Chandigarh, August 10: The state prosecution has presented sealed status reports on the ongoing investigations into the Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan firing incidents to a Chandigarh court, seeking to keep the documents protected in safe custody.
The submission follows explicit directives issued during a previous hearing on July 18, where the court ordered prosecutors to brief the bench on the current progress of the long-pending cases.
Former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal remains named as an accused in the Kotkapura case, along with high-ranking former police officials including Sumedh Singh Saini, Paramraj Singh Umranangal, Charanjit Singh Sharma, Amar Singh Chahal, and Sukhminder Singh Mann.
The cases stem from October 14, 2015, when police opened fire on crowds protesting the desecration of holy texts reported earlier that year at gurdwaras in Bargari and Burj Jawahar Singh Wala. While the Kotkapura demonstration left several citizens injured, the simultaneous clash in Behbal Kalan claimed two lives. The proceedings were shifted to the Sessions Court in Chandigarh in April 2026 following orders from the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Addressing the bench during the August 1 proceeding, the Additional Public Prosecutor for the state stated, “Considering the sensitive circumstances and nature of the case, the reports ought to be retained in a sealed cover after being perused by the court.”
The judicial officer affirmed that the court examined the contents of the submission before ensuring its security. In the official observation, the judge declared, “The reports have been opened and examined, and it is ordered that they be retained in sealed covers and kept in safe custody.”
