New Delhi: Delhi High Court has issued notice to five police officials, including special cell ACP (Assistant Commissioner of Police) Rajbir Singh, on a writ petition seeking CBI probe against the cops for illegal detention of a UK-based Sikh NRI, who was allegedly implicated in a false criminal case in 1999.

A Division Bench of Justice Usha Mehra and Justice Pradeep Nandrajog issued notices to the cops and the Delhi government as petitioner Balbir Singh claimed a compensation of Rs 1.56 crore for illegal detention, malafide prosecution and being deprived of his earning, love and affection of his family as also loss of reputation and mental agony.

Other respondents in the case are, Sub Inspector Anil Kumar (at present with CBI on deputation), Special Cell Inspectors Sudhir Kumar and Karam Chand and Sub Inspector Hukam Chand. They have been asked to file their replies within two weeks and the matter would come up for hearing on May 27.

According to the petition filed through counsel S K Sharma, Balbir and one Sukhmander Singh, who had come from the Punjab to receive him, were illegally detained by policemen in plain clothes on the intervening night of 23-34 June 1999 while on their way to Chandni Chowk Gurdwara after the NRI landed here from London.

The Special Cell "fabricated a case" under Section 4 and 5 of Explosive Substances Act and Section 120-B of IPC (criminal conspiracy) against the duo on June 29, 1999 after their relatives lodged missing reports and sent telegrams to Delhi Lt Governor and Police Commissioner, the petition said.

Both the accused were acquitted by Additional Sessions Judge M L Sahni in March 2002 as the court refused to buy the prosecution story.

PTI