CHANDIGARH, April 16:– The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday refused to quash the FIR against Leader of Opposition and senior Congress leader Pratap Singh Bajwa, who had claimed in a televised interview that 50 grenades had entered Punjab—18 of which had already exploded while 32 remained active.
According to police, Bajwa failed to provide a credible source for the claim when questioned. His statement triggered alarm, prompting Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to order a probe.
A police team led by AIG Ravjot Kaur and SP Harbir Singh Atwal later visited Bajwa’s residence in Chandigarh, but alleged that the Congress leader did not cooperate. He also failed to appear before Mohali cybercrime police on Monday despite being summoned.
In its directions, the court refused to grant Bajwa any relief, allowing the investigation to continue. It also instructed him to cooperate with police and respond to all future summons. The court further barred him from making any public statements on the matter until April 22.
The FIR and subsequent legal proceedings underline the state’s growing concern over unverified security-related claims that may create panic among the public.
Read more: Bajwa Moves HC to Quash FIR Over ‘50 Bombs’ Remark
