Capt, Badals to blame for pardon to cops: PEP

Tribune News Service,

Chandigarh, June 23

Punjab Ekta Party leader Sukhpal Khaira today alleged that both Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and the Badals are responsible for the release of the four convicted police officers.

In a press release, Khaira claimed that Sukhbir Badal was blatantly lying on pardon granted to the police officers who had killed Harjit Singh in a fake encounter in 1993. He alleged that the pardon case of ASI Harinder Singh, one of the accused, was sent by the Punjab Governor to the Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Home Affairs and Justice (Jails), on November 2, 2016, which was processed by the Punjab Government and sent back to Governor on March 8, 2017. He said Sukhbir was Home Minister at that time. “It is thus clear that both Capt Amarinder Singh and the Badals are responsible for the release of four killer officers,” he said.

SAD refutes charge

In Amritsar, Sukhbir refuted the allegation that the pardon was recommended during the SAD-BJP's regime. "The time period mentioned was under the code of conduct. How could I be held involved in it? I challenge them to produce evidence," he said.