Scrap FIR against SAD (A) chief, says Justice Gill panel

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 16

The Justice Mehtab Singh Gill commission of inquiry has recommended the cancellation of sedition case against SAD (A) president Simranjit Singh Mann after recording his statement that he was "implicated at the behest of former Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal.

Mann was booked on the allegations of spreading hatred between communities and indulging in seditious activity after he attended the Sarbat Khalsa in November 2015.

The two-member commission asserted that Mann was only a silent spectator to the proceedings going from the stage of Sarbat Khalsa at Chaba village, near Amritsar. "As he did not address the gathering, it is clear that he did not say anything that amounted to spreading hatred between two communities or which was seditious," the commission added.

Mann had moved the commission alleging false implication in FIR registered on November 12, 2015, for sedition and other offences at Chatiwind police station in Amritsar district.

Present before the commission, the investigating officer in the case stated that the challan or final investigation report had not been presented in the court, as sanction for the same had not been received till date from Home Department. He also told the commission that Mann had not been arrested in the FIR.

The commission took note of Mann's categorical assertion that he did not address the congregation and nothing seditious was said by him.

Referring to the investigating officer's statement, the Commission asserted reason was not specified for not arresting Mann or the delay in presenting the challan. Reason for not granting sanction too was not forthcoming. "The FIR be cancelled after taking orders from the appropriate court," the Commission concluded.