The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday issued a notice to the Punjab government and directed that no coercive action be taken against Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa until the next hearing on April 22.
The directive comes in response to a petition filed by Bajwa seeking the quashing of an FIR registered over his controversial remark about explosives in the state.
FIR Over “50 Bombs” Statement
Bajwa, who serves as the Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, had earlier claimed during a media interview that “50 bombs have reached Punjab. Of this, 18 have exploded, 32 are yet to go off.” The statement prompted the registration of an FIR at the Cyber Crime police station in Mohali, with authorities citing concerns over public safety and national security.
The Congress leader was subsequently booked under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Section 197(1)(d) for allegedly spreading false information that could endanger the nation’s sovereignty and unity, and Section 353(2) for statements likely to incite enmity or ill will.
Court Protection Till Next Hearing
Following the hearing on Wednesday, Bajwa’s counsel, senior advocate APS Deol, informed reporters that the high court had directed the state not to arrest Bajwa until further orders. “The court has protected him from arrest till April 22,” said Deol, adding that a notice has been issued to the Punjab government to respond to Bajwa’s plea challenging the FIR.
“We have questioned the maintainability of the charges invoked against him,” Deol said, stressing that the petition argues for the quashing of the FIR on legal grounds.
Public Comments Restrained
Deol further stated that the court has advised Bajwa to refrain from making public statements related to the case during the pendency of the matter.
Bajwa, who appeared before the Mohali police on Tuesday, was subjected to nearly 6 hours of questioning. Following his appearance, he termed the session a “sustained interrogation” and accused the AAP-led Punjab government of using the case as a tool for political vendetta.
Political Overtones
The FIR has stirred political controversy in Punjab, with the Congress party defending Bajwa and accusing the state government of trying to silence the opposition. Bajwa maintains that his statement was based on information shared with him, and that his intention was to raise concerns over the state’s internal security.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the court will next hear the matter on April 22, when the state is expected to present its response to Bajwa’s petition.
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