DGP Gaurav Yadav appears before EC, explains police actions in Tarn Taran by-poll

Earlier, the Punjab Police had investigated the allegations of unfair FIRs registered during the bypoll after the EC ordered a probe. A report on the FIRs registered had been submitted around 10 days back by Special DGP Ram Singh.

Sources informed that the EC officials were apprised Tuesday about the prevailing law and order conditions in Tarn Taran, the constant attempt by Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI to foster trouble in the border areas of the state, and the key role played by gangster Amritpal Singh Bath who is based abroad and was issuing constant threats in favour of the candidate belonging to Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

It was reliably learnt that the EC was also informed about the negative role played by Amritpal Singh Bath in the panchayati elections and how he managed to get more than two dozen Sarpanches elected by making open threats against rival candidates. The EC was apprised that there had been numerous by-elections held in the state after the present government came to power in 2022 and all had been peacefully conducted.

Sources inform that a further call on the complaints made by Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, and the suspension of the then Tarn Taran SSP Dr Ravjot Kaur Grewal will be taken by the EC after internal deliberations.

The Tarn Taran bypoll became a flashpoint for allegations of electoral misconduct. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate, Harmeet Singh Sandhu, emerged victorious, defeating SAD’s Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa by over 12,000 votes. However, the election process drew sharp criticism from the opposition SAD, which accused the Punjab Police of partisan actions to suppress its workers during the enforcement of the MCC.

SAD leaders, including Badal, lodged multiple complaints with the ECI, claiming a “coordinated and concerted” misuse of state machinery. Specifically, the party raised complaints about nine FIRs and arrests between November 8 and 11, against SAD functionaries in four districts—Tarn Taran, Amritsar, Moga, and Batala. Four workers were arrested, and six others named in the cases. SAD described these as “fake FIRs” linked to routine crimes but timed to intimidate voters and disrupt campaigning.

The party alleged “politically motivated arrests” and “highhandedness” by the AAP-led Punjab government, violating MCC impartiality. On November 15—after results but while MCC was still in force—another FIR was filed against an SAD worker, further fueling accusations of a “police state.”

On November 8, three days before polling, SSP Grewal was suspended for “serious lapses in impartial conduct.” The decision followed a police observer’s report implicating coordinated actions across districts.

DGP Yadav was instructed to conduct a review by an officer not below Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) rank. Special DGP Ram Singh was assigned the task, submitting an initial report by November 13 (extended from November 10). However, sources say ECI deemed it insufficient, as it justified the police actions without addressing broader impartiality issues.

On November 18, the ECI issued a formal summons to DGP Yadav, requiring his personal appearance at Nirvachan Sadan, New Delhi, on November 25 at 3:30 PM. He was directed to present a comprehensive status report on the review of all alleged wrongful FIRs, arrests, and detentions during the MCC period.

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