Patiala Colonel Assault Case: Bath family refuses to withdraw case, demands CBI probe

The Colonel had a dislocated arm, while his son had a fractured nose.

The relatives of Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath, who was reportedly beaten up by 12 Punjab Police officers last month, have allegedly declined to withdraw their case despite promises of a proper investigation and the transfer of Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Nanak Singh.

According to sources cited in an Indian Express report, the message was conveyed to the family in Army channels, mentioning that SSP Nanak Singh would be shifted. It further mentioned that an SIT would carry out a fair inquiry if the Colonel withdrew his petition before the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The family is, nevertheless, insisting on a CBI probe.

Colonel Bath, currently posted at the Army headquarters in Delhi, and his son Angad Singh Bath were reportedly attacked, unprovoked by police personnel, including four Inspectors, near Government Rajindra Hospital in Patiala during the intervening night of March 13 and 14. The Colonel had a dislocated arm, while his son had a fractured nose.

The incident started, according to the family, when police officers in plain clothes asked the Colonel to move his car. When he protested at their tone, one of them allegedly punched him, leading to an escalation of the altercation. Photographs released later depicted their injuries, with Kaur also stating later in a press meet that she had a video recording of a police officer confessing to the assault.

After mounting pressure, 12 officers were suspended by Punjab Police and departmental proceedings started against them. However, the Colonel's wife, Jaswinder Kaur Bath, later accused inaction and delay in getting justice during a press meet in March. The family has also approached Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who has promised action, but they are still insisting on a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry.