Chandigarh, Aug 20 (TIWN) In a midnight reprieve for Punjab former state Director General of Police (DGP) Sumedh Singh Saini within 24 hours of arrest in a case of 2020 pertaining to the fraudulent transfer of agriculture land into a regular residential colony, the High Court ordered his release.

The former DGP was arrested by the vigilance bureau in a land fraud case on Wednesday. Saini had gone to the bureau office to join investigation in a corruption case as directed by the HC when he was arrested.

The ex-DGP’s release was ordered around midnight by the bench of justice Arun Kumar Tyagi, after two rounds of hearing, in an application moved in a 2018 petition, said lawyers associated with the case. 

“The court termed his arrest as abuse of process of law and observed that he was arrested in violation of three HC orders. The court has ordered that in the event of his arrest in this case and corruption case, a seven-day prior notice must be given,” said Saini’s lawyer, HS Deol.