Bathinda DSP (Headquarters) Gurmeet Singh is likely to face the heat after 26-year-old Jatinderpal Singh today committed suicide after consuming poisonous substance. Jatinderpal’s father has alleged that Gurmeet, in connivance with in-laws of the deceased, drove his son to commit suicide.

“Froth flowing out of his mouth, Jatinderpal’s body was found at a dhaba in Bhucho Mandi here today,” his father Harvinder Singh said. He alleged that his son committed suicide following the mental tension “caused by DSP (H) Gurmeet Singh who demanded Rs 13 lakh to settle a case of dowry demand”.

Harvinder claimed the dowry charges were false.

Gurmeet was not available for comment despite repeated attempts. SP (D) Ajay Maluja, who is officiating as Bathinda SSP, said that the case was being investigated and appropriate action would be taken against anyone found guilty.

“My son committed suicide as he was disturbed after DSP Gurmeet demanded Rs 13 lakh to settle the case,” alleged Harvinder Singh. “I will lodge a formal complaint against the DSP and the in-laws of my son,” added Harvinder Singh.

Harvinder alleged that Ganeshwar, the Reader of the DSP, came to his house last Saturday and asked him to meet the DSP on Monday. Ganeshwar, when contacted, denied the charge and claimed he did not go to Harvinder’s house.

When I went to the DSP on Monday, he asked me to settle the case by giving Rs 13 lakh,” alleged Harvinder. He added that the DSP threatened to register a case “in case he (Harvinder) failed to give the amount in an hour”.

Harvinder claimed that he had learnt that in December last year that the DSP had written to Bathinda SSP Ashish Chaudhry that there was no truth in the complaint lodged by Jatinderpal’s wife. “But then again, the DSP got the case back and resorted to arm-twisting techniques. He demanded a settlement amount of Rs 13 lakh in which he had his share,” alleged Harvinder Singh.

Harvinder claimed that the family of the girl had first lodged a complaint of dowry in November 2006 after the girl sustained an eye injury after she “accidentally” fell in the bathroom.

Claiming that he (Harvinder) and his wife were in Shimla at that time and came back on November 12, Harvinder alleged that the police “distorted” the date of complaint from November 10 to November 13.

Harvinder also claimed that a DSP level inquiry into the charges of dowry by the girl’s parents earlier had given a clean chit to his son and family.