More support pours in for RTI activist

The Tribune: Ludhiana: Saturday, July 21, 2018.

Several city-based NGOs and social activists have come forward in support of RTI Activist Kuldeep Singh Khaira requesting the Police Commissioner to cancel the FIR against him.

They met and urged the top cop to conduct a free and fair investigation without political interference or pressure in the case of Kuldeep Singh Khaira.

Earlier, Congress leader Kamaljit Singh Karwal had accused Khaira of allegedly stealing some official record from MC’s Zone-C office. On the complaint filed by MC ATP Harwinder Singh Honey, a case under Section 380 of the IPC was registered at division number 6 police station against Khaira.

The members of various NGOs, including RBS Roots, Sambhav Foundation, ECO Sikh, Association for Democratic Reforms, Friends for Life and Ludhiana Cares, have appealed to the Police Commissioner to cancel the FIR and conduct a fair probe in the case, said Amandeep Singh Bains of RBS Roots.

It appears that some conspiracy was hatched against Khaira, who had raised voice against illegal constructions, said Bains.

In the letter signed by the members of NGOs and activists, they said: “Kuldeep Singh Khaira has been working on public causes for the past many years and he has exposed many scams and illegal activities in the city.

The city has benefited a lot from his activism. We have come to know that some politically influential people are putting a lot of pressure to implicate Khaira in this case. The FIR against Khaira should be cancelled.”

A member of Sambhav Foundation, Rahul Verma, said: “We met the Police Commissioner today. The FIR against Khaira should be cancelled.”

Notably, Kuldeep Singh Khaira has also written to DGP Punjab and requested him to mark an inquiry to an IPS-rank officer for a fair probe. Khaira had alleged that the FIR was registered against him due to political pressure.

In the letter to DGP, Khaira claimed: “I had obtained information under the RTI Act. I have not stolen any record from the MC office. ATP Harwinder Singh Honey and Kamaljit Singh Karwal have levelled false allegations against me.”

Khaira had complained against the construction of flats at Ishar Nagar. Later, an inquiry was marked in the case regarding the construction of flats.