Chandigarh, Sep 16 The Punjab and Haryana High Court asked the Punjab government on Wednesday to file a status report regarding the probe into the death of Gulzar Singh, a Dalit man who allegedly committed suicide in Sangrur after being harassed for questioning Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema about the supply of drugs in his area.
A bench of Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor asked for the status report while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) matter that has sought a CBI probe into Singh's death.
The court fixed October 6 as the next date of hearing in the matter.
Petitioner Ravinder Singh Sampla said the court has asked the Punjab government to file a status report and conduct a proper investigation into the incident.
Sampla said he has prayed for a CBI probe into the daily wager's death as he apprehends that the Punjab Police would not conduct a proper investigation into the matter.
Singh, who hailed from Turbanjara village in Sangrur's Dirba, died on September 7 after allegedly consuming poison.
His family has alleged that he was harassed and subjected to casteist slurs for questioning Cheema about the supply of drugs in his area at an event in Dirba.
A video purportedly of Singh's last moments surfaced subsequently. In the video, Singh spoke about questioning the finance minister, prompting opposition parties to demand the resignation of Cheema and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed by the Punjab Police in connection with Singh's death.
The case was registered under section 108 (abetment of suicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and relevant provisions of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The FIR was lodged against five villagers -- Baljit Singh, Sukhdev Singh, Vicky Singh, Gona Singh and Baljinder Kaur.
A political row has erupted after Gulzar Singh allegedly committed suicide, with opposition parties demanding Cheema's dismissal from the Mann cabinet and an independent probe into the matter.
The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has hit back at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal, accusing them of attempting to exploit a tragic death for political gains.
