The Punjab and Haryana High Court took action by summoning two police officials after their submitted affidavit seemed to inaccurately refute a prison inmate's claim of being assaulted by the police while in jail.

The affidavit, presented by an Additional Director General of Police, Prisons, Punjab (ADGP), and a Deputy Inspector General of Prisons, confidently stated that the incarcerated individual had not experienced any assault or injury while in custody.

Yet, the inmate's lawyer presented a CCTV recording that contradicted the claims made in the affidavit, suggesting a different reality regarding the alleged assault or injury within the prison.

Justice NS Shekhawat, on December 8, made a significant observation, stating that the CCTV footage unmistakably revealed jail officials engaging in physical aggression against an individual within the confines of the prison.

As a result, the police officials were specifically instructed to appear in court on December 14 (today) to provide a firsthand explanation regarding the discrepancy between their affidavit and the evident CCTV footage. This directive stemmed from the court proceedings addressing a prison inmate's request for a judicial investigation into the purported mental and physical abuse he endured while detained at the Central Jail in Hoshiarpur, Punjab.

Harinder Pal Singh, the prisoner in question, pleaded with the Court to order a medical evaluation and to issue directives aimed at ensuring his protection and safety.

During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Harinder Pal Singh, currently serving a life sentence for a murder case, had been subjected to severe physical assault. His lawyer stated that Singh had experienced intense beatings from both prison authorities and an unidentified civilian while incarcerated.Following the physical assault, Singh was reportedly subjected to solitary confinement without access to essential provisions such as food and water. This treatment was allegedly enforced upon him after the assault took place.

Considering the serious allegations, the Court, on November 16, requested a response from the ADGP (Prisons) and additionally issued a directive to ensure the preservation of CCTV footage from the prison for further investigation. In their recent submission earlier this month, the ADGP maintained that Harinder Pal Singh was not identifiable in the CCTV footage and emphasized that only jail officials were visible. The affidavit further affirmed that according to an Enquiry Officer's assessment, Harinder Pal Singh hadn't undergone any assault nor exhibited any injuries during the specified period.

Despite the ADGP's assertion regarding the absence of Harinder Pal Singh in the CCTV footage, the Court, upon reviewing footage presented by Singh's lawyer showing an individual being assaulted within the jail premises, proceeded to summon the implicated police officials for further clarification and explanation.