Chandigarh, April 15: — Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa on Tuesday moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court, seeking quashing of the FIR registered against him by Mohali police over his televised claim that 50 bombs had reached Punjab.
The petition was filed in the morning, with senior advocate and former Punjab Advocate General APS Deol seeking urgent hearing. The court listed the matter for hearing on Wednesday.
Deol told reporters the FIR was a result of “political vendetta unleashed by the state,” and that Bajwa’s statement was made in the interest of peace to avert future threats. “No misinformation or attempt to incite unrest was intended,” he said.
Police had booked Bajwa under Sections 197(1)(d) and 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita—both relating to false and inflammatory statements that can endanger national unity or provoke hatred. The case was registered on Sunday night based on a cyber police constable’s complaint.
According to police, Bajwa claimed on a news channel that 50 grenades had entered Punjab—18 of which had already exploded, while 32 were still active—but failed to provide a credible source when questioned.
Following the statement, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann ordered a probe. AIG Ravjot Kaur and SP Harbir Singh Atwal visited Bajwa’s Chandigarh residence for questioning, but alleged that the Congress leader did not cooperate. He also failed to appear before Mohali cybercrime police on Monday.
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