Cases against Akali Dal leaders appear to be ‘motivated’: EC probe

Police cases against Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) functionaries ahead of the Tarn Taran Assembly bypoll appear to be prima facie motivated, having the potential to interfere in the free and fair conduct of the election, said sources citing findings of a probe undertaken by the Election Commission.

Sources said the probe pointed out that the Tarn Taran police did not reportedly name arrested SAD functionaries in the FIRs and their names were added as accused immediately before their arrest.

They informed that criminal antecedents of the arrested persons were sought from the SSP office, but no reply had been received.

The revelations come two days after the poll panel suspended district SSP Ravjot Kaur Grewal over the allegations.

The action followed a complaint lodged by SAD president Sukhbir Badal with the Punjab Chief Electoral Officer, accusing the SSP of using the police to lodge false cases against party leaders and workers to prevent them from campaigning for the bypoll, which is scheduled for Tuesday.

According to the sources, the investigation indicated that the actions appear to have been “coordinated”, involving the police of neighbouring districts like Amritsar, Batala and Moga, thus raising serious concerns about the impartiality of law enforcement agencies.