NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the alleged abduction of a Chandigarh-based dentist, Dr Mohit Dhawan, by Chandigarh Police personnel. This directive follows an order by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which called for the registration of an FIR and the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the matter.
The case revolves around allegations against Dr Dhawan, who was accused of cheating a Kenyan national who visited his clinic for dental implants in 2017-18. However, Dr. Dhawan’s lawyer contends that the woman implicated him in a series of complaints after he filed a suit to recover outstanding dues from her.
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Dr Dhawan claims that he was abducted by Chandigarh Police on the day he was supposed to appear in court and that he has been harassed at the behest of former CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana and former Chandigarh DGP T.S. Luthra.
However, the top court didn’t mention the names of any senior police officials or the top brass of Chandigarh Police. Whereas, in the plea, the complainant Mohit Dhawan had mentioned the name of the former special director of the CBI, Rakesh Asthana.
The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Ahsanuddin Amanullah, noted that an independent investigation was necessary to address doubts about the allegations and to ensure the protection of Dr. Dhawan’s liberty. The CBI has been instructed to carry out a preliminary inquiry based on the facts outlined in the complaint.
Timeline of the alleged abduction:
A brief timeline of the alleged abduction of Dr Dhawan, a dentist, by Chandigarh Police:
Initial Complaint: Dr Dhawan, a Chandigarh-based dentist, filed a suit to recover outstanding dues from a patient in Nairobi, Kenya. This led to a series of complaints against him for improper treatment.
Court Hearings: Dr Dhawan managed to secure anticipatory bail in two of the three complaints. However, he was required to appear before a magistrate for the third complaint.
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Abduction Incident: On the day of the hearing, Dr Dhawan was allegedly abducted by a team from the Chandigarh Crime Branch Police to prevent him from appearing in court. Another team marked their appearance in court on his behalf.
Legal Actions: The Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the registration of an FIR and the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident. The Chandigarh administration appealed against this order.
Supreme Court Involvement: The Supreme Court ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the alleged abduction to ensure an independent investigation.