Mohali: A special CBI court in Mohali has sentenced former Punjab police SSP Gurmeet Singh Randhawa to seven years in prison in a 34-year-old case involving the abduction and disappearance of Ludhiana transporter Amrik Singh Sakri.
Randhawa was convicted on November 11 in connection with the abduction, which took place at a wedding function in Ludhiana in 1992.
The court sentenced him to five years in prison and imposed a fine of ₹50,000 under Section 365 of the IPC. He was also awarded two years’ imprisonment and fined ₹25,000 under Section 120-B. The sentences will run concurrently.
Randhawa appeared before the court through video conferencing.
At the time of the abduction, Randhawa was serving as a DSP. While the case continued, he was promoted to the rank of SP. The then SSP, Ajit Singh Sandhu, who was allegedly the mastermind behind the abduction, died while the trial was still underway.
The three police personnel who allegedly carried out the abduction also died. Despite the passage of time, the case continued, and the transporter’s family has finally received a court verdict.
Transporter abducted in 1992
Amrik Singh Sakri was a transporter from Ludhiana. On November 25, 1992, he went to Hotel Amaltas to attend the wedding of his brother-in-law’s daughter. During the event, a team from Tarn Taran police took him away. He was never seen again.
According to the CBI investigation, information about Amrik Singh’s detention was conveyed to senior officers at the time through a telegram. Several attempts were made to secure his release, including approaching then chief minister Beant Singh and senior officials, but these efforts proved unsuccessful.
Amrik Singh’s nephew, Dilbag Singh, also confirmed that then SSP Ajit Singh Sandhu, DSP Gurmeet Singh Randhawa and four other police officers had taken Amrik Singh away.
Dilbag Singh said he met Amrik Singh in Tarn Taran the following day. However, the DSP who had arranged the meeting was later threatened.
