Jammu, November 28: In the widely publicized Greater Kailash murder case, Principal Sessions Judge Jammu, YP Bourney, discharged three accused—Sharat Puri, Rajat Jandiyal, and Raghunandan Singh alias Raghu—citing insufficient evidence against them. The court ordered their immediate release from custody.
However, charges were framed against several others, including retired IPS officer Sheikh Mehmood, along with Parshotam Singh, Sachin Patiyal, Ravinder Kumar Gupta, Davinder Pal Singh, Suraj Singh, Varun Kumar, Vikas Singh, and Sandeep Charak. They face allegations of conspiracy and offenses under Sections 120-B, 447, 427, 302, 307, 506, 147, and 201 of the IPC.
The court also noted the prima facie involvement of three additional accused—Poonam Kumari, Jaipreet Singh alias Honey, and Ghambir Singh—against whom a supplementary chargesheet has been filed. While Poonam Kumari and Ghambir Singh remain absconding, the court canceled the bail of Jaipreet Singh, who is currently in judicial custody for a separate case. The court ordered his re-arrest and directed non-bailable warrants against the other two, instructing the SSP Jammu to ensure their apprehension before the next hearing.
The court dismissed bail applications for those charged with offenses punishable by death or life imprisonment, emphasizing the gravity of their alleged crimes.
In a scathing observation, the court criticized PSI Puneet Sharma, in charge of Police Post Greater Kailash, for failing to act at the scene of the crime. Despite being present from the beginning, he allegedly allowed the accused to assemble and ignored repeated pleas from the victim’s party. The court remarked that his inaction contributed to the tragic loss of life and suggested a potential collusion with the accused.
The judge directed the investigating agency to further probe these lapses and complete their investigation promptly, emphasizing the need for accountability and thorough examination of all aspects of the case.