In a rare move signalling internal accountability, the Punjab Police has concluded its departmental inquiry into the assault on retired Army officer Colonel Rohit Bath and penalised six of its personnel, four inspectors and two others even after the case was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for an independent probe.
The action follows an inquiry led by Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Varun Sharma, conducted under internal service rules. The disciplinary measures include:
1. Deduction of Three Years of Service — Impacting their seniority and eventual pension benefits.
2. Freezing of Promotions and Increments for Three Years — No annual salary hikes or upward movement in rank.
3. Withdrawal of All Salary Additions — Including performance-linked incentives and allowances.
4. Suspension to Continue — The six officials will remain suspended until further notice.
5. Transfer Outside Patiala — All have been posted out of the district to prevent influence over ongoing legal proceedings.
Background: Assault that Shocked the State
The incident dates back to March 2024 when Col Rohit Bath, a decorated Army veteran, and his associates were allegedly beaten by police officers outside his residence during a dispute reportedly related to a neighbouring property. Shocking visuals of the assault were circulated widely on social media, showing uniformed personnel dragging and hitting Col Bath, causing massive uproar from military veterans, civil society, and opposition leaders.
FIR No. 69 was registered at the Civil Lines Police Station under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code. However, allegations of police shielding their own and slow progress in the investigation led to persistent demands for a central agency probe. Bowing to public pressure, the Punjab Government forwarded the case to the CBI earlier this year. The central agency is now independently investigating the criminal aspect of the case.
Departmental vs Criminal Accountability
While the CBI continues its criminal investigation, the Punjab Police has proceeded with internal disciplinary action, a move rarely seen in high-profile cases after jurisdiction has shifted to a central agency. SSP Varun Sharma’s inquiry was confined to violations of the Punjab Police Rules and service conduct guidelines, rather than the criminal culpability being examined by the CBI.
The action taken is being viewed as a strong internal message against abuse of power within the ranks. “Such punishment ensures that uniformed impunity does not go unchecked,” said a senior police official on condition of anonymity.
Reacting to the internal action, Col Bath’s family welcomed the step but reiterated their demand for legal justice. “Administrative punishment is not enough. Those who laid hands on a retired Colonel and his family should face criminal consequences. We trust the CBI will get to the bottom of this,” his son told reporters in Patiala.
Veterans’ associations, which have been at the forefront of the protests since the assault, have also said that the disciplinary steps by Punjab Police must not dilute the pace or seriousness of the CBI’s investigation. “The central probe must culminate in convictions in court, not just internal memos,” said Brig (retd) Harpal Singh, spokesperson of the Veterans’ Coordination Forum.
The case has turned into a litmus test for both police reform and civil-military respect in Punjab. Several ex-servicemen had marched in protest in Patiala and Chandigarh earlier this year. Opposition parties had targeted the AAP-led Punjab Government for inaction and shielding of the accused officers in the initial weeks.
Following the public outrage, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had promised zero tolerance for police brutality, and the decision to forward the case to the CBI was seen as a damage-control measure.
Now, with the Punjab Police taking internal disciplinary action post-transfer of the case, questions are being raised about whether this was merely symbolic or part of a broader corrective framework.
