'No immunity for serving in Operation Sindoor': Supreme Court to Black Cat commando who allegedly murdered wife

A Black Cat commando, who allegedly murdered his wife, urged the Supreme Court to exempt him from surrendering, claiming he participated in the Operation Sindoor. However, the apex court told him that being part of the military operation against Pakistan does not give him "immunity from committing atrocity at home".

The National Security Guard commando is accused of killing his wife over dowry and has been charged under Section 304B of the Indian Penal Code.

The two-judge bench was presided over by Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and also had Justice Vinod Chandran. The accused, Baljinder Singh, filed an appeal with the top court, challenging an order by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which upheld his conviction and sentencing by a trial court.

Pointing out that he has been an NSG commando for 20 years in the Rashtriya Rifles, Singh told the court, "I can only leave with one line, I am a participant in Operation Sindoor." He sought exemption from surrendering till the pendency of the proceedings before the Supreme Court.

Addressing Singh, Justice Bhuyan sai, "That doesn’t give you immunity from committing atrocity at home. It goes to show how physically fit you are, and the manner in which alone you could have killed your wife, strangulated your wife."

Calling the offence serious, the judge said it is not a case for exemption. "It's a gruesome manner, the manner in which you strangulated your wife," he pointed out.

Singh's lawyer argued that the witnesses in the case, including the woman's brother and his wife, are "highly discrepant" as they are closely related. The witnesses claimed they saw the commando and his father strangling the victim with a cloth as his mother and sisters held her arms and legs. After they screamed, the accused fled, leaving the woman to die. The trial court convicted the petitioner while acquitting his parents and sisters.

However, the court did not grant relief and issued a notice demanding a response from the prosecution on the Special Leave Petition. "We decline the prayer for exemption from surrendering. Issue notice on the SLP returnable in six weeks."

Earlier when the accused appealed his trial court conviction in the high court, it suspended his sentence and allowed him to remain out of prison, citing he was jailed for three years and as his appeal was pending. But the court in May upheld the 10-year rigorous imprisonment.

India