident.

(ANI)