Shimla, Oct 26
Himachal Pradesh Police which booked a dalit RTI activist and whistleblower, Karam in a frivolous sedition case, was given notice by Himachal Pradesh High court in the matter.
The single bench of HP high court comprising Justice Ajay Mohan Goel ordered to issue the notice to State police in the matter on Monday.
Counsel for Karam Chand Bhatiya, Neelam Kaplus, who was appointed as legal aide on his prayers, said State police was issued notice on the complainant of his client on Monday
The counsel has moved a petition before the high court on complaint filled by RTI activist and Dalit activist recently.
The petition seek quashing of FIR lodged by the state police against Bhatiya under the section 124a 153a, 505 & 120b and other sections.
The complainant was booked under sedition case as the state police claimed that SIT probed the allegations before arresting him on 22 January.
He remained in police custody and judicial lock up for six days each (12 days) and released on Feb 2, 2021 on the bail.
Whistleblower has alleged in the complaint written to High Court Chief Justice that he was victim of state repression and a conspiracy to scuffle his voice.
He alleged that he was booked on the behast of state DGP Mr Sanjay Kundu who conspired through CID Crime Bharari in-charge Ramanand Chauhan as FIR was lodged on 21 January 2021 under the sedition acts and other sections of IPC.
Bhatiya moved a complaint to Himachal Pradesh High court Chief Justice in March 2021 seeking quashing of FIR against him.
The court provided him a legal aide by appointing Neelam Kaplus to plead his case. Bhatiya said that state police framed him under sedition case as he raised and advocated the issue of welfare of police personnel after sending a memorandum to the DGP and Chief minister before he was booked.
He highlighted the cause and injustice being matted with the state contractual police personnel in the social media and warned to sit on ‘dharna’ if the demands were not fulfill, till January 26 2021.
State Police booked Bhatiya under sedition case before he could raise his voice.
After bail the whistleblower also wrote complaints against the state police in the matter addressing to Prime Minister of India, National Human Right Commission and SC/SC National Commission.
NHRC have also issued a notice to Director General of Police seeking the reply on the matter.
Afterall, Bhatiya knocked the door of high court seeking quashing of FIR under sedition law alleging being taken politically motivated to embrace and casusing harrassment to him.
The number of police jawan were serving in the state without confirming their services after passing required three years contrucutal period.
The Police employees could not hire contractual employees more than three years but number of employees are serving on contract on completion of seven to eight years without confirming them,has alleged Bhatiya.
FIR registered against him copy of which is with us said that by raising police employees demand Bhatiya is conspiring to create unrest in the police force and create riots by raising demands having no locus Standi.
Bhatiya also booked and arrested in a extortion case by the state police, earlier to charge him in the sedition case, without iota of evidences found against him, now prosecution dropped him as accused in the chargesheets filed before the court.
The RTI activists affiliated to non- ruling poltical party beings targeted as witch hunt to scuffle his voice, he alleged in complaint.
It is worthwhile to mention that during the present BJP rule this is second case registered against RTI activists as noted Journalist Vinod Dua was also booked under this British law on the complainant of BJP workers.
