Chandigarh: In a curious turn of events, a cheating complaint alleging that a Canada-based man duped a serving Chandigarh Police DSP of Rs 8 lakh on the promise of securing his deputation to Punjab Police was closed after the officer and his mother allegedly failed to join the investigation. The accused, meanwhile, claims he cooperated with the inquiry and has now approached the UT police DGP and SSP, seeking a copy of the closure report and details of the findings.The complaint was filed by the mother of Sukhwinder Pal Singh Sondhi, currently posted as DSP, Central Division, against Harpreet Singh, a Mohali resident who moved to Canada in Feb this year. She alleged that Harpreet took Rs 8 lakh from her son on the pretext of facilitating his deputation to Punjab Police.According to the complaint, Harpreet approached the DSP in 2019-20, claiming close connections with a Punjab minister and the minister’s personal assistant. He allegedly initially demanded Rs 20 lakh to get the deputation approved before settling for Rs 8 lakh, of which Rs 1.5 lakh was purportedly meant for the minister’s PA. However, the deputation did not materialise, and Harpreet subsequently moved to Canada, the complaint alleged.The complainant added that Harpreet refused to return the money and threatened her son. She also accused Harpreet’s father of issuing threats after initially promising to repay the amount. The complaint sought legal action against Harpreet, his father and others for alleged cheating, fraud and criminal intimidation. It was marked to Sector 17 police station for inquiry.However, the inquiry officer closed the complaint in April this year. According to the inquiry findings, several notices were issued to the complainant to join the investigation, but neither the DSP nor his mother appeared. The report also reportedly noted that no evidence was provided to establish that the alleged amount had been paid to Harpreet by the DSP or any member of his family.Harpreet said his father personally visited the police station and joined the inquiry, while he submitted his statement by email from Canada. He has now sought clarity on the findings and the circumstances in which the complaint was closed.In an email sent on Saturday to UT DGP Sagar Preet Hooda and SSP Kanwardeep Kaur, Harpreet sought a copy of the closure order and inquiry report. He alleged that DSP Sondhi had threatened and harassed him over money and warned him that he would be implicated in a false criminal case. He also expressed apprehension that his family members in India could face harassment or retaliation.Harpreet has asked the police department to disclose which officer ordered the closure, what inquiry was conducted, the complaint’s current status and the findings recorded by the inquiry officer.He has also sought an impartial review of the matter and requested appropriate steps to ensure the safety of his father and other family members. Harpreet maintained that he was seeking transparency and a fair inquiry rather than interfering in the police department’s administrative functioning.He also raised concerns about DSP Sondhi’s current posting in the Central Division, apprehending that any further inquiry into the matter could be referred to the officer himself.DSP Sukhwinder Pal Singh claimed that he had withdrawn his cheating complaint against Harpreet Singh and his father after they returned the money. However, he said he was unaware of any fresh complaint filed by Harpreet against him.Harpreet, however, denied both claims, telling TOI that he had neither taken any money from the DSP nor returned any amount to him.
