Chandigarh Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against two individuals, Parvinder Singh and Gurbinder Singh, following a directive from the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC). The action stems from a complaint lodged by Dr. Surjit Singh Bhadour, the General Manager of Verka Milk Plant in Ferozepur, detailing allegations of caste-based harassment, public defamation, and attempts to jeopardize his employment. The NCSC’s order for a fresh investigation was prompted by the seriousness of the allegations, which also included an alleged brutal assault on Dr. Bhadour.
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that Dr. Bhadour had submitted a formal representation to the NCSC on July 31, 2024. In this representation, he outlined his experiences of caste-related harassment and the framing of false allegations of financial embezzlement during his tenure as General Manager at Verka Milk Plant in Ludhiana and Patiala. He asserted that these incidents occurred while he was serving in these official capacities.
According to the details of the complaint, a press conference was organized at Kisan Bhawan in Chandigarh on July 19, 2024. This conference was reportedly led by farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal and involved Gurbinder Singh, who was then the suspended director of Verka Milk Plant, Ludhiana, and Parminder Singh Chalaki, the former chairman of Milk Plant, Mohali. During this press conference, Dr. Bhadour alleged that false accusations were disseminated against him, specifically concerning the alleged embezzlement of approximately Rs 1.11 crore during his posting at the Ludhiana plant between 2012 and 2013.
Dr. Bhadour informed the NCSC that the Punjab State Cooperative Milk Federation Ltd, under which these milk plants operate, had conducted departmental inquiries and a special audit covering the period of his posting. These extensive reviews, he stated, found no financial irregularities or grounds for the accusations made against him. He presented this information to the Commission to counter the claims of embezzlement.
During a hearing on September 12, 2025, the NCSC took cognisance of the matter. The Commission observed that Parminder Singh and Gurbinder Singh had allegedly made false accusations against Dr. Bhadour and subjected him to public insult. Consequently, the NCSC recommended the registration of an FIR under Section 3(1)(r) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, along with relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and called for an impartial investigation into the complaint. This recommendation was made to ensure that the allegations were thoroughly examined by the authorities.
However, the Chandigarh Police, in their initial report, stated that after reviewing the recording of the press conference, no words indicative of atrocities under the SC/ST Act were found. Based on legal opinion, the police concluded that the allegations under the SC/ST Act could not be established at that stage and therefore, the matter was closed. This decision did not align with the NCSC’s assessment of the complaint.
The case was reopened for further examination during the NCSC hearing on September 15, 2026. The Commission noted that its earlier recommendation for an FIR had not been acted upon and that Dr. Bhadour had not been contacted to record his statement, which was crucial for the investigation. Furthermore, the Commission received information suggesting that Dr. Bhadour had allegedly suffered a brutal assault on September 1, 2026, and was undergoing hospital treatment. This development added a new and serious dimension to the case.
Following these observations and the receipt of further information, the NCSC issued a strong directive. Consequently, on September 25, 2026, a case was registered at the Sector 36 police station under Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(u) of the SC/ST Act, and Section 3(5) of the BNS, against Parvinder Singh and Gurbinder Singh. These sections pertain to offences related to caste-based insults and atrocities.
In its latest directive, the NCSC has mandated the immediate recording of Dr. Bhadour’s statement, the initiation of a fresh and comprehensive probe into the allegations, and the provision of adequate police protection to the complainant. The Commission has also recommended that proceedings under Section 4 of the SC/ST Act be initiated against the previous investigating officer for alleged failure to take appropriate action on the complaint. An Action Taken Report detailing the steps taken by the police has been sought within 15 days.
The Chenab Times News Desk