Ever since the attack on his son, Kamalpreet, last year, reports have been appearing in the media alleging that the police was shielding the assailants at the behest of a prominent local Akali Dal politician, who is close to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

According to the FIR, Bajaj's son was attacked on May 17, 1998 by 10 to 12 men wielding kirpans and a case of attempt to murder was registered. In a press conference held a month after the attack, Bajaj had alleged that police claimed they were under political pressure to downplay the incident.Subsequently, some of the main accused were declared `proclaimed offenders' and five of them were finally arrested on December 10. The police attempted to charge them under a less stringent section but the court upheld the charge of attempt to murder and denied them bail. Four of the accused were finally released on bail on February 16 by the High Court.

The bail application of the main accused, Preetinder Singh, who has been in custody since December 10 was to be heard today but it was withdrawn. Bajaj alleges that he was contacted by Deputy Superintendent of Police H.P.S. Bains late last night and asked to agree to a compromise and ensure bail for the accused. He said that he did not give any assurance and agreed to contact Bains today.

However, around 8.30 a.m., said Bajaj, over 30 policemen entered their compound and forced their entry into the house after cutting the telephone lines and switching off the power supply. Bajaj managed to lock himself in a room and called up some mediapersons from his cellular phone.

When contacted, Senior Superintendent of Police Kuldip Singh said the details would be available with DSP Bains. Denying the charges, Bains said a team of policemen, headed by an ASI, had gone to look for Bajaj's son in order to produce him before the SDM under Section 110 of the CrPC. He said there was no question of contacting Bajaj regarding bail for the main accused and added that Bajaj had agreed to present his son before the SDM today.

Bajaj, however, states that he gave no such assurance to the police and the attempt to charge his son was an attempt to further pressurise him. Bajaj claims that Balwinder Singh, a relation of the main accused, had also approached him and said that he had contacts with the Chief Minister and he would ensure the arrest of Bajaj's son. He added that Balwinder is an associate of a SGPC member and senior Akali Dal functionary in the district, who is close to the Chief Minister.

Balwinder Singh, however, denied the charge and said he was not close to the Chief Minister and was in no position to influence the police.