Gurdaspur Encounter Row: Punjab Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira has written to the Chief Justice of India, urging the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognisance of what he described as the alleged extrajudicial killing of 19-year-old Ranjit Singh in Gurdaspur district of Punjab.
In his letter, Khaira claimed that the incident points to a disturbing pattern of alleged fake encounters in the state. He requested the apex court to treat his representation either as a writ petition or as grounds for initiating suo motu proceedings.
Khaira urged the Supreme Court to invoke its powers under Articles 32 and 142 of the Constitution to examine the case. According to him, the issue directly involves the fundamental right to life and personal liberty under Article 21, which cannot be taken away without due legal procedure.
He argued that the alleged incident raises serious constitutional concerns and requires judicial scrutiny at the highest level.
Who Was Ranjit Singh?
Ranjit Singh was a 19-year-old first-year Bachelor of Arts student from Gurdaspur district. He was killed on February 25 in what the Punjab Police described as an encounter. However, Khaira questioned the police version of events and raised concerns about the circumstances leading to the youth’s death.
Allegations of Ranjit Singh Illegal Detention and Procedural Violations
In his letter, Khaira alleged that Ranjit Singh was picked up from his residence without a formal arrest memo. He also claimed that the youth was not produced before a magistrate and that his family was not informed about his detention.
According to Khaira, these actions would violate the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court in D K Basu v. State of West Bengal, which established procedures to be followed during arrests and detention.
He further alleged that CCTV cameras in the area were removed or disabled before the youth was taken away by the police.
Ranjit Singh Family Denies Criminal RecordÂ
The letter also stated that Ranjit Singh’s family claimed he had no criminal record or history of violent activities. Khaira questioned the police account that reportedly described the youth as being linked to Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI. He argued that the police narrative raises several unanswered questions that need an independent investigation.
Sukhpal Singh Khaira Questions Over Lack of FIR Against Punjab Police
Khaira further alleged that no FIR has been registered against the police personnel involved in the incident and that no independent magisterial inquiry has been ordered so far. He also said that authorities have not complied with the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court in PUCL v. State of Maharashtra, which outline the procedure for investigating encounter deaths.
Sukhpal Singh Khaira Claims Pattern of Similar Encounters in Punjab
In his representation, Khaira stated that the case should not be viewed in isolation. He referred to another incident from January 2026 involving a person identified as Karan Pathak, which he claimed followed a similar sequence of events while the individual was in police custody. Khaira also referred to observations made earlier this year by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which had expressed concerns regarding rising criminal activity in the state.
Sukhpal Singh Khaira Demands for CBI Probe Into Ranjit Singh Death
In his plea to the apex court, Khaira requested a comprehensive investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the death of Ranjit Singh. He also asked the court to examine what he described as a broader pattern of alleged encounter killings in Punjab. Additionally, he sought directions for registration of FIRs against the police personnel involved, forensic examination of post-mortem and ballistic evidence, and investigation into the alleged removal or disabling of CCTV cameras. Khaira also urged the court to direct the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to conduct an independent inquiry into the alleged pattern of encounter killings in the state and ensure compliance with the Supreme Court’s guidelines governing police encounters.
