Sacrilege case: HC restrains Punjab from presenting challan

Chandigarh, July 9

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today restrained the state of Punjab from presenting a challan in a sacrilege-related case after an accused claimed the SIT was competent only to further probe the matter and not to reinvestigate it.

The direction by Justice Harnaresh Singh Gill came on a petition by accused Sukhjinder Singh, alias Sunny, through counsel RK Handa. Justice Gill was told that FIR No. 63 was registered on June 2, 2015, at the Bajakhana police station for hurting religious sentiments.

Another FIR was registered on September 25, 2015, at the Bajakhana police station. Justice Gill observed it was alleged in the FIR that some poster containing derogatory remarks were found posted outside a gurdwara in Bargari village on September 24-25, 2015. Another FIR on October 12, 2015, was registered alleging some pages of the holy scripture were found scattered around the gurdwara. This resulted in a protest by certain people, followed by the alleged police firing. The petitioner and other accused were then arrested.

Handa told Justice Gill’s Bench that the petitioner was challenging the action of the police/SIT in sending his handwriting samples for comparison with those on the alleged posters, despite his objection. The court issued a notice of motion for July 15. — TNS