PCA indicts 4 cops for activist's false arrest, custodial torture

Recommends disciplinary action, criminal prosecution for grave misconduct, criminal behaviour

- Naina Mishra [e-mail]

CHANDIGARH: Charging them with serious misconduct by illegally arresting and torturing a local activist in 2018, the Police Complaints Authority (PCA), Chandigarh, has directed disciplinary action and criminal prosecution against four police personnel, including an inspector and sub-inspector.

The final order, passed on May 8, 2025, affirms PCA's earlier tentative findings, dated February 24, 2020, which held the four cops accountable for misuse of authority, falsely implicating the activist and subjecting him to inhuman treatment in custody.

The four cops facing legal action include inspector Ranjit Singh, sub-inspector Vidya Nand, assistant sub-inspector Raj Singh and constable Rajesh Kumar.

The complainant, Vineet Verma had alleged that on July 28, 2018, he and an acquaintance named Gurbhajan Singh, alias Guti, were illegally detained and physically assaulted at the Manimajra police station.

According to Verma's affidavit, he had visited the station to support his earlier complaint against hookah bars operating illegally in Chandigarh and Panchkula.