The Punjab and Haryana High Court recently granted anticipatory bail to former Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal, who was arrested for allegedly enabling the Kotkapura shooting, in which police injured multiple protestors.
A single judge bench Justice Raj Mohan Singh ordered Badal to appear before the trial court within 15 days and the trial court was directed to release him on interim bail “subject to its satisfaction.”
“The grant of interim order would not be construed to confer any equitable consideration in favour of the Petitioner for ultimate decision of this case on merits,” the bench underlined.
The case involves three incidents of sacrilege in Kotkapura, which caused discontent within the Sikh Sangat. Hundreds of citizens participated in the peaceful protests, however on October 14, 2015, police reportedly used excessive force to disperse the protest site. It also opened fire, injuring many protesters severely.
The event occurred during the tenure of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Prakash Singh Badal, who was the Chief Minister of Punjab at the time. The governing party also filed a first information report (FIR) against the protesters.
After the change of administration in the state, a new FIR was filed in August 2018, citing the top police personnel as suspects, including the then-Director General of Police (DGP), former Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal and his son, and then-Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal.
The prosecution stated in a new FIR that both the former CM and his son aided and abetted the police in using excessive force on the protestors by remaining silent on the matter.
The police claimed that Sukhbir “purposefully” went for Gurugram on October 12 in order to subsequently claim that the shooting occurred when he was not present.
After taking into account Prakash Singh Badal’s senior age and related ailments, a trial court in Faridkot granted him anticipatory relief last week.
It, however, declined to offer Sukhbir any remedy, prompting him to file a plea in the High Court.
