Mystery shrouds UK-based NRI Ranjit Power’s murder

Thursday, 03/03/2016

http://epaper.dailypostindia.com/Details.aspx?id=151004&boxid=58116&uid=&dat=2016-03-03

Jalandhar : Around 10 months after he was murdered, the mystery over United Kingdom (UK)-based NRI Ranjit Singh Power’s case seems to be deepening.

This time, the case witnessed a twist, as UK officials claimed that the body sent by the Punjab Police was not that of NRI Power. Though, a funeral would be conducted by social services but DNA sample would be retained for further inquiries. 

The UK authorities claim was based on the fact that the dental records and DNA testing proved that they did not match to Power. The body was flown from Punjab to UK after it was identified that he was wearing a ‘Kada’ in one of his hands. 

NRI Power (54) was done to death by his UK based friend and partner Baldev Singh Deol and taxi driver Sukhdev Singh. The duo strangulated Power and then threw the body in Bhakra Canal in Ropar on May 8, 2015. 

An influential business man, Power owned four star Ramada Park Hall Hotel in Wolverhampton, in West Midlands region where he was based in UK. 

According to the statement of his daughter Emma Power, her father used to keep in touch with his family but he had suddenly gone missing leading to speculation about his well being. Even his partner Angela Bir had stated that they were cooperating the Punjab Police in investigation and waiting for justice. 

It was revealed by the Jalandhar Commissionerate Police officials that Baldev Singh Deol managed to flee to UK after committing the crime while taxi driver Sukhdev Singh’s trial was yet to be conducted. Sukhdev had confessed to having committed the murder in connivance with Deol on the promise of settling him in UK. 

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Amrik Singh Powar said he had no knowledge that whether the DNA sample has failed or not. “Following detailed investigation, we have sent the DNA sample of Power’s brother and mother to the laboratory. This saturday, Power’s mother Gurmeet Kaur had also appeared in the local court”, he said. 

The ADCP highlighted that they had even sent a letter to the laboratory to ensure that this case was taken on priority. “We are hopeful that the DNA report would be made available by the laboratory by March 16”, he added. 

Sources maintained that prima facie this was a property dispute, which led to the murder of Power. It is pertinent to mention here that Power was to board a flight to UK from Amritsar after his visit to Punjab on May 14, but that day never came.