Notorious Punjab officer granted bail in rape case

Suspended Punjab police officer, Salwinder Singh, who was questioned by National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with Pathankot attack case, was on Friday granted bail by Punjab and Haryana High Court in the rape case registered against him in Gurdaspur.

Booked for sexually exploiting a woman whose husband was accused in a rape case, the former Gurdaspur SP has been lodged in jail since April after his surrender when he was declared a proclaimed offender if he continued to evade arrest.

"He has been given bail in the case, which involved charges of rape and relevant sections of Prevention of Corruption Act. He will be released from jail on Saturday," Salwinder's counsel GBS Dhillion told DNA. The bail application was submitted before the court on July 27.

Salwinder was booked for allegedly using his position to demand sexual favours from an accused's wife under the false promise of helping her. The incident took place during his stint as Gurdaspur SP, which was marred by similar allegations from few other women police officials, which eventually led to his transfer out of Gurdaspur. Later, in August, citing his controversial conduct and indiscipline, the Punjab government decided to send him on premature retirement.