Sukhbir approaches HC, alleges political interference in murder bid investigation

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal on Friday moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court alleging bias and political interference in the investigation into an assassination bid on him at the Golden Temple entrance on December 4 last year.

Badal sought the transfer of the case to an independent central agency like the CBI or NIA. Taking up the petition, Justice Tribhuvan Dahiya issued a notice to the Punjab Government, seeking a response by April 30 on the leader’s plea .

The incident had taken place when Badal was undergoing a religious punishment as a sewadar.

The Akal Takht — the highest temporal seat for the Sikhs — had held Badal and several Akali leader guilty for “mistakes” committed by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) during its decade-long rule from 2007-17 over issues concerning the community.

He was attacked by an alleged Khalistan sympathiser, Narain Singh Chaura, who was granted bail by a court last month. In his plea, Badal said the attack was foiled by the alertness of his security personnel. “However, the investigation into the attack has been biased, unfair and marred by ulterior motives, necessitating the transfer of the case to an independent agency,” he added. Badal submitted that a deliberate attempt had been made to “dilute” the gravity of the crime by “misrepresenting facts” in the final report.

“The FIR was registered after an inordinate delay on the statement of a person who was not an eyewitness. The petitioner’s own statement was never recorded, demonstrating the intentional misdirection of the investigation. The accused, a known history-sheeter and alleged terrorist, has been granted bail due to investigative lapses,” he contended.

Badal submitted that the CCTV footage and witness statements suggested a “deep-rooted conspiracy” involving additional individuals who had not been adequately investigated.

Punjab