Chandigarh: Punjab govt has told the Punjab and Haryana high court that despite repeated efforts, the original video/device on which alleged suicide victim Gulzar Singh’s purported video was recorded has not been handed over to the police by the complainant or his family members.In its status report filed before the division bench of Chief Justice Ashwini Kumar and Justice Rohit Kapoor, the state govt said efforts were made to bring on record the original video/device, but the complainant and the family members of Gulzar Singh did not submit them.The report states that notices under Section 94 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) were issued to complainant Lakhwinder Singh, who is Gulzar’s son, on Sept 15, 17, 20 and 27 for the production of the device. The report stated that Lakhwinder, in his statement on Sept 27, stated that he did not have any video regarding the death of his father.The SIT, however, said multiple videos had been collected as part of the investigation through social-media monitoring. “The said videos have been obtained through social monitoring vide DDR No. 45 dated September 26, 2026,” the report states.It states that the videos are being analysed as “there are multiple videos with different versions”.According to the status report, in one of the videos, Gulzar Singh is heard naming Raj Sarpanch, Vicky, Sukha Conductor and Gona, who are accused in the present FIR. The report states that “his statement in the said video corroborates with the statement given by complainant Lakhwinder Singh”.The report also states that in another video, Gulzar can be seen asking questions regarding the incident and its details.The police said notices were also issued under Section 94 of the BNSS to media channels, calling upon them to provide the original video recordings along with requisite certificates under Section 63(4)(c) of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, “for the purpose of establishing their authenticity”.The status report has been filed by Sangrur senior superintendent of police Dr Rajvot Grewal, a member of the special investigation team that is probing the suicide case, in compliance with the high court’s Sept 16 order.The report states that FIR No. 204 dated Sept 8 was registered at Dirba police station under Section 108 of the BNS and sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against five persons — Baljit Singh alias Raj, Sukhdev Singh alias Sukha Conductor, Vicky Singh alias Vicky Member, Gona Singh and Baljinder Kaur.It states that Baljit, Vicky, Gona and Baljinder were arrested on Sept 8 and remanded in judicial custody. Sukhdev, however, “is absconding as on today”.Gulzar Singh, a 47-year-old agricultural laborer from Toor Banjara village in Punjab’s Sangrur district, died by suicide on Sept 7, after consuming poison following a public confrontation with Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema over the local drug menace on Sept 6.The SIT said a look-out circular was issued against Sukhdev, besides a message to all SHOs in Punjab, a public notice and letters to the Regional Transport Authority, Lead Bank, Sangrur, and Bureau of Immigration to trace him and gather information about his vehicle, financial transactions and travel history. Multiple raids were also conducted at his residence, relatives houses and other possible locations.A petition was filed before the Punjab and Haryana high court seeking transfer of the investigation to the CBI or another independent agency, alleging that Gulzar Singh had faced intimidation and that his video statement contained allegations against certain persons.
