The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a chargesheet in a Mohali court against four Punjab Police personnel in connection with the assault on Colonel Pushpinder Bath that occurred on the intervening night of March 13 and 14 near Rajindra Hospital in Patiala. Inspector Ronnie Singh has been identified as the principal accused in the case.

Notably, the CBI has dropped the attempt to murder charge, which was included in the initial FIR filed by the Patiala Police. Instead, the chargesheet invokes provisions related to voluntarily causing grievous injuries, wrongful restraint, and other allied offenses.

Colonel Bath and his son were allegedly assaulted following a parking dispute at a roadside eatery. The altercation reportedly began when a group of men, later identified as police personnel in civilian clothes, asked the Colonel to move his car. The situation escalated, and the Colonel and his son were allegedly attacked with rods and sticks by more than a dozen police personnel, resulting in injuries to both.

Initially, the Patiala Police registered an FIR against inspectors Harry Boparai, Ronnie Singh, and Harjinder Dhillon under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 109 (attempt to murder), provisions related to causing hurt, wrongful restraint, and criminal intimidation. Another inspector was later added to the case under Sections 299 and 191 of the BNS.

Dissatisfied with the progress of the investigation, Colonel Bath approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court, alleging that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) was "shielding" the accused cops. The High Court subsequently handed the case to the Chandigarh Police on April 3,. However, on July 14, Colonel Bath filed another petition in the High Court, accusing the Chandigarh SIT of continuing to protect the accused officers.

On July 16, the High Court transferred the case to the CBI, remarking that the Chandigarh Police probe was "tainted" and that there were "no prospects of a free and fair investigation". The court observed that the SIT was creating loopholes to benefit the accused officers and questioned the decision to drop the attempt to murder charge. The Supreme Court refused to interfere with the High Court order, and the CBI re-registered the FIRs.

The case has drawn significant attention due to the alleged involvement of police personnel and the initial omission of the attempt-to-murder charge. The dropping of the attempt to murder charge by the CBI has raised concerns, considering the initial FIR included the charge and the High Court had questioned the SIT's intention to drop it. The CBI's chargesheet marks a significant development, but the legal proceedings are ongoing.