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Chandigarh: In a significant legal development, a Special CBI court has acquitted Punjab Police Inspector General Gautam Cheema and five others of all charges in a 2014 case related to the alleged kidnapping of proclaimed offender Sumedh Gulati.
Setting aside the earlier conviction, the court termed the previous order as “unwarranted and unsustainable in law”, overturning the December 20, 2024 judgment of the Special Judicial Magistrate.
Earlier conviction now overturned.
Cheema, a 1995-batch IPS officer, along with five co-accused — Ajay Chaudhary, Rashmi Negi, Varun Utreja, Vicky Verma and Aryan Singh — had earlier been convicted and sentenced to eight months of rigorous imprisonment under Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 186 (obstructing a public servant), and 225 IPC.
However, allowing their appeals, the Special CBI court ruled:
“All the appeals are allowed. The accused are accordingly acquitted of all charges… The earlier judgment is set aside.” The court also directed that bail and surety bonds remain in force for six months under Section 437-A of the CrPC.
Background of the case
The matter dates back to 2014, when Cheema and others were accused of kidnapping and intimidating Sumedh Gulati, a proclaimed offender, allegedly over a profit-sharing dispute in a joint property venture.
According to allegations, Gulati was taken from a police station in Phase 1 to a hospital under questionable circumstances. The case was linked to a broader dispute involving realtor Devinder Gill and his wife, who had accused Cheema of foisting false cases over financial disagreements.
Relief after years of legal battle
Notably, even during earlier proceedings, Cheema and the co-accused had been acquitted of the more serious charges of kidnapping and criminal intimidation, with the conviction limited to conspiracy and obstruction, which has now also been set aside. The acquittal brings significant relief to the accused after a prolonged legal battle spanning over a decade, effectively closing one of the more controversial cases involving a senior police officer in Punjab.
Legal closure, but questions linger.
While the court’s decision settles the criminal liability, the case underscores the complex intersection of law enforcement authority and private disputes, particularly when allegations involve misuse of official position.With the acquittal, all pending applications stand disposed of, marking a formal end to the proceedings in the case.
