A shocking incident in Patiala has sparked widespread condemnation after a serving Colonel in the Indian Army, Pushpinder Singh Bath, and his son were allegedly beaten by Punjab Police personnel on the intervening night of March 13 and 14. The brutal assault, which reportedly left the Colonel with a broken arm and his son with a severe head injury, has prompted legal action and a high-level investigation.
The altercation occurred near Government Rajindra Hospital, where Colonel Bath and his son were standing outside their car while eating at a roadside eatery. The family claimed that a group of police officials, dressed in civilian clothes, approached them and rudely demanded that the Colonel move his vehicle so they could park theirs. When he objected to their tone, one of the officers allegedly punched him, escalating into a violent attack by multiple police personnel.
Following the incident, the Punjab government initially ordered an inquiry by an executive magistrate, which the family rejected, citing bias and procedural irregularities. The first FIR, registered at the Civil Lines police station in Patiala, was based on the statement of the dhaba owner rather than the victim’s own account. However, after public outrage and intervention, a fresh FIR (No. 69) was registered based on Colonel Bath’s detailed statement, naming Inspectors Ronni Singh, Harjinder Dhillon, and Harry Boparai, along with eight unidentified officers. The accused have been booked under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including charges of voluntarily causing hurt, wrongful restraint, and criminal intimidation.
In response to the growing outrage, the Punjab Police suspended and transferred 12 personnel allegedly involved in the assault. Additionally, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation. The SIT, led by Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) S.P.S. Parmar, also includes Senior Superintendent of Police (Hoshiarpur) Sandeep Malik and Superintendent of Police (Rural, SAS Nagar) Manpreet Singh. This team has been tasked with conducting daily inquiries and gathering evidence against the accused.
Amid mounting pressure, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has sought an explanation from the Punjab government over the delay in registering the FIR. Justice Sandeep Moudgil has given the State two days to file its response and provide a status report regarding serious allegations against senior officials. The court has also questioned why alcohol tests were not conducted on the accused officers and has demanded that any such tests, if performed, be placed on record.
Colonel Bath, currently posted at the Army headquarters in New Delhi, has further accused Punjab Police of attempting to cover up the incident. He alleged that distress calls to senior officials were ignored and that an initial FIR was misleadingly filed against ‘unknown persons’ for affray. It was only after his family approached higher authorities, including the Hon’ble Governor of Punjab, that a proper FIR was registered—eight days after the assault.
The Colonel has also petitioned for the case to be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), citing a conflict of interest and concerns over the impartiality of the Punjab Police’s investigation. The case is now scheduled for further consideration in the High Court on March 28.
Manbilas Singh is a talented writer and journalist who focuses on the finer details in every story and values integrity above everything. A self-proclaimed sleuth, he strives to expose the fine print behind seemingly mundane activities and aims to uncover the truth that is hidden from the general public. In his time away from work, he is a music aficionado and a nerd who revels in video & board games, books and Formula 1.
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